Chronic Pain

Many people with pain may suffer from:

• Chronic tension
• Anxiety
• Depression and irritability
• Grief
• Sleep problems
• Stress
• Relationship issues
• Problems at work
• Drug or alcohol abuse

Pain management may involve cognitive therapy for depression, learning relaxation skills, how to pace activity and to change self-talk and develop positive attitudes. Often new life goals need to be adopted and relationships have to be renegotiated.The development of chronic pain disorders typically involves the interaction of physical, environmental and psychological factors.

Research has demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be help with:

• reducing pain
• increasing activity levels,
• reducing reliance on medication,
• improving mood,
• improving sleep,
• improving relationships and
• reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

Because cognitive behavioural strategies are learning and skills based, ongoing improvements can occur long after intervention has finished.Pain management counselling involves:

• Changing negative thinking
• Developing positive self talk
• Learning relaxation skills
• Activity pacing
• Changing life goals
• Relationship renegotiation