Every comprehensive pain center offers a psychological component as an integral part of the evaluation and treatment of their patients. There are many good reasons for this. Supporting the patient and working to achieve the best possible treatment results are the most important reasons.

Pain patients who are initially referred for psychological evaluation and treatment sometimes misunderstand the role of psychology. It is not because your pain is imaginary or all in your head. Counseling is considered part of the overall treatment for pain management.

As a person suffering the consequences of chronic pain, you know very well how pain can disrupt your life. Most people with chronic pain suffer from some degree of depression, anxiety, frustration and anger. They frequently suffer loss of self esteem associated with limitations in their ability to function fully as a parent, spouse, and productive individual. Their families are often affected in adverse ways as they try to cope; with the pain and suffering of a loved one. Patients usually become more socially isolated because they are unable to do the things they used to do with their family and friends. A very important role for the pain psychologist is to prevent or reduce some of these potentially disastrous psychological consequences.

People with pain are also aware that the everyday stresses of life, as well as the real crises we all have from time to time, can aggravate your pain and increase your overall level of suffering. The pain psychologist is available to teach stress management techniques that can significantly reduce your suffering. The things you can do for yourself are, taking and active role in your own pain treatment, in addition to any medical treatment or physical therapy you are receiving.

The Health Centers is in the process of securing a psychologist to make in office visits. Since your pain is definitely not “all in your head” the psychologist will not be able to cure your pain condition. However, the psychologist will very likely be able to help you cope with the destructive consequences of your pain, to teach ways of reducing your pain and help with managing the other life stressors which aggravate your pain. The psychologist will also conduct pain education and stress management groups to inform you and your family about the nature of chronic pain and what you can do to reduce pain and its effects.