“How do you use cognitive behavioral approaches to treat chronic pain?”

Medical evaluation added to yoga and various forms of meditation and spirituality & positivity no matter what is happening. Address cause and effect, action/reaction. Focus on discovering emotional freedom.


Dr. Claire, PsyD.

Cognitive behavioral approaches can be used to chronic pain in that the client has an understanding on how their behavior or behavior modifications can possibly change their lifestyle in order to eliminate the chronic pain.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that helps people identify and develop skills to change negative thoughts and behaviors. CBT says that individuals -- not outside situations and events.

CBT is a way to stop the negative thoughts that relate to the pain. Replacing it with a form of energy and behavior that in time dissolves the pain and is replaced with a better, joyful and calmer feeling. Tools that work best for you. You know YOU. Seek talk therapy with spiritual vibration or hypnosis or sound healing, meditation, yoga.

Hello and thank you for your question,

I currently do not treat clients with chronic pain. However, CBT in conjunction with other interventions is used by addressing thoughts, emotions, and behavior related to pain. Changing negative perceptions is the basis for using CBT to treat pain.

Respectfully,

Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC

To best understand this, I would encourage you to research a concept called the gate control theory for pain. Once you understand that theory, you will see that the fact that physical problems influence pain is only a part of the equation. Psychological variables greatly affect how a person perceives pain and consequently responds to treatment. The goal is to “close the gate” to reduce pain perception and there are several ways to do this including relaxation techniques, concentration and distraction, medication, grounding and mindfulness strategies, and acceptance to name a few.
In general, to reduce chronic pain it’s important to improve physical function and decrease behaviors that increase pain, improve personal control and self-esteem, and increase social supports and activities that will distract from the pain.
The CBT approach evaluates the cognitions such as the meaning you attach to the pain, the behaviors that you engage in that may increase the pain (such as decreasing activities) and the emotions such as potential sadness or grief over the loss of earlier functioning. The good news is that we wouldn’t need to make a change with all 3 (cognitions, behaviors and emotions). If we focus on just one, let’s say the thinking and challenge or reframe the thoughts, the behaviors and feelings will shift and consequently the pain will decrease.

Note this link for some insight into your question:
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/cognitive-behavioral#1

Also, take a peek at the CURABLE program.