Chronic pain negatively impacts many aspects of a person’s life including mood, sleep, physical functioning and activity, recreation and social activities, work, school, and relationships. The goals of CBT-CP are to increase effective coping skills to manage your pain, improve emotional and physical functioning, reduce the experience of your pain intensity, and reduce the negative impact of pain on your daily life.
The effectiveness of CBT-CP for a variety of chronic panic conditions has been demonstrated in studies and has been shown to improve functioning and quality of life. Chronic pain conditions include back pain, different types of arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, radicular pain, phantom limb pain, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and different types of headaches.
The use of CBT-CP to treat pain does not preclude medical interventions and, in fact, can be an important adjunct to the medical treatment of pain. CBT-CP is based on a biopsychosocial model and traditional CBT. It focuses on the interactions among our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors surrounding pain. We also utilize other important evidence-based therapies to help manage pain including motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), relaxation, and mindfulness. CBT-CP includes an assessment of chronic pain, patient education, goal planning, learning and applying cognitive behavioral skills, overcoming obstacles to using your skills, and maintaining treatment gains.
If you are experiencing chronic pain, contact Greenwich Psychology & Wellness today for a free, brief consultation or an initial appointment. We are here to help.