Pain medicine psychiatrists work with a patient to help understand and manage behaviors, emotions, and thoughts associated with pain and discomfort, ultimately helping a patient more effectively cope with or reduce pain.
Pain psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to address comorbid mental health disorders and substance abuse as they relate to chronic pain management. Psychotherapy services offered by a pain psychiatrist include:
- Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CTB): involves learning and developing coping skills, offers values-based activities, and provides the opportunity to practice mindfulness for chronic pain and related difficulties (e.g., anxiety, behavioral, depression, mental, and sleep difficulties)
- Biofeedback-assisted psychotherapy: encompasses brainwork on controlling the autonomic nervous system to improve one’s ability to cope with stress and reduce the risk of chronic pain
