Find a Chronic Pain Therapist

What is chronic pain, and when does pain become “chronic”?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three to six months or beyond the typical healing time of an injury or illness. It might be constant or intermittent. It may have a clear cause—or no identifiable medical explanation at all.

Common examples of chronic pain conditions include:

• Back or neck pain
• Migraines or chronic headaches
• Arthritis or joint pain
• Nerve pain (neuropathy)
• Fibromyalgia
• Endometriosis
• Autoimmune conditions
• Post-surgical pain

Pain becomes “chronic” when it persists beyond the point where the body should have healed, often becoming a condition of its own. A pain management therapist works with you not just to relieve pain—but to change how you relate to it, reduce suffering, and improve your quality of life.

Can therapy really help with physical pain?

Yes—therapy can be a powerful tool in managing chronic pain, even though it doesn’t “cure” the source of the pain directly.

Therapy works by helping you:

• Rewire how your brain processes pain signals
• Reduce the emotional suffering that amplifies pain perception
• Manage stress, anxiety, and depression that worsen physical symptoms
• Increase your ability to function and engage in meaningful activities
• Cope with the frustration, fear, or grief of living with long-term illness

Pain is a complex experience shaped by biology, psychology, and environment. Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain, among other approaches, teaches evidence-based skills to reduce the impact of pain on your daily life.

What types of therapy are used to treat chronic pain (e.g., CBT, ACT)?

Several forms of psychotherapy have been shown to be effective in chronic illness counseling and pain management. Your therapist may use one or a combination of the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The most researched psychological treatment for chronic pain, CBT helps you:

• Identify thoughts and behaviors that worsen pain
• Develop coping strategies
• Improve sleep, mood, and daily functioning
• Break the pain-stress-pain cycle

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Focuses on accepting pain rather than fighting it, while helping you commit to living a meaningful life despite discomfort. ACT teaches mindfulness and psychological flexibility.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Combines meditation, gentle movement, and awareness techniques to reduce stress and change your relationship with pain.

Biofeedback and Relaxation Training

Teaches you to regulate physiological responses like muscle tension, heart rate, and breathing, which can all influence pain levels.

Pain Neuroscience Education

Helps you understand how pain works in the brain and body, reducing fear and catastrophizing, which often intensify pain perception.

An experienced chronic illness therapist will tailor treatment to your condition, lifestyle, and preferences.

How does chronic pain affect mental health, like anxiety or depression?

Chronic pain and mental health are deeply intertwined. When you live with pain day after day, it’s common to experience:

• Depression: Loss of joy, energy, and purpose
• Anxiety: Fear about the future, your health, or your ability to function
• Irritability or emotional sensitivity
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Low self-esteem or identity loss
• Suicidal thoughts in severe cases

These symptoms are not weaknesses—they’re understandable responses to ongoing physical suffering. A chronic illness therapist can help you address the emotional side of pain, which often leads to real, measurable improvement in overall well-being.

What is pain psychology and how is it different from physical therapy?

Pain psychology focuses on the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of living with chronic pain. Unlike physical therapy, which addresses movement and function, pain psychology helps you:

• Manage thoughts and emotions related to pain
• Reduce the stress and trauma that amplify symptoms
• Improve motivation and adherence to treatment plans
• Navigate the life impact of chronic illness (relationships, work, identity)
• Build a sense of agency, even in the face of ongoing discomfort

Both disciplines are essential. While physical therapy helps your body function better, a chronic pain therapist helps your mind and nervous system respond more effectively—so you can feel more in control, less distressed, and more empowered.

Can stress or trauma make chronic pain worse?

Yes—and often does. Chronic stress, unresolved trauma, or early adverse experiences can sensitize your nervous system, making pain feel more intense and harder to manage. This doesn’t mean your pain is “psychological” or “made up.” It means that pain is multidimensional, and psychological factors can influence how it's experienced.

This is especially true for people with:

• PTSD or complex trauma
• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Medical trauma or past invalidation
• High levels of current life stress

A trauma-informed chronic pain therapist will help you process these experiences safely, reduce nervous system reactivity, and teach regulation skills that can soften both emotional and physical pain.

Is chronic pain all in my head if a therapist is involved?

Absolutely not. One of the most harmful misconceptions is that if therapy is recommended, your pain must not be real. Pain is always real.

What therapy does is acknowledge that pain has both physical and emotional dimensions. Your thoughts, emotions, stress levels, and past experiences all influence how your brain and nervous system process pain signals.

Therapy doesn’t suggest the pain is imagined—it provides tools to help your brain change its response to pain. Just like physical therapy strengthens muscles, pain psychology strengthens emotional and cognitive resilience, giving you more control over your experience.

What should I expect in a therapy session for chronic pain?

In your first few sessions, your chronic pain therapist will:

• Get to know your pain history, symptoms, and current challenges
• Ask about how pain affects your daily life, relationships, and mood
• Explore your goals for therapy—whether that’s reducing pain intensity, regaining independence, or improving emotional well-being
• Begin to introduce tools and strategies to help you manage symptoms and stress

Over time, therapy may include:

• Learning how to pace activities to avoid flare-ups
• Tracking and reframing negative thought patterns
• Relaxation techniques like breathing, visualization, or progressive muscle relaxation
• Developing coping strategies for pain spikes or setbacks
• Addressing grief, anger, or identity loss related to chronic illness

The pace is gentle, and the focus is always on building safety, skill, and empowerment.

Can therapy help reduce my reliance on pain medication?

In many cases, yes. While medication plays a vital role for some people, chronic pain therapy can help reduce reliance on painkillers by:

• Teaching non-pharmacological pain management strategies
• Improving sleep, which often reduces overall pain
• Helping manage fear and stress, which amplify symptoms
• Supporting a gradual taper (if appropriate and medically supervised)
• Reducing emotional reactivity to pain, which can decrease perceived intensity

Your therapist will never ask you to stop taking medication—but they will support your goals, whether that’s medication reduction, lifestyle change, or better functioning with current treatment.

How do I talk to my doctor about including therapy in my pain treatment plan?

Start by being honest. You might say:

• “I’ve read that therapy can help with chronic pain. Can you help me find someone?”
• “I’m interested in cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain—can we add that to my care plan?”
• “I’d like support with coping emotionally. Could we integrate mental health care into my treatment?”

Most doctors are supportive, especially if you’re proactive and informed. You can also bring information about pain management therapists or clinics to your appointment, showing that you’re serious about comprehensive care.

Is group therapy or support groups helpful for chronic pain?

Yes—support groups and group therapy can be incredibly validating and helpful for people with chronic illness. They provide:

• Shared understanding—you’re not the only one navigating invisible symptoms
• Emotional support from people who “get it”
• New strategies and insights for managing daily life
• Reduced isolation and stigma
• A safe space to talk about fears, frustrations, and small victories

Look for groups specifically focused on chronic pain, fibromyalgia, autoimmune illness, or related conditions. These may be in person or online. Your chronic illness counselor can help you find a group that aligns with your needs and comfort level.

How can therapy help me cope with the emotional impact of living with a chronic illness?

Living with a chronic illness or persistent pain often involves grieving the life you thought you’d have. It’s common to experience a rollercoaster of emotions—anger, sadness, fear, guilt, even resentment of your own body.

Therapy can help you:

• Name and validate those emotions without shame
• Process the grief of lost abilities or identity
• Redefine purpose, goals, and relationships in light of your condition
• Strengthen resilience, self-worth, and self-compassion
• Set boundaries and advocate for your needs
• Reconnect with joy, meaning, and a sense of agency

A compassionate chronic illness therapist walks beside you, helping you reclaim a sense of self that is strong, whole, and more than your diagnosis.

You are not imagining your pain. You are not weak. You are not alone.

Whether your journey with chronic pain is new or decades long, you deserve comprehensive support. Therapy isn’t a last resort—it’s a powerful tool for building a more sustainable, meaningful life, even in the presence of pain.

Explore care with a trained chronic pain therapist, seek chronic illness counseling, or begin cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain to start reclaiming your life today. You are more than your pain—and healing is possible.