Chronic Pain Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA
See all therapists in Santa Cruz
Hasanna Fletcher
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
After curing my own chronic back
pain
fifteen years ago, I've used the same mindbody approach to help clients overcome a broad range of emotionally induced
chronic pain
conditions.
People often come to therapy blaming each other or themselves for their problems. I work to help you identify and stand up to the real problems in your lives. If you're experiencing difficulties in your relationship, I'll help you and your partner become allies to join together to understand and change the problems undermining your connection. If you're dealing wtih individual problems, such as depression, anxiety or loss, I'll help you to inquire into and challenge negative self-blaming beliefs and old stories that keep you on your case instead of on your side.
Erin Liana Johnson
Counselor, MA, LPCC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Do your sensitivities to the world and relationships sometimes feel like more of a burden than a blessing? Do you want to get into better relationship with yourself and your body? Maybe you are experiencing a difficult life transition or wrestling with
pain
, fear, or despair at the state of your life or the world. Perhaps you want to explore parts of yourself that have previously been held silent by anxieties or conditioning. If so, I would be a great fit for you!
Philip Spradling
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, PhD, MSG
Verified
Verified
I also assist those living with
chronic pain
and
illness
who feel isolated.
"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is." - There is great benefit to be found from tuning into your heart and mind. What are these voices saying to you? Do you sense a disconnect between your desires in life and the person you present to others? Are you a spiritual person but you don't find this impacts your daily life? It is my aim to create a safe and welcoming space where one feels known and accepted just as they are. When one feels accepted, one is able to share more and more of their journey, including the painful parts. Feeling deeply heard & understood is a starting point toward transformation.
Isa Reser
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, ATR
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I believe therapy is the development of a safe and trusting relationship between the facilitator and the participant. Therapy can be hard work and getting started can be scary, however making art, using play or being in nature can ease this process. As your therapist I will encourage you to use your creative imagination as a vehicle to understanding your inner turmoil, psychic
pain
or stagnancy. Along the way we will be implementing these effective tools in cultivating a more fulfilling life experience.
Monika Martynska
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I have ongoing groups focusing on chronic
illness
, stress reduction, and anxiety.
Congratulations for taking a step towards creating change. Finding a therapist can be challenging and it is important to find one who is right for you. I offer a free introductory session which we use to get to know each other. Clients often come into my office feeling hopeless or nervous, but usually leave feeling more hopeful and relaxed. I love to see people grow and thrive with the support of therapy. My style is warm, empathic, and collaborative. In our work together we draw on your strengths and wisdom and my goal is to empower you to create a more joyful and fulfilling life.
Maura Furness
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, PPSC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have a straight forward, strength-based, humanistic approach to working with my clients. I believe you have inherent strengths and transformational healing abilities no matter how much
pain
or suffering you may experience. My goal is to support you to discover and harness these abilities to access healing, freedom from suffering, and a deeper inner knowing.
Joe Sousa
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Furthermore, my experience includes working with those with physical difficulties, such as sleeplessness, excessive weight loss or gain, and acute and
chronic pain
management.
Hi. I am Joe Sousa, a licensed psychotherapist in the State of CA. I've been providing counseling services in the Santa Cruz area in one form or another since 1993. Here's the issues I work with in therapy: Relationship enhancement, improve communication, sexual intimacy; handling difficulties, such as breakups and divorce; discovering life purpose and build self-esteem; issues relating to school, careers, money, a child or an elderly parent; dealing with powerful emotions, like anger, anxiety, depression, fear, grief, loss, and panic; addictive or compulsive behavior, with regard to alcohol, drugs, food, sex and/or porn.
Michelle Moses LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW
Verified
Verified
Do you find yourself up at night worrying? Do you cry in the shower, feel all alone or “not yourself?” My clients tell me they feel supported and safe to process out stress w/ spot focused attention-- this allows for quick relief from physical and/or emotional
pain
and creates space and energy for creative problem solving and creating your life in alignment!.
Pandemic. War. Existential shock; we can feel lack in our joy and our vitality; we feel overwhelm in body, mind and spirit. We can’t sleep, our relationships don’t feel right and we feel lost in the huge and scary waves of fear and worry about the past, the future and our survival...there is hope! we partner in practices to find compassion and radical acceptance; we dedicate space to cultivate and nourish the growth mindset and ourselves deeply— I hold sacred and safe spaces for womxn who feel stuck in fear and overwhelm so they can reboot and reconnect with their body wisdom and become the best version of themselves. regardless.
Self Discovery Jungian Psychotherapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I think therapy is always a good idea. Crisis, however, is often what leads us into therapy, and I believe that it is a call and an opportunity to look deeply, not only into our "problems" but, into ourselves. My approach is non-pathologizing, relational, and grounded in Jungian theory. I work with a variety of concerns with a special interest in spirituality, identity discovery, developmental and transitional adjustments, grief, loss, depression, chronic and palliative
illness
. I believe that every person has an innate capacity for healing and I am interested in helping people find theirs.
Chris Davidson
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
My therapeutic style is personal, respectful and practical. I can help you create and notice positive changes in your life and relationships and adapt to changing conditions as necessary.
I'll work with you to achieve tangible results towards your goals in therapy. We'll focus on what works to notice positive change as it happens.
Although I treat people with a wide range of issues, some areas of particular focus in my practice are: helping individuals and relationships that are affected by Chronic Physical
Illness
and/or
Pain
, Depression and Anxiety.
Not accepting new clients
Margaret Putnam-Pite
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW, ACHP-SW
Verified
Verified
Are you or someone you love dealing with a life-threatening
illness
? Whether newly diagnosed, in active treatment or nearing end-of-life, the uncertainty and fear can be overwhelming. I offer counseling to help you find peace and fulfillment in this experience, to enable you to give and receive love in ways that might previously have seemed impossible. We can explore the impact
illness
is having on your life and develop strategies for managing the challenges you are facing. I work with families to improve communication and I offer guidance and support to caregivers, enabling them to provide the best care possible.
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Jillian Chesley
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
mental
illness
-The mind/body connection
-Insurance pros and cons.
With a passion for inspiring individuals to claim their own personal excellence, my expertise is in understanding interpersonal dynamics, and successfully coaching individuals, couples, families and groups into reaching their highest self. My background includes a degree in Organizational Communication, a ten year career as a Technical/Corporate Instructor, and six years providing coaching with a Master of Arts in MFT. Along with my private practice, I teach psychology and management classes for University Of Phoenix and am completing a book, Mental Health For Consumers. I look forward to our meeting and the potential of becoming part of your journey.
Waitlist for new clients
Hannah Idalia
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CMT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Your healing can start today. In addition to being an LMFT, my training extends beyond talk therapy to include holistic/integrative methods. I help individuals get to the root of their problems and free themselves from the blocks that keep them stuck. Every session is customized and may include transpersonal hypnotherapy, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, neurofeedback, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, prenatal and perinatal therapy, and mindfulness based therapy for stress and
pain
reduction.
Carol Cochrane Bass
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
As I trusted others with my own struggles and
pain
, and experienced their compassion and insights, it helped me on my own life journey and I desired to offer that same care to others.
VIDEO SESSIONS AVAILABLE FOR ALL CLIENTS . . . . . Initiating therapy can be a daunting and challenging process, and that begins with selecting a therapist around whom you will feel comfortable, safe and respected. To help you with that process, I'll start by sharing a few things about myself. I became a therapist because I discovered that it was a large part of who I am. Even at an early age, I found that I was often the person others felt safe to let their guard down with - to share what was happening below the surface, and to seek out my advice.
Not accepting new clients
Robin Beltran
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I have extensive experience using this holistic approach to treat anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sleep problems, and stress related problems such as migraine and tension headaches and
chronic pain
.
We've all had moments when we felt lost, confused, stressed, depressed or anxious and longed to feel better. I believe that within every person is a core foundation of strength, and that with guidance and support we can use that strength to find health and happiness. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience helping people cope with emotional distress and discover a better quality of life. My approach to therapy involves working with you to create a set of strategies and skills to help you move forward toward better emotional, spiritual, physical and mental health.
Rebecca Leib
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I believe in a collaborative therapeutic partnership, one that is supportive, alleviates emotional
pain
, and promotes growth and healing. My goal is to provide you and your family with the tools to create and maintain life-affirming change in order to lead a more balanced and empowered life.
Loretta J. Ferris, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I work with individuals, couples and families whose lives have been impacted by life transitions. These transitions often include challenges related to relationships, careers, retirement, parenting, loss and grief,
chronic pain
, disability often include depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Not accepting new clients
Helen A. Harris
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
A Spiritual (Metaphysical) awakening and also
illness
(Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: MCS) have added to how I view suffering and healing.
Our wounds, when healed can become our gifts. My orientation is Eclectic and Holistic. I provide psychotherapy and EMDR to adults and couples. How we see ourselves and feel about ourselves affects every choice we make. We are in relationship to everyone and everything, including ourselves. Inner Healing changes how we relate to ourselves and the world.
Marian Carapezza
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
People seek therapy because something in their life is not working. They are unhappy. I believe change is always possible and that I can help people live a fuller life. I have trust in everyone's ability to heal. Therapy is a process of being with another human being who wants to change, listening to his/her story, witnessing his/her
pain
, confusion and uncertainty. I believe that healing comes from acceptance of others and ourselves, remembering our strengths and developing healthy relationships. Therapy is a practice of Mindfulness; giving deep attention to what is happening in the present moment.
Waitlist for new clients
Mary Welschmeyer
Marriage & Family Therapist, BSN, MAPsych, RN, LMFT
Verified
Verified
If you reside in a painful body and/or suffer from grief, loss, trauma, anxiety/depression, I have over 25 years of experience providing tools to cope with
pain
, loss and improve the quality of your life.
Prior to becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist, I worked as an Intensive Care Nurse and Educator. I have witnessed the importance of integrating mind, body and spirit in the role of healing. In my work I utilize techniques from a variety of theories in an attempt to identify and resolve issues you are facing. To achieve your goals, I employ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma, Guided Imagery, Expressive Arts and Sandtray. I help clients reclaim parts of self eclipsed by childhood woundedness. My focus is to empower you to find your authentic voice and inner wisdom.
See more therapy options for
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.