Chronic Pain

Pain

Let us help you find relief and improve your quality of life.

Therapy for chronic pain does not mean the pain is “all in your head”, in fact, all experiences are processed through our brain, therefore, in our head. Psychology plays a role in chronic pain due to similar pathways from the nervous system to the brain with depression and anxiety, that is, pain and mood issues share similar biological mechanisms.

  • Chronic Pain can result from a multitude of causes such as:

    • Traumatic Injury/Motor Vehicle/Work Accident
    • Disease: Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cancer, Osteoarthritis, Lyme Disease
    • Lifestyle – sedentary, sports, overweight, aging
    • Illnesses, Surgeries, Sprains/Fractures, Nerve Damage
    • Migraines/tension headaches
    • Unknown etiology

Adding psychotherapy to current treatments can lessen the severity of pain, by lessening the severity of associated emotional disturbance. 

Pain Imprinting: The Lasting Legacy of Distress

Pain imprinting refers to the way past injuries or traumatic experiences leave enduring marks on the nervous system—even after physical healing

The body can remain in a heightened state of alert, with the brain primed to overreact to future stressors. This phenomenon is supported by research showing that stress hormones like corticosterone interact with pain receptors such as TRPA1, maintaining hypersensitivity and prolonging the pain response.
This imprinting isn’t just biological—it’s psychological.

Chronic pain often becomes embedded in identity and behavior, reinforced by fear, avoidance, and emotional exhaustion. For many, pain becomes a lens through which the world is interpreted: a constant signal of threat, limitation, and vulnerability.

Studies show that trauma survivors are more likely to experience chronic physical symptoms such as headaches, joint pain, and insomnia—even when no structural damage is present. The nervous system remains stuck in a loop of hyperarousal, distorting perceptions of safety and amplifying distress.

Several treatment options exist to help chronic pain, however, the most effective employed by pain specialists are

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
  • Biofeedback. 

These help by:

• Reframe maladaptive beliefs about pain
• Regulate physiological responses
• Build self-efficacy and emotional resilience
• Interrupt the pain–distress cycle with clinical precision

error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top