Chronic Pain Therapists in 15214
Clara H Gautier
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
I am a clinical psychologist experienced in addressing anxiety, stress, depression, self esteem, relationship issues, adjustment to life changes, social isolation, trauma and PTSD, coping with pain and illnesses, and other challenges.
My aim is to form a supportive, accepting, and respectful relationship as the foundation for change. Through the development of new outlooks and skills, therapy can help us to get out of ruts, suffer less, enjoy more, and find life more satisfying.
I am a clinical psychologist experienced in addressing anxiety, stress, depression, self esteem, relationship issues, adjustment to life changes, social isolation, trauma and PTSD, coping with pain and illnesses, and other challenges.
My aim is to form a supportive, accepting, and respectful relationship as the foundation for change. Through the development of new outlooks and skills, therapy can help us to get out of ruts, suffer less, enjoy more, and find life more satisfying.
Jessica Beu
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, C-IAYT
Verified Verified
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 (Online Only)
I help clients identify and reach their personal goals utilizing an integrative approach that includes focusing on strengths, trauma informed care, and Polyvagal Theory. Clients dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, chronic pain and illness can expect a compassionate and collaborative environment to work on overcoming these challenges. Those who are looking to increase self-efficacy, develop tools for self regulation, and motivated to make change will be supported and empowered to access their innate healing capabilities.
I help clients identify and reach their personal goals utilizing an integrative approach that includes focusing on strengths, trauma informed care, and Polyvagal Theory. Clients dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, chronic pain and illness can expect a compassionate and collaborative environment to work on overcoming these challenges. Those who are looking to increase self-efficacy, develop tools for self regulation, and motivated to make change will be supported and empowered to access their innate healing capabilities.
Karianne Bilsky
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
I enjoy helping people to live in wellness and wholeness. I think the therapy relationship is critical to being able to work as a team to accomplish that. I always hope to collaborate with my clients to set therapy goals and design a plan to achieve them. My focus is on providing a therapy setting in which people can learn new skills to cope with difficulties, recover from trauma, adjust to life's challenges, and improve their functioning. I approach therapy from a cognitive-behavioral perspective but use other approaches as needed to assist clients to reach their goals.
I enjoy helping people to live in wellness and wholeness. I think the therapy relationship is critical to being able to work as a team to accomplish that. I always hope to collaborate with my clients to set therapy goals and design a plan to achieve them. My focus is on providing a therapy setting in which people can learn new skills to cope with difficulties, recover from trauma, adjust to life's challenges, and improve their functioning. I approach therapy from a cognitive-behavioral perspective but use other approaches as needed to assist clients to reach their goals.
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.