Counselling for Chronic Pain in Vancouver BC
Counselling for Chronic Pain in Vancouver BC
Online and in-person
Chronic Pain is a complex and subjective experience that is influenced by various factors beyond the intensity of the pain itself.
A person’s emotions and beliefs about pain can also play a role in how they perceive it. If someone is feeling anxious or depressed, they may experience more severe pain than if they were in a better emotional state.
Managing chronic pain involves taking into account all of these factors, in addition to the intensity of the pain itself. By addressing these elements, an individual can improve their overall well-being and better manage their pain.
Why Seek Help for Chronic Pain?
The body and the mind are closely connected and can have a significant impact on each other. Chronic pain can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and frustration, while mental health issues can also contribute to physical pain.
These challenges can make it difficult for individuals to effectively manage their pain while also participating in their daily activities and maintaining a sense of normalcy in their lives.
Mindfulness-based practices have been shown to be effective in reducing pain intensity, improving mood and quality of life, and increasing the ability to cope with chronic pain.
By incorporating mindfulness practices into their treatment plan, people can learn to manage their pain in a more proactive and holistic way.
It is important to note that seeking help for chronic pain is not a sign of weakness. It is a proactive step towards improving one’s overall well-being and managing pain in a healthy and effective way.
How Can Counselling Help?
Chronic pain counselling can be an effective treatment option for people struggling with chronic pain. It can help clients better understand and manage their pain, and develop healthier coping strategies to improve their overall quality of life.
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer in the field of mindfulness-based stress reduction, has long advocated for the use of mindfulness and other somatic-based therapies for managing chronic pain.
According to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness can help individuals with chronic pain change the way they relate to their pain, and develop greater acceptance and equanimity towards it. By learning to pay attention to their pain in a more non-judgmental way, individuals can develop healthier coping strategies and improve their overall quality of life.
It can help to reduce the emotional suffering that often accompanies pain and treat any underlying trauma symptoms that may be contributing to the pain. By addressing anxiety, trauma, depression, and other emotional symptoms that may be related to pain and illness, psychotherapy can help calm the body’s central sensitivity and reduce pain.
Chronic Pain Treatment
There are several types of treatment modalities that may be helpful for managing chronic pain, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)helps individuals identify and change negative patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to their pain
- Mindfulness-Based Interventionscan be helpful in managing chronic pain by helping individuals change their relationship with pain and develop a greater sense of acceptance and self-compassion. These practices involve training the mind to focus on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings as they arise, rather than trying to control or eliminate them.
- Biofeedbackuses monitoring devices to help individuals learn to control their bodily responses, such as muscle tension or heart rate.
It’s important to these treatments can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, as part of a comprehensive approach to pain management
“There is a wisdom in trauma when we realize that our traumatic responses and imprints are not ourselves and that we can work them through and thus become ourselves.”