Behavioral management of chronic pain
By Valerie Weed, Psy.D.
vweed@pcpachicago.com
vweed@pcpachicago.com
It is estimated that over 20 percent of adults in the United States experience chronic pain. Living with pain can affect a person’s quality of life and can negatively impact functioning in major life domains, such as work, family, recreation, and health. Working with a Behavioral Health Clinician can help to improve functioning and can instill a sense of empowerment by making you an active participant in your pain management. Many individuals living with chronic pain are not aware of the fact that how they think, feel, and act can directly influence pain processing. Addressing these factors can enhance your quality of life, decrease disability, and even reduce pain intensity.
The most common psychological approaches to the treatment of chronic pain are operant-behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy, all of which are offered at Primary Care Psychology Associates. Our Behavioral Health Clinicians often incorporate interventions from each of these approaches to optimize outcomes. Treatment may involve establishing personal goals, teaching activity pacing, confronting pain avoidance, addressing difficulties with sleep, developing strategies to cope with stress, challenging catastrophic thoughts about pain, reducing muscle tension through relaxation training, and promoting psychological flexibility and pain acceptance. Behavioral Health Clinicians can also assist by consulting with your other providers to provide a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to pain management and can introduce strategies to increase self-advocacy and communication with the rest of your team.
Call or email today to find out more about behavioral pain management and other services we provide at PCPA!
Dr. Weed is available to see patients ages 12 and up at our Chicago (Lakeview) location, and patients ages 18 and up at our Chicago (Loop) location.
The most common psychological approaches to the treatment of chronic pain are operant-behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy, all of which are offered at Primary Care Psychology Associates. Our Behavioral Health Clinicians often incorporate interventions from each of these approaches to optimize outcomes. Treatment may involve establishing personal goals, teaching activity pacing, confronting pain avoidance, addressing difficulties with sleep, developing strategies to cope with stress, challenging catastrophic thoughts about pain, reducing muscle tension through relaxation training, and promoting psychological flexibility and pain acceptance. Behavioral Health Clinicians can also assist by consulting with your other providers to provide a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to pain management and can introduce strategies to increase self-advocacy and communication with the rest of your team.
Call or email today to find out more about behavioral pain management and other services we provide at PCPA!
Dr. Weed is available to see patients ages 12 and up at our Chicago (Lakeview) location, and patients ages 18 and up at our Chicago (Loop) location.