Chronic Pain Therapists in Oshawa, ON
See all counsellors in Oshawa
Katherine Valkanas
Art Therapist, MA, RP(Q), CCC, CATA
Verified
Verified
Katherine Valkanas supports individuals and families through personal anxieties & stress, trauma, depression, end-of-life care, processing grief and loss, mental health obstacles, and mental
illness
.
Art therapy is a form of therapy that combines the creative process of art making and the therapeutic alliance to build on self-expression and reflection of an individual’s lived experiences. Art therapy is beneficial for working on life obstacles & transitions, improving mental health, developing strategies in achieving goals, and enhancing insight & self-awareness.

Kathy Dunbar
RSSW
Verified
Verified
Kathy's work emphasizes the link between
illness
and the expression of emotions.
Kathy's background is in the field of Social Work with a specialty in Sexual abuse and Addictions. She has additional training in Psychodramatic(R) Bodywork, Reiki, and she is a Master Instructor of Integrative Energy Therapy. She is a SoulCollage(R) Facilitator and and Sandplay Therapist. She has been in private practice for over 30 years. She brings extensive experience and assistance to individuals and couples with such issues as: conflict resolution, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, parenting, self esteem, sexual orientation, trauma, separation and divorce, sexual abuse, eating disorders, anger management and addictions

Ester Odermatt Counselling Services
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I work with women who are looking for support with anxiety, stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, grief and/or chronic
illness
/
chronic pain
. I believe mental health is as important as physical health and they impact each other. I strive to provide compassionate, trauma informed, anti-oppressive care and am committed to providing a space free from judgement so you feel safe and supported as you navigate life's challenging circumstances and discover all parts of who you are. Your healing is my goal and I look forward to supporting you on your journey!

Jessica Hamel
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, BA Hons
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My goal is not to eliminate the difficulties or
pain
you may be faced with, but rather to help you find ways to cope with and work through them at your own pace.
Are you having issues with self-esteem? Relationships? Friendships? School? Work? Or do you have a loved one who is struggling? Perhaps with some anxiety? Depression? Body image concerns? Disordered eating? Self-harm? Suicidal ideation? If any of this sounds familiar, I am so glad you are here. Navigating any of the concerns above is not easy, and it takes a lot of courage to reach out, show up, and begin the process of therapy.

Cynthia Perry Brown
Registered Psychotherapist, RN, RP, BScN, BEd, MEd(Psy
Verified
Verified
I work with adults, youth and couples who are feeling distressed by issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, workplace stress, family conflict, loss, physical
illness
,
pain
, and self-esteem. Often these difficulties are rooted in life experiences that have contributed to feelings of sadness, anger, self-doubt, and shame. In our work together you can learn to understand and change repetitive patterns of thinking and behavior, and learn to be more compassionate with yourself. We will also identify new skills and strategies that can help you to make positive changes in your life

Ann Morgan
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
Verified
Verified
I have provided treatment for adults, focusing on anxiety disorders, trauma, depression,
chronic pain
and adjustment difficulties; particularly those involving work.
I help people get Unstuck from the internal and external struggles that keep us from living fully, now. We humans suffer, not only because of the inevitable
pain
that life presents, but because of the difficult emotions, thoughts, memories, urges and sensations we experience in response to the
pain
. We humans are also incredibly adaptive, with the ability to demonstrate tremendous courage, compassion and resiliency that allows us to overcome and grow from adversity and difficult personal histories. My approach is client-centered, collaborative, solution-focused, and grounded in evidence-based science.

Rhonda Thompson
Counsellor, MSW, RSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Other important areas of practice include supporting folks through life's transitions, chronic
illness
/
chronic pain
, grief/bereavement, depression, anxiety and trauma processing.
We all struggle with something at some point in our lives. Is there hurt, anger, grief, regret or relational discord that needs healing, that you haven’t yet made eye contact with or spoken aloud about? It’s my passion and privilege to help clients find their way when they realize they don’t need to do it alone. To explore or unpack life's
pain
and challenges is a courageous step that can lead to meaningful outcomes of growth, healing and a greater sense of wellness. Due to the uniqueness of each client, I intentionally engage in a collaborative and integrated approach which respects individual client needs and experiences.

Charlotte MacLean
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), CCC, ADMH
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
Are you or your loved ones feeling stuck? I support couples, families, and individuals' transition through life events and conflicts. Opening up communication allows individuals to express or learn how to express themselves in a healthy way. Navigating through a relationship can be tricky and can lead to frustration. Working with existing strengths and tools I help clients build the support they need to work towards their goals set out in therapy.

Psychological & Counselling Services Group
Psychologist, PhD, CCFT, CPsych
Verified
Verified
We provide individual psychotherapy, couple therapy, family therapy, sex therapy, psychological and vocational assessment and psycho-educational assessment and intervention. We can help you and your family cope with and overcome life challenges, relationship conflicts, traumas, and mental health concerns. Our services are provided by registered psychologists, registered psychotherapists and experienced masters/doctoral clinicians under supervision.

Richard Bates, RP, of Strength Zone Holistic
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, Bsc, RP
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I enjoy working with both individuals and couples. If you are finding that you are feeling stuck or unable to have the life you truly desire I can help. I also work with couples re-discover the intimacy that can go missing at certain times, and to re-connect despite the issues that have created conflict.

Simar Gill Lowther
Registered Psychotherapist, MACP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Life isn't always easy. Sometimes, even the strongest people amongst us need a little bit of help to work through some of life's more challenging situations. Whether you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, relationships or trauma, you should know that there is hope.

Heather Ratych
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, CHyp, PMH-C
Verified
Verified
The transition to parenthood can be exciting, but can also bring on feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and doubt, and many mothers feel isolated, exhausted and alone. As moms, we've been there: struggling to conceive, postpartum anxiety, the desire to do everything “right”, the constant worry about baby and wondering if what you're feeling is normal. We work with individuals and couples in all phases of life, with a strong focus on the fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting periods, and have received extensive Maternal Mental Health training and certification from Postpartum Support International in Perinatal Mental Health.

Aastha Jain
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MPhil, MA, RP(Q)
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I feel there is no one right path for self exploration. Some have that space via reading, spirituality, writing or something else. And for some it can take the form of therapy which is not just problem focused but rather person focused. At times, the motivation for self exploration comes from painful life events occurring outside us or other times it could be the overwhelming emotions building up within us. It can also be difficult to distinguish oneself from one’s difficulties and as a therapist I try to join you in your dialogue, confusion & difficulties. Therapy space is unique for it preserves space for the unspoken words too.

Christine Wildman
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
Verified
Verified
I have worked with individuals with diverse backgrounds and challenges for almost 20 years. Most people I meet with have been struggling to work through issues such as: anxiety, depression, life transitions, losses, and difficulties with coping skills. I appreciate that individuals come to therapy because they are looking to improve their lives and gain new coping skills for the life challenges they are encountering. I am passionate about mental health and I will meet you exactly where you are and work with you to find the path through your challenges.

Tara Vanessa Mummery
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, OACCPP, RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Feeling Stuck? Are you unhappy? Do you doubt yourself? Want to make changes and don't know how? Doing what you "SHOULD DO" instead of what you 'WANT?" Do you feel a sense of emptiness or meaninglessness in you life? You have the power within you to alter your perceptions and limiting thoughts. Rather than look outside of yourself for meaning, I invite you to explore what's within. You can change the storage of your private thoughts The past is one chapter of your life and now you can create a new chapter that will support you.

Arshdeep Bath
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, BSc
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My name is Arshdeep, and I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. I work under supervision currently. I have extensive experience working with and supporting individuals with physical and mental health challenges before beginning my career as a psychotherapist. I provide a culture-sensitive, collaborative, integrative, and holistic approach to counselling keeping in mind the biological, social, and psychological wellness of the clients. I work with clients from different backgrounds providing unique treatment approaches applicable to each client.

Brianne E Dutrisac
Registered Psychotherapist, BA, MA, RP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My ideal client is someone who is coming to therapy seeking help in a true intention to help themselves and grow. Despite the common theme of depression and anxiety among society, the need for help is conducive to finding inner strength and identity that correlates with a happier life. I will never turn down anyone seeking help in the form of support and the therapeutic process.

Cathy Shurie
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, RSSW
Verified
Verified
We all experience stress. How we cope with stress either past or present is the challenge. It is possible to acquire coping strategies to not only reduce stress but to reach a place of happiness and resolution. I have been working with individual adults, adolescents, children, as well as, couples, and families for over 40 years. I see people who are concerned about a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, anger management, family and marital conflict, parenting, and behaviour management. I have been in positions of program manager, clinical director, and clinical consultant.

Jeff Packer MSW & Associates Inc.
Registered Social Worker, BAPsych, MSW, RSW, RP
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
Seeking help with personal challenges takes courage. Often the issues we are facing can make us feel stuck or blocked from achieving our goals. Healthy magnificent lives and relationships are built by gathering information, advice, knowledge and experience. We help you identify your existing strengths, clarify problem areas and develop solutions to resolve the challenges you face, removing obstacles that block your path to positive change. We work with people of all ages, cultures and orientations . Our aim is to help you improve yourself and your relationships using evidence-based approaches and strategies. For more information or to schedule your initial consultation in person or internet video session ... visit us at www.jeffpacker.com.

Dianne Boyd (Boyd Mediation And Counselling)
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, AccFM
Verified
Verified
The reasons why people attend counselling and therapy are as varied as people themselves. Counselling provides a safe and confidential environment for people to talk through their challenges with a non-judgemental and supportive professional. As a registered Social Worker, I provide individual counselling, couples & marriage counselling, divorce counselling and reconciliation counselling.
See more therapy options for
Chronic Pain Counsellors
How does chronic pain therapy work?
Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.
What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?
Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophising, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.
Are there new treatments for chronic pain?
Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.
How long does therapy for chronic pain take?
There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.