Photo of Rabia Khara, Marriage & Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA
Rabia Khara
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MS, MFT, PCC, RDT
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94115
As a clinician, the therapeutic process is only meaningful and complete with the reciprocity and engagement of those I work with. Each individual is unique and their stories are interwoven with a rich tapestry of diverse emotions. By balancing the abstract, creative, philosophical, and introspective aspects of life with friendliness, compassion, empathy and care, I walk the path with you on your journey toward peace and happiness.
As a clinician, the therapeutic process is only meaningful and complete with the reciprocity and engagement of those I work with. Each individual is unique and their stories are interwoven with a rich tapestry of diverse emotions. By balancing the abstract, creative, philosophical, and introspective aspects of life with friendliness, compassion, empathy and care, I walk the path with you on your journey toward peace and happiness.
(215) 709-9225 View (215) 709-9225

Online Therapists

Photo of Yes To Therapy, Marriage & Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA
Yes To Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW
Verified Verified
Campbell, CA 95008
At Yes To Therapy, we provide therapeutic services to a wide variety of ages, genders, cultures, and populations. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming environment for each and every client who walks through our doors. We have therapists that reflect an array of different genders, ethnic backgrounds, and specialties, as we aim to meet the needs of our clients and match each person with a therapist that truly feels like the right fit.
At Yes To Therapy, we provide therapeutic services to a wide variety of ages, genders, cultures, and populations. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming environment for each and every client who walks through our doors. We have therapists that reflect an array of different genders, ethnic backgrounds, and specialties, as we aim to meet the needs of our clients and match each person with a therapist that truly feels like the right fit.
(408) 676-3309 View (408) 676-3309
Photo of Sana Sarfaraz, Marriage & Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA
Sana Sarfaraz
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
San Jose, CA 95130  (Online Only)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my profile. Adversity is a part of life and we all experience it and feel isolated. However, I believe it can be an opportunity to grow stronger. I use strength-based supportive approaches that promote growth and healing. My approach focuses on deep care and respect for you. I value your experiences, thoughts and feelings and apply a non-judgmental stance making my sessions a comfortable experience. I focus on providing a collaborative and supportive environment where you can express yourself freely.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my profile. Adversity is a part of life and we all experience it and feel isolated. However, I believe it can be an opportunity to grow stronger. I use strength-based supportive approaches that promote growth and healing. My approach focuses on deep care and respect for you. I value your experiences, thoughts and feelings and apply a non-judgmental stance making my sessions a comfortable experience. I focus on providing a collaborative and supportive environment where you can express yourself freely.
(408) 351-4053 View (408) 351-4053
Photo of Vidya Bharat, Psychologist in San Francisco, CA
Vidya Bharat
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Mountain View, CA 94040  (Online Only)
(650) 643-5605 View (650) 643-5605

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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.