Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Certainly, chronic pain counseling is a specialized area that focuses on helping individuals cope with and manage chronic pain. Chronic pain can have a significant impact on a person's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Pain is invisible to others, which can leave you feeling lonely and misunderstood. Fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, immune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, trigeminal neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, and nerve damage are just a few. Any condition that affects daily function and is accompanied by chronic pain may require adjustment and acceptance. Chronic conditions and pain take a huge toll on our emotional wellbeing.
Does chronic pain or illness feel like it is controlling your life? Is it causing anxiety, depression, and impacting other areas of your life? I approach therapy holistically and will work with the mind and the body to provide relief for you in order to process the challenges you are facing and to even target the pain you physically experience using EMDR and other modalities. I am dedicated to support you and with my own personal experience, I understand how difficult managing pain or an illness is with managing other areas of your life and enjoying it. I am motivated to collaborate with you to get the healing you need.
I specialize in supporting individuals living with chronic pain or illness by providing compassionate, holistic care that addresses both the physical and emotional challenges. My approach integrates evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help manage pain, reduce stress, and improve coping strategies. I work closely with you to develop personalized treatment plans that enhance your quality of life, build resilience, and empower you to live more fully despite the challenges of chronic pain or illness.
I completed my dissertation on the interdisciplinary treatment of chronic back pain. I have extensive experience in chronic pain disorders, pain psychology, and the mind-body connection. I also completed a Masters degree in clinical health psychology and frequently work with many individuals struggling with adjustment to chronic illness and/or medical problems.
Chronic pain is not just dealing with the pain and dealing with illness is not just about dealing with a specific illness. Often, these issues can lead to depression, anxiety, anger and resentment and they affect every relationship you have including the one with yourself.
I specialize in supporting individuals managing chronic pain and illness. My approach focuses on helping you develop coping strategies, enhance emotional well-being, and improve your quality of life as you navigate the challenges of living with chronic conditions.
In my approach of using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for chronic pain or illness, I start by assessing how pain affects daily life. I educate clients on how thoughts and emotions can intensify pain, teaching them to challenge negative thoughts like catastrophizing. We set achievable goals for activities despite pain and practice relaxation techniques to reduce physical tension. Mindfulness helps manage pain sensations. Homework reinforces skills learned, like relaxation exercises. Regular review ensures we adjust strategies as needed. This personalized approach aims to empower clients in managing chronic pain and improving their quality of life.