Chronic pain typically refers to persistent physical pain that can continue unexpectedly and often unexplained. It can last months or even years, it can be dull or acute, and it can affect any part of the body. While most people consider chronic pain to be primarily physical in nature, we at Resilience Psychological Services know that the mental health effects of long-term pain can be incredibly uncomfortable and, for some, even debilitating. Chronic pain is intimately connected to, and influenced by, our emotions, memories, and feelings. 

The experience of chronic pain can touch every aspect of your physical and mental well-being. As a result, its effects can be deep and profound, preventing you from living the life you love. At the same time, it can be difficult to explain your experience of pain to others, who may claim that it’s “all in your head,” leaving you feeling stigmatized, unheard, and alone. It’s no wonder that roughly half of those struggling with chronic pain also face another mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. 

If any of this sounds familiar to you, please know that our therapists at Resilience Psychological Services are here to offer help and hope. We provide compassionate care and support for people struggling with the many interrelated mental, physical, social, and professional challenges of living with chronic pain.  

HOW WE CAN HELP

The therapists at Resilience Psychological Services can help you to understand your experience of chronic pain—how it began, how it has developed over time, and how it is currently affecting your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, relationships, and functioning in the world. We can begin to strategize together about ways to mindfully accept and cope with your physical experience. If you are also experiencing depression, anxiety, or any feelings of shame or stigma, our trained clinicians can provide treatment for those conditions that is thoughtfully integrated into your therapy for chronic pain. 

Together, you and your therapist will establish goals designed to restore and renew your life, including by gradually pursuing activities you may have found meaningful before you began to experience this chronic pain. At Resilience, your healing process may involve both talk therapy and an exploration of how your body carries its stress, tension, and pain. When helpful, we may propose a variety of healing methods, including, meditation, deep breathing, and overall body awareness. These holistic approaches to healing open the door to deepened emotional and physical balance, which can foster a clearer sense of direction. If you are working with another clinician to manage your pain with medications, the therapists at Resilience can communicate with those clinicians to provide you a coordinated experience of care. 

Here at Resilience, we offer our clients a non-judgmental, safe, and calming space to approach their emotional, physical, and ultimately whole-person healing from chronic pain. Please contact us for a free consultation.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic pain
 

•  Persistant pain or discomfort
•  Difficulty sleeping
•  Low self-esteem
•  Withdrawal from social relationships
•  Difficulties functioning in daily life
•  Grief of mobility or physical performance
•  Irritability

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