Chronic Pain Therapists in 53222
Bob Rockey
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, ACSW
Verified Verified
Wauwatosa, WI 53222 (Online Only)
Since 1980 I have served those struggling with mental illness and personal problems in greater Milwaukee. I mainly help adults and older adults individually. Common topics I treat include depression, bipolar disorder, codependency, abuse, worry, grieving, chronic pain and health issues, and generally dealing with changes. Many I see experienced a long slow decline over time when that, "Straw that Broke the Camel's Back," landed. It became clear that things were just not working, and they need to try something different. That's when many of my people called me.
Since 1980 I have served those struggling with mental illness and personal problems in greater Milwaukee. I mainly help adults and older adults individually. Common topics I treat include depression, bipolar disorder, codependency, abuse, worry, grieving, chronic pain and health issues, and generally dealing with changes. Many I see experienced a long slow decline over time when that, "Straw that Broke the Camel's Back," landed. It became clear that things were just not working, and they need to try something different. That's when many of my people called me.
Carrie Peterson
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified Verified
Wauwatosa, WI 53222
Whether you are seeking help with relationship issues, emotional struggles, or life's problems, therapy can provide you with the tools and understanding to find solutions for your problems and relief from emotional pain.
My therapeutic style is a holistic approach of understanding the mind, body, and spirit connection by incorporating Internal Family Systems (IFS) strategies when necessary. I foster self-awareness and motivation within my clients, and support emotional understanding, which allow you to manifest growth and change. I am transparent and will appropriately self-disclose to help you through a “stuck” place and gain valuable insight into yourself. My work demonstrates a passion for people and their healing journeys, and I will support you in making a connection with yourself while restoring joy to life’s wonderful gifts.
Whether you are seeking help with relationship issues, emotional struggles, or life's problems, therapy can provide you with the tools and understanding to find solutions for your problems and relief from emotional pain.
My therapeutic style is a holistic approach of understanding the mind, body, and spirit connection by incorporating Internal Family Systems (IFS) strategies when necessary. I foster self-awareness and motivation within my clients, and support emotional understanding, which allow you to manifest growth and change. I am transparent and will appropriately self-disclose to help you through a “stuck” place and gain valuable insight into yourself. My work demonstrates a passion for people and their healing journeys, and I will support you in making a connection with yourself while restoring joy to life’s wonderful gifts.
Mandy Leslie
Counselor, MS, LPC-IT
Verified Verified
Wauwatosa, WI 53222
Life's motion can feel intense and demanding, seeming to move at a pace beyond one's stride, resulting in chronic stress, increased anxiety, fear, and for some, chronic pain. Throughout this motion, self-care and nurturing relationships can feel overwhelming. Connecting with another human can be one of the safest ways to become grounded and encounter what is asking for acknowledgment and care. I believe the therapeutic relationship and environment has immense potential to provide a secure container for all that is felt to be seen and explored—giving fear the opportunity to be faced and transformed into intentional forward movement.
Life's motion can feel intense and demanding, seeming to move at a pace beyond one's stride, resulting in chronic stress, increased anxiety, fear, and for some, chronic pain. Throughout this motion, self-care and nurturing relationships can feel overwhelming. Connecting with another human can be one of the safest ways to become grounded and encounter what is asking for acknowledgment and care. I believe the therapeutic relationship and environment has immense potential to provide a secure container for all that is felt to be seen and explored—giving fear the opportunity to be faced and transformed into intentional forward movement.
Jeffrey Ligman
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Wauwatosa, WI 53222
Many people suffer and they are not quite sure what the problem is. Many other people may have been told what the problem is but this still has not helped. These are the people I work best with. No matter what the problem seems to be, I seem to be able to help when others have not. When my clients have told me this, I know I am on the right track.
Many people suffer and they are not quite sure what the problem is. Many other people may have been told what the problem is but this still has not helped. These are the people I work best with. No matter what the problem seems to be, I seem to be able to help when others have not. When my clients have told me this, I know I am on the right track.
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Chronic Pain Therapists
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, catastrophizing, 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 behavioral 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.