Therapy for Pain Management
Pain is multifaceted. Yes, physical pain is real and is not only in your head, but stress, Depression and Anxiety can exacerbate the pain as we experience it. During our time together, we will work on “turning down the volume” so that you are able to live a fulfilling, active life. I have also received training in providing therapy for pain utilizing EMDR. By combining different modalities of treatment for chronic pain, I have changed my relationship with chronic pain and I am hopeful that the same can happen for you.
I am also certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, which pulls from CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and Mindfulness to help individuals change their relationship with their pain. I have received this form of therapy, after living with pain for over 10 years, and have found it to be extremely beneficial for chronic pain management. I feel that it can be very helpful to receive the treatments you are endorsing before providing them to others.
What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy?
Pain Reprocessing Therapy pulls from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-based interventions to help individuals work through their chronic pain. It is too common for individuals living with long-term pain to have minimal or no relief. I hear too often “I’ve tried everything from injections to surgery to acupuncture to TENS units and nothing seems to help!” or if it does help, it’s minimally or short-lived.
It is now known that chronic pain changes our brain’s chemistry. The same neural pathways that tell our brain that we are in pain also tell us when we are feeling anxious or depressed. In other words, our brains become good at learning the pain and can activate pain in our bodies even in the absence of a physical trigger.
Imagine living with chronic back pain that is exacerbated when you walk up and down hills. You decide to challenge yourself by going on a hike with a friend. Before you even start the hike, your notice that you are feeling anxious and that your back starts to hurt. Maybe you begin to even notice other anxiety pain symptoms like anxiety chest pain or anxiety headaches. The pain is real, it’s not in your head, but stress, alone, is capable of increasing symptoms.
The work we will do in the therapy will include establishing a sense of safety in your body, learning to lean into positive sensations and creating non-judgmental awareness of pain through mindfulness. Exercises will include CBT for pain and meditation for pain relief. I am excited to begin working with you to help turn that pain dial down!