Pain Psychology
As part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment of Chronic Pain, Northeast Rehab offers psychological evaluation and treatment for patients living with chronic pain. Quality care of chronic pain involves assessing and treating the whole person. Chronic pain may impact all aspects of a person’s life: how one thinks, feels, and what he/she does or doesn’t do. Behavioral, emotional, and cognitive factors can also, in turn, influence how pain is perceived and managed.
Evidence-based psychological treatment for chronic pain can help people improve their quality of life and functioning when it is negatively impacted by chronic pain. Treatment involves education about chronic pain perception, as well as learning and practicing skills to change how one responds to and thinks about pain. Treatment can also increase one’s confidence in self-managing and coping with pain.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) is an evidence-based treatment protocol and is the first-line behavioral-health treatment approach utilized at Northeast Rehab to help patients.
CBT-CP can help patients:
- Improve overall quality of life
- Decrease and manage pain flare-ups more effectively
- Reduce concerns about increasing pain and injury from activity
- Increase participation in meaningful activities, including physical activity
Other secondary approaches to treatment such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain and Mindfulness skills may also be utilized in treatment, when appropriate.