What is pain psychology?
Pain psychology isa multidimensional approach to treating individuals who live with chronic pain related to various causes. A pain psychologist works with individuals to help them understand the interconnections of chronic pain, including environmental conditions, social interactions, and behavior. Research has shown evidence-based treatments to integrate these connections, one being Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP).

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)?
The focus of CBT-CP is helping individuals improve their quality of life by managing chronic pain and reengaging in enjoyable activities. Together, we will discuss specific goals you would like to work towards and create a plan to implement change on a weekly basis. Part of this process involves understanding the connections between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.

What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)?
PRT has some similarities to CBT-CP as they both focus on how chronic pain is impacted by our thought set and the brain's response to pain signals. PRT focuses on a somatic approach, acknowledging pain as a sensation and providing tools to observe the sensation without emotional attachment. When working from a PRT framework, we will work on practices throughout the day that promote mindfulness, curiosity, and exposure to retrain how your brain perceives pain signals. This means retraining your brain to understand that chronic pain is not causing damage but is a learned response over time.

What is an Integrative Approach?
When treating chronic pain, we recognize that various psychological and health factors impact the perception of sensations. To best address these factors, we will discuss different treatments and sometimes combine approaches to maximize long-term quality of life.