Chronic Pain Therapists in 93110

Photo of Marilyn J Meyer (Formerly Owen), MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Marilyn J Meyer (Formerly Owen)
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
9 Endorsed
Goleta, CA 93110
I have experienced parenting, divorce, bereavement, and chronic pain as well as love, joy, and boundless enthusiasm.
Many of my clients are those who tend to give too much, disconnect from their own needs and desires, feel depressed and anxious, and/or experience chronic pain. They are often highly sensitive and imaginative, helpers and healers, with literary, artistic, or philosophical leanings. They are all seeking to heal inner conflicts and relationship problems rooted in early attachment wounds or traumatic experiences. Most importantly, my clients have come to recognize it's time to do their inner work in order to create the outer life they want, and they continue to grow and deepen into their innate wisdom long after therapy has ended.
I have experienced parenting, divorce, bereavement, and chronic pain as well as love, joy, and boundless enthusiasm.
Many of my clients are those who tend to give too much, disconnect from their own needs and desires, feel depressed and anxious, and/or experience chronic pain. They are often highly sensitive and imaginative, helpers and healers, with literary, artistic, or philosophical leanings. They are all seeking to heal inner conflicts and relationship problems rooted in early attachment wounds or traumatic experiences. Most importantly, my clients have come to recognize it's time to do their inner work in order to create the outer life they want, and they continue to grow and deepen into their innate wisdom long after therapy has ended.
(805) 413-4895 View (805) 413-4895
Photo of Diana Sharpe, PsyD, Psychologist
Diana Sharpe
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Goleta, CA 93110  (Online Only)
Significant life events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, chronic illness, or job loss involve great disruption to self and identity.
Are you seeking to create a more meaningful life for yourself? Are you overwhelmed or struggling? This may be a particularly challenging time in your life, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to heal and grow as a person. I will listen, encourage, guide, and support you in connecting to your own innate wisdom and power. Personally, I'm warm, down-to-earth, and compassionate; skillful in creating safe space, active enough to maintain momentum, and can offer you new perspectives on old problems.
Significant life events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, chronic illness, or job loss involve great disruption to self and identity.
Are you seeking to create a more meaningful life for yourself? Are you overwhelmed or struggling? This may be a particularly challenging time in your life, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to heal and grow as a person. I will listen, encourage, guide, and support you in connecting to your own innate wisdom and power. Personally, I'm warm, down-to-earth, and compassionate; skillful in creating safe space, active enough to maintain momentum, and can offer you new perspectives on old problems.
(805) 421-4616 View (805) 421-4616
Photo of Aeron Hart, Marriage & Family Therapist
Aeron Hart
Marriage & Family Therapist
Verified Verified
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
You may be drawn to my unique style of work because talk therapy isn’t delving deep enough into the chronic pain you hold, the painful emotions you feel, or the spinning thoughts that rule your life. You may crave a nourishment from your life you’ve lost touch with in the busy-ness, trapped in people pleasing, poor boundaries and unresolved old pain. You may remember you once felt vibrant and connected to yourself, and perhaps something greater. Are you ready to get back?
You may be drawn to my unique style of work because talk therapy isn’t delving deep enough into the chronic pain you hold, the painful emotions you feel, or the spinning thoughts that rule your life. You may crave a nourishment from your life you’ve lost touch with in the busy-ness, trapped in people pleasing, poor boundaries and unresolved old pain. You may remember you once felt vibrant and connected to yourself, and perhaps something greater. Are you ready to get back?
(805) 335-6796 View (805) 335-6796
Photo of Sharon Tobler, PhD, Psychologist
Sharon Tobler
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
I am a licensed clinical psychologist in 4 states, (California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland). If you are motivated to do your part, what I will bring to our relationship is my passion for psychology which is as fervent today as over 30 years ago when I hung out my first shingle. My job will be to figure out how to help you arrive at your pinnacle given your unique temperament and situational challenge. Your job will be to do the work.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist in 4 states, (California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland). If you are motivated to do your part, what I will bring to our relationship is my passion for psychology which is as fervent today as over 30 years ago when I hung out my first shingle. My job will be to figure out how to help you arrive at your pinnacle given your unique temperament and situational challenge. Your job will be to do the work.
(805) 291-4511 View (805) 291-4511
Photo of Ivan Chan, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Ivan Chan
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
5 Endorsed
Goleta, CA 93110  (Online Only)
If you are in the grips of anxiety, troubled relationships, grief, or other issues that threaten to overwhelm your ability to function or be happy in your life, I look forward to working with you in a safe and non-judgmental way. I use a collaborative approach and actively seek your feedback to provide you with therapy that matches your needs and respects your goals.
If you are in the grips of anxiety, troubled relationships, grief, or other issues that threaten to overwhelm your ability to function or be happy in your life, I look forward to working with you in a safe and non-judgmental way. I use a collaborative approach and actively seek your feedback to provide you with therapy that matches your needs and respects your goals.
(805) 623-4364 View (805) 623-4364
Photo of Colin Mattingly, PsyD, MA, Psychological Associate
Colin Mattingly
Psychological Associate, PsyD, MA
Verified Verified
Goleta, CA 93110
Just like physical health, mental health is an essential aspect of living well. When our mental health is amiss, our ability to enjoy life is compromised. Just as a physical limp impedes our ability to move freely, emotional suffering hinders our ability to live as we would like. Effective therapy puts you back in the driver’s seat of your own life. I’m here to collaborate with you to find creative solutions to the sources of your distress.
Just like physical health, mental health is an essential aspect of living well. When our mental health is amiss, our ability to enjoy life is compromised. Just as a physical limp impedes our ability to move freely, emotional suffering hinders our ability to live as we would like. Effective therapy puts you back in the driver’s seat of your own life. I’m here to collaborate with you to find creative solutions to the sources of your distress.
(805) 978-4584 View (805) 978-4584
Photo of Brooke Sears, PsyD, Psychologist
Brooke Sears
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Goleta, CA 93110
From birth through death, each stage of life is dynamic and valuable. Through these stages, we sometimes encounter challenges beyond our own capacity and we need to reach out for help. I believe in healing. I believe we all have the capacity to recover and learn deeply about ourselves through our most challenging experiences. I enjoy working with people of all ages and in all life stages.
From birth through death, each stage of life is dynamic and valuable. Through these stages, we sometimes encounter challenges beyond our own capacity and we need to reach out for help. I believe in healing. I believe we all have the capacity to recover and learn deeply about ourselves through our most challenging experiences. I enjoy working with people of all ages and in all life stages.
(805) 774-1258 View (805) 774-1258
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.