Chronic Pain Therapists in Walnut Creek, CA
See all therapists in Walnut Creek
Loren Eliot Pedersen
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I am a clinical psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst with 40 years of experience in Jungian psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, psychosomatic medicine,
chronic pain
management, and stress management.
I enjoy working with clients of all ages and gender to help them learn to cope with their unique psychological, emotional, and physical problems. I am trained in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis as well as in psychosomatics so I am able to treat a wide spectrum of disorders. I tailor my approach to the specific needs of the client rather than trying to make the client fit into a particular theoretical model or to work in a predetermined treatment modality.
Lisa Wright
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I specialize in the treatment of insomnia, coping with
illness
, and stress/anxiety.
Are you suffering from sleepless nights and unable to shut off your mind from stress and negative thoughts? Has stress been affecting your health and well-being? Have you felt stuck in terms of your ability to move toward your goals or have the life or career that you want? No matter what challenges you are facing, such as stress,
illness
, trauma, life transition, relationship issues, or loss, I can help you make the necessary changes to move toward what is most important to you in your life.
Meri Levy
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, PMH-C
Verified
10 Endorsed
Verified
10 Endorsed
I work best with adults who hard on themselves, especially parents and people experiencing
chronic pain
. Do you often feel like you "should" be doing more or better? Do you feel guilty taking time for yourself? Do you have mixed feelings about parenthood or your relationship? Learning how to treat ourselves with compassion, accepting our negative feelings as well as the positive ones, and balancing caretaking for others with caring for ourselves is something many of us have to learn as adults. These are areas I help my clients with daily. You don't need to struggle with these issues alone.
Waitlist for new clients
Ann Steiner
Marriage & Family Therapist
Verified
Verified
It has been my good fortune to work with adult clients who want to make changes in how they view themselves, and deepen their relationships with others. I love leading therapy groups, the ideal antidote for isolation: couples therapy with clients who want to work on improving or clarifying their relationship needs, adults dealing with life challenges such as chronic
illness
, depression, and hidden disabilities.
Erica Walker
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in working with clients who experience
chronic pain
, autoimmune disorders, anxiety and depression. Maybe you have seen many doctors, physical therapists, etc and you are still suffering in
pain
. Maybe nothing you have tried has been successful and you are feeling invalidated by the medical community.
Pain
is a signal of danger that comes from the brain. When the brain assesses threat due to stress, trauma or a previous injury, it may use actual
pain
as a way to communicate that it believes you are in danger. I am certified in
Pain
Reprocessing Therapy to assist you in learning to help retrain your brain.
Radhika Reddy
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
, ACT), Brainspotting,
Pain
Reprocessing Therapy, etc.
Welcome! Thank you for checking out my page, and more importantly, for taking this step to invest in yourself! You likely are struggling significantly with something and looking for guidance. You may be wondering if I could be the therapist by your side on this journey. Here's a little about me to help you make an informed decision: My style of therapy is thoughtful, warm, compassionate, non-judgmental, highly collaborative, and results-driven. You are the expert on you (your child), and are likely coming to me for expertise in specific therapies to help you get to where you are heading. As a team we can get there quicker!
Gina Vance
CMHT, CCHT, RBT, CLC
If you've been journeying into self discovery and growth and are ready for a gentle quantum leap into your unique power, beauty and ability to express and collaborate with your multi-dimensional self, consider the potential rewards of learning to quickly and easily journey into your mind and body to explore, encounter and understand ways you can heal the
pain
of your despair and serve your highest purpose in fulfilling ways.
Our work together will honor all aspects of you and all experiences you have endured and survived, as you successfully close completed chapters and author new satisfying successes.
Stacy Taylor Linder
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, SEP
Verified
Verified
Symptoms may include unresolved
pain
, impulse control, sleeplessness, memory loss, anxiety, depression, worthlessness, and difficulty connecting to others.
Therapy is a partnership. Together, we work gently with the body, mind, and emotional experience to reduce and heal troubling symptoms. I invite into our sessions the parts of us that facilitates perceiving, thinking, sensing, feeling, remembering, imagining, expressing, connecting, and relating. I support clients to become more aware of different aspects of themselves - those aspects that support and contribute to their well-being, and those that constrain or stagnate their potential. Together, we work towards mind-body integration for renewed purpose and well-being. I offer a free 20 minute consultation.
Katie Sharpe (Tittle)
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, Somatic
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
You are doing the best you can. If you could snap your fingers and stop the obsessive thoughts and worries you would, right? If could make yourself quit retelling negatives stories about yourself and your life, stop feeling depressed, you would have already. The truth is life is as challenging as it is remarkable and respecting how trauma, stress, neglect, or
illness
are showing up in your body and experience is paramount to healing. Trauma can show up as patterns of protection that keep us stuck in feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, hopelessness, and fear. And keep us from enjoying secure and loving relationships with others.
Susan K Faron
Psychologist, PhD, MA
Verified
Verified
Lack of meaning, chronic
illness
or
pain
, work stress, interpersonal strife or loss can heal or change.
Analytical psychology emphasizes completeness, not perfection. Because psychological insight and self-knowledge are essential for health and vitality, it's lucky our psyches respond favorably to attention and reflection! Positive, effective, long lasting change is created. Research shows nightly dreams provide a running commentary on everyday life. Dreams anticipate, sometimes warn, and often help in resolving problems. They help you relate to the "rest of you", the part that operates out of awareness, sometimes causing symptoms, or taking over and becoming destructive. These parts appear increasingly frightening when pushed away.
Chelsea Campton
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
We could all use someone in our corner. I believe a collaborative, nurturing therapeutic relationship can transform
pain
into healing. I am a marriage and family therapist supporting individual adults and adolescents. Together we can address day to day anxieties and any unhealthy patterns that impede overall wellbeing. I empower clients to navigate whatever they are facing, from depression, anxiety, sexuality, self-esteem issues, trauma, grief/loss, and life transitions.
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Margaret A. Struchen
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My goal is to support individuals whose lives have been altered by a significant
illness
or injury.
My practice, the Center for Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, PC, focuses on providing clients with the skills needed to reach their personal goals. With over 20 years of practice, across multiple settings, I have worked to address the needs of adults and adolescents with neurological disorders, disability, and chronic medical conditions. Prior to entering private practice, I served as Director of Rehabilitation Psychology/Neuropsychology at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, and I have engaged in extensive clinical research centered on evaluating outcomes and interventions for those affected by acquired brain injury.
Peter Oppermann
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My main goal is to facilitate your passage through major life transitions from leaving home, marriage, divorce as well as
illness
and grief.
Feeling restless or easily distracted? Lacking energy, motivation, focus, or direction in life? Spinning your wheels in your career or relationships? Prone to pleasing others at all costs, yet feeling unhappy and misunderstood? Always too busy to stop and smell the flowers? I'd like to help you become more empowered, confident, and satisfied through facing and letting go of your fears, irritating beliefs, guilt, and suffering, so you can learn to communicate more effectively and have healthy relationships. For more than twenty-five years I have provided time-limited and in-depth psychotherapy to individuals, couples and groups.
Gabriele Goodman
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Through individual, couples' and group work, I incorporate mind-body techniques using positive psychology, cognitive behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapies, biofeedback and mindfulness, and other mixed interventions aimed at self-care, increased distress tolerance, and stress and
pain
management.
I am a psychologist for sport, health, and life. I have spent 15 years studying, writing, teaching, and coaching people on how to perform at their best. I have worked with world-class performers from the arenas of sports, business, healthcare, and the United States Army. I have special expertise in Performance Psychology and train clients on how to strengthen the mental and emotional skills that underlie human performance excellence and sustainable resilience. I am a subject matter expert in the field of self-regulation techniques that promote optimism, resilience, alertness, and composure in high-pressure situations.
Vicki Beckerman
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Seeking therapy for your child can be overwhelming and is important to work with a therapist who is collaborative and consistently available to parents. I specialize in play therapy with young children and psychotherapy for teens and I work with youngsters coping with chronic medical
illness
. My approach is creative, warm and accessible to all family members and I utilize a variety of treatment modalities, including cognitive behavioral strategies, art therapy, sand play therapy and group counseling. I assist parents in becoming "on the same page" regarding their children and I help caregivers to review their own parenting styles.
Dwan Kathleen Brennan
Marriage & Family Therapist
Many times the reaction I get when people find out what I do is "Isn't that depressing?" Actually, it's the opposite: challenging, yet inspiring and very fulfilling. I love helping people move from
pain
and frustration to hope and new ways of living that work better. I work alongside you, to help you find your solutions, your strength, to make positive change happen in your life.
Susan E Knight
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I find that people come to therapy when they are having difficulties in their lives such as job stress, problems with their teen or adult child, caregiver stress, sexual and communication concerns, coping with
illness
, disability and/ or
chronic pain
, and grief. Depression and anxiety are often natural outcomes of struggling with these issues.
Sharon Testa-Harker, M.F.T.
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
As my client you can expect a sensitive, interactive, and direct therapist with a sense of humor. Together, we will discuss those behaviors and experiences that cause you
pain
; developing coping alternatives, easing your stress and anxiety. My life experience, education and work history leads me to have unique perspective to help you. My early career working in Montessori Education taught me the value of self-direction and respect for people of all ages. As a program coordinator in a battered women's shelter I learned about the effects of violence, loss, chemical dependency and powerlessness.
Clare Ames-Klein
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I have worked as a clinical psychologist for over 20 years in the Bay area. My practice is diverse because I like to work with a wide range of individuals and issues. I see adults, adolescents and couples with a broad range of psychological and relationship problems. I have special interest in relationship issues, woman's issues, parenting and health-related problems, including catastrophic
illness
.
Stephanie Solar, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Let's face it. Life is a juggling act between home, work, school, friends and family. Our bodies are bioenergetic systems geared for balance. When things go well, our energy flows and we feel good. When life happens and stress occurs, we can feel anxiety, depression and physical
pain
. We reach outside ourselves for relief when going inside is the answer. If you are ready for change and are committed to making that happen, please make an appointment today. My approach is wholistic and I use Energy Psychology (Tapping), Zen Buddhism and Mindfulness to achieve a client's goals.
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.