Chronic Pain Therapists in Washington, DC
See all therapists in WashingtonNot accepting new clients
Lois Ann Clinton
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
Verified
I can help you with anxiety, depression, ptsd,
chronic pain
, grief, phobias, relationship problems, lack of motivation, distractibility, fatigue, and other mental health issues.
My passion is to teach people how to reach their full potential by letting go of old patterns and fears. I help my clients navigate their challenging and painful life experiences in new, constructive ways. Adversity can build resilience and unleash amazing creativity and new perspectives. I have significant expertise in treating trauma and a wide variety of mental health issues. I believe in treating the whole person, and favor an integrative, mind-body perspective. I truly listen to my clients' needs and assess their readiness for change.
Carissa L Strohecker Hannum
Counselor, MA, LCPC, LPC
Verified
7 Endorsed
Verified
7 Endorsed
I have a special interest working with individuals with
chronic pain
, life transitions, and grief/loss.
Welcome, I truly believe that therapy is a brave and courageous choice. I strive to create a warm, empathetic, and safe environment for each client that chooses to work with me. I have a special expertise working with both adolescents and adults with mood disorders. Our relationship will be used as an element of change. Often, I will utilize aspects of our relationship to highlight barriers to change and provide a warm and directive approach to push you towards growth. My approach within our therapeutic relationship tends to be more collaborative and I commonly use interventions including mindfulness, CBT, DBT and attachment theory.
Natalie Chaykin
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Dr. Natalie Chaykin specializes in the treatment of
chronic pain
/illnesses, insomnia, OCD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, body image concerns, life transitions, and depression. Dr. Chaykin is board-certified in biofeedback and practices therapy primarily from CBT/ACT and positive psychology perspectives through a health psychology lens to help patients manage stress, transition after an injury or disease, and cope with
pain
, loss, feeling “stuck,” anxiety, and depression.
Rachel Noble
Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified
Verified
My writing and presentations on topics such as resilience, anxiety management,
chronic pain
, and intimacy appear in outlets such as The Washington Post, AARP, and Inova Health Systems.
Please find more info at my website: noblepractice.com. I have unique experience working with people who struggle with complex medical concerns,
chronic pain
, and postpartum depression. About half of my clients fall into this category and the other half are struggling with anxiety, depression, or just feeling stuck in life.
Jennifer L Pauk
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW-C, MPH
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with teens and adults to learn how to unhook from unhelpful thoughts and emotions so that you can focus more of your time and energy on the things that matter most to you. Common problems clients want to address include depression, anxiety,
chronic pain
, problems in their relationships, and unhealthy alcohol use. I teach skills that you can use to identify patterns of avoidance and increase your self-compassion. In addition to individual therapy, I also complete immigration mental health evaluations.
Kelsey Bates
Licensed Professional Counselor, LMHC, LPC, LCPC
Verified
Verified
Mindfulness techniques allow us to sit with our grief and
pain
, acknowledge emotions and increase acceptance.
You're feeling overwhelmed navigating women's health issues or postpartum depression and anxiety. You are an intelligent, high achieving woman who is dealing with the grief of a diagnosis, like endometriosis, infertility or an autoimmune disorder. The toll of complex chronic health issues and medical trauma is heavy, anxious thoughts fill your mind and you are feeling more down than usual. You want to figure out a way to not just survive with women's health issues but to thrive and live your life fully each day. You need support, a place to process your grief and coping skills to walk through this difficult situation.
Waitlist for new clients
Sammi Rosenfeld
Licensed Professional Counselor, NCC, DC LPC, MD LCPC, PA LPC, MSEd
Verified
Verified
Some of my specialities include anxiety and depression,
chronic pain
, ASD, ADHD, self-esteem, eating disorders, issues of identity and more.
I am a mental health and school counselor passionate about supporting the growth of children and young adults. I am experienced with both school-age children, young adults, and adults. I have also spent a lifetime in the world of professional dance and the creative arts. My experience in dance and the body highly influences my therapeutic lens. I view utilizing all bodily senses in my counseling techniques as integral to client growth. I take an integrative approach to my work; in one session we may talk, play, draw, or move. Some moments may be more directive and some may be client-led.
Daniel J Paulus
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am a health psychologist with expertise in the treatment of chronic fear/anxiety and health conditions (
pain
, substance use, etc.) I have extensive research experience (95 scientific articles and book chapters; National Institutes of Health funding) which I draw upon to provide innovative and up-to-date psychological care. My practice is rooted in scientific evidence of what works, and I stay informed on the latest treatment advancements. My goal is not for you to be in therapy forever. I want to help you learn tools so that you become your own therapist. You cannot redo your past; you can make changes now for a better future.
Dr. Laurel Wade
Resident in Psychology, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Dr. Wade specializes in health psychology, particularly the areas of
chronic pain
, adjustment to chronic
illness
or injury, weight management, weight loss surgery counseling, disordered eating, body image concerns, and implementing health-promoting lifestyle changes. Dr. Wade practices Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and positive psychology approaches, capitalizing on the strengths of each individual to form a collaborative and holistic treatment plan.
Sarah S. Berger
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Therapy is often about change - changing oneself or parts of one's life. Taking steps towards change requires tremendous courage, but many people find the rewards of this process well worth the effort. A supportive, helpful guide can go a long way towards making productive changes and that is where I come in. Support is my primary role; my secondary role is to help individuals identify thoughts or behaviors that are limiting progress in one's life. In addition to helping with a wide range of common symptoms like stress, anxiety, depression, I specialize in health psychology (coping with
illness
).
Carol Lee Hilewick Phd
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My goal is to help patients learn to be responders and to be in charge of themselves. Throughout treatment, a functional medicine approach is employed. Care collaboration is valued. Patients with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges benefit from a variety of cognitive behavioral, neurobehavioral, and psychophysiological modalities. Patients with such conditions as emotional and physical trauma,
chronic pain
, addictions, brain injuries and disorders (autism, Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, motor and balance challenges, for example), sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression are treated. Individuals with neurological, autoimmune, metabolic, endocrinological, and other complex medical conditions find that the treatment modalities promote healing.
Vitality Medical Infusions
CRNA
Treatnent resistant depression, anxiety,
chronic pain
and migraines are real problems that deserve serious treatment efforts. Ketamine helps patients with these medical issues. Ketamine is a safe medication, especially when an experienced anesthesia practitioner administers it. Call for a complimentary phone consult to see if this treatment is right for you.
Annie Miller
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW
Verified
Verified
In my practice, I help teens and adults work through problems sleeping, anxiety, trauma, and
chronic pain
.
Are you lying in bed at night with a busy mind? Do you have trouble letting go of stress from your day? Are you having a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night? Are you replaying old memories from the past? Or maybe you have had
chronic pain
for years and you can't find relief. If you are struggling with insomnia, anxiety, trauma, or
chronic pain
, you are not alone. Dealing with these problems can be challenging but you can change with the right tools. I use clinically proven techniques like EMDR, CBT for insomnia,
pain
reprocessing therapy (PRT), and other brain-based strategies.
Lee Phillips
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, EdD, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, CST
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am dedicated in helping my clients achieve the goals they wish to accomplish. I use interventions that offer not only symptom relief, but also a means to improve emotional connections to the individual and others. I have over 16 years of experience in treating LGBTQIA populations, depression, sexual health related issues, anxiety disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder,
chronic pain
and other medical/ health Issues. I offer telehealth and in-person psychotherapy and sex therapy. I am at my VA location the 2nd and 4th Monday and Tuesday of each month. Please contact me for a free 15 minute consultation and to discuss fees for services.
Kyle T Collins
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
Kyle T. Collins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor focused on working with members of the LGBTQ+, polyamorous, kink, and BDSM communities. Kyle’s practice focuses on working with individuals, couples, and families on issues related to relationship difficulties and/or sexual difficulties, including issues related to trauma, anxiety,
illness
or disability, interpersonal boundaries, and many other stressors.
Carole Stovall
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Do you want a better life with more choices and success- every day? I am honored to work with clients to help them address life issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, medical
illness
&
pain
, relationship and general life issues to better live the life they chose. I work with you in a collaborative and interactive way. We work to help you understand what has happened in your life, but more importantly, how to address and create the meaningful changes, the life success, and happiness, that is most important to you to have your best life.
Alex Swales
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Life can be messy, chaotic, and complicated; therapy is a lot like spring cleaning. Together, we will work to unpack and reorganize your life to find meaning, connection, understanding, and even humor. I aim to hold a compassionate, honest space that allows you to reach your goals and build on your strengths. In my practice, I support individuals that are impacted by trauma, sexual trauma, chronic
illness
, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and feelings of low self-worth. I focus on building an empathic relationship with my clients to align their physical, mental, emotional, and social goals with therapy.
Washington, DC 20009
& Online
Jade Wood
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, MHSA
Verified
Verified
I specialize in living with
illness
and/or caregiving, experiencing grief, navigating relationships, dealing with anxiety and coping with unhealed past traumas.
Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with
illness
. Together we will face any changes, fears, anxiety and emotions you are experiencing, allowing you to gain more grounding and peace. I will work with you from an integrative, holistic approach to determine together what is needed for your coping, healing and self-care.
Roberta Rothstein
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, MSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Do you feel stuck? Maybe you can't seem to shake the blues. Maybe it’s a loss. Or you can’t make a crucial decision. Perhaps jittery moods have reduced your functioning. Or you’re unable to control unhealthy behavior. Maybe every conversation with your spouse becomes an argument.
Feel more confident, improve your relationships, move from
illness
to health, reconnect with your creativity, learn valuable coping skills, take control of your life and just feel better. I can help you move forward through obstacles, uncovering your true potential. Our work helps you feel resilient, so you can set and reach your goals.
Not accepting new clients
Sandra L Francis
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I have expertise in the treatment of trauma and dissociative disorders, as well as particular interest in the treatment of perinatal mood/anxiety disorders and psychophysiologic disorders causing
chronic pain
.
Hi! I'm a psychologist who has lived in the Washington DC area for nearly thirty years. I know that life in this region can be stressful, with traffic, high-pressure jobs, and interpersonal demands. I help people find ways to cope with these pressures and life's many challenges, including relationship concerns, self-esteem issues, self-defeating behaviors, emotional reactivity, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and life transitions. I believe that a therapeutic relationship offering confidentiality, safety, respect, curiosity, and a little humor, provides the most fertile soil for self exploration, healing, and growth.
See more therapy options for Washington
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.