Photo of Neeru Madan, Psychologist in 94129, CA
Neeru Madan
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94129
I believe that psychotherapy is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Whether you are interested in therapy in order to deal with challenges you have already identified in your life, or you are seeking therapy to connect to yourself, my aim is help you carve out a path and live a more meaningful life. Together we can work closely to deepen your understanding about your struggles and their underlying causes. I can provide you with a safe space to analyze your thought patterns and behaviors while supporting you through the process of making important changes in your life.
I believe that psychotherapy is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Whether you are interested in therapy in order to deal with challenges you have already identified in your life, or you are seeking therapy to connect to yourself, my aim is help you carve out a path and live a more meaningful life. Together we can work closely to deepen your understanding about your struggles and their underlying causes. I can provide you with a safe space to analyze your thought patterns and behaviors while supporting you through the process of making important changes in your life.
(530) 298-0307 View (530) 298-0307
Photo of Brad Dolin, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate in 94129, CA
Brad Dolin
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, APCC
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94129  (Online Only)
Modern life can feel like a paradox. Surrounded by technology meant to bring connection, ease, and order to our lives, you may instead feel isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed. Bombarded by reminders about the value of purpose, meaning, and contentment, you may find yourself feeling disoriented, distracted, and insufficient. You are far from alone. There is a path toward feeling whole. And I encourage you to nourish the seed of hope that brought you to search for a therapist.
Modern life can feel like a paradox. Surrounded by technology meant to bring connection, ease, and order to our lives, you may instead feel isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed. Bombarded by reminders about the value of purpose, meaning, and contentment, you may find yourself feeling disoriented, distracted, and insufficient. You are far from alone. There is a path toward feeling whole. And I encourage you to nourish the seed of hope that brought you to search for a therapist.
(415) 761-4087 View (415) 761-4087
Photo of Jonathan Peretz, Psychologist in 94129, CA
Jonathan Peretz
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Francisco, CA 94129
Not accepting new clients
Thanks for taking a look at my profile. Originally in practice on the East Coast, I've spent the last decade helping adults, adolescents, and couples overcome difficulties and live more fulfilling lives. Since my days in graduate school, I've maintained a strong interest in understanding how psychotherapy can promote deep and lasting change in a time-efficient way. I approach psychotherapy from the belief that all human beings have the potential for healing and self-righting, and the way that we tap into that potential begins with building a secure and collaborative therapeutic relationship.
Thanks for taking a look at my profile. Originally in practice on the East Coast, I've spent the last decade helping adults, adolescents, and couples overcome difficulties and live more fulfilling lives. Since my days in graduate school, I've maintained a strong interest in understanding how psychotherapy can promote deep and lasting change in a time-efficient way. I approach psychotherapy from the belief that all human beings have the potential for healing and self-righting, and the way that we tap into that potential begins with building a secure and collaborative therapeutic relationship.
(415) 539-0241 View (415) 539-0241

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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.