Chronic Pain Therapists in Boston, MA
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Samantha Meints
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
When we feel stuck, sometimes we need some help to get our lives back on track. I work with clients with a variety of concerns including
chronic pain
, chronic health conditions, women's health issues, medical trauma, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Together, we work to minimize stress,
pain
, and discomfort while maximizing quality of life. I provide both brief and long-term therapy to help clients set and reach goals according to their own personal values.
Collaborative Health Psychology
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am a clinical health psychologist who specializes in treating people coping with anxiety,
chronic pain
, stress, medical issues, mood disorders, and difficulties adjusting to life changes.
I believe that each person is unique, and therefore no one approach is right for everyone. I strive to integrate a variety of techniques and perspectives from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness based therapies, relaxation training, biofeedback, clinical hypnotherapy, and supportive therapy to create a treatment that is tailored to the individual I am working with.
For more information please visit my website at collaborativehealthpsychology.com
Not accepting new clients
Diana M Higgins
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am Director of
Pain
Psychology in the VA Healthcare System and I have faculty appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School (and formerly Yale School of Medicine).
I have over 14 years of experience providing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based behavioral and mindfulness treatments to address stress and behavioral health conditions. My specific expertise is in treating of adults with depression, anxiety (health-related anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobias), and
chronic pain
. I also use a behavioral approach to address weight loss, managing chronic disease, and improving coping skills, health, and wellness. My treatment approach is collaborative, short-term, goal-oriented, and is tailored to meet each client's needs.
Saul Rosenthal
Psychologist, PhD, BCB, BCB-HRV, BCN
Verified
Verified
I integrate evidence-based biopsychosocial approaches to anxiety, depression,
pain
, headache and migraine, sleep, stress, Internet addiction and executive function deficits.
As of January 2023, I have very limited availability. I have over 20 years of experience working with a variety of health issues. I focus on optimizing health and healthy decision making, collaborating with clients in a way that's meaningful and long-lasting. Together, we work toward managing medical stress and the emotional challenges that have become barriers to personal growth. Health is an evolving, personal state blending both body and mind. My goal is for my clients to discover how to move toward true health and embrace their potential.
Not accepting new clients
Marilou Shaughnessy
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I am a clinical psychologist specializing in treatment for adults coping with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other health related issues. I also work with people coping with conditions such as
chronic pain
, weight management, athletic injuries, and concussions. I work collaboratively with clients using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and positive psychology to teach strategies that help individuals better understand why they react and feel certain ways, and to make changes.
William Jackson Mindfulness Based Therapy
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I specialize in mindfulness based therapies and working with patients with co-morbid anxiety, depression, mood disturbance and other psychological symptoms causing, attributing or resulting from
chronic pain
or
illness
.
Where do you want to be in your life? What are the clear and practical steps to get there? How do you find the understanding, compassion and motivation to take those steps? These are the kinds of questions we will address while working together. As a clinical health psychologist and former Buddhist monk I use a collaborative approach focused on developing more personal well-being. I am a husband, father, brother and business owner who values individual perspectives, personal priorities and kindness. I am hard to offend and quick to trust with a healthy sense of humor.
Lara Birk
PhD
I am a certified
pain
coach trained in
Pain
Reprocessing Therapy, the Curable curriculum on
pain
neuroscience, Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Health & Wellness Coaching, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. I teach clients evidence-based tools emerging from cutting-edge
pain
neuroscience so that they can learn to calm their own nervous systems, and subsequently, their own
pain
. I know firsthand the profound healing power of mindbody medicine: after decades disempowered by
pain
, I got my life back, only better. I am here to help empower others so they too can reclaim lives of meaning & joy.
Elena Crisp
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
Verified
I specialize in working with those who suffer from
chronic pain
, helping them to reclaim healing and empowerment.
Welcome. It takes courage to start therapy. As you enter this process of exploring yourself, I can offer expert guidance to help you untangle the messiness of life and move forward with greater authenticity and fulfillment. My approach to therapy focuses on building a trusting and interactive relationship that offers a safe place to explore and uncover truths with clarity. I offer empathy, curiosity, humor and accountability to foster collaboration and hope. I deeply believe in one's resiliency and my goal is always to help my clients more clearly see their innate strengths as the building blocks for change.
Not accepting new clients
Danielle Bradley
Counselor, LMHC
Verified
Verified
Living in
pain
can be a scary place. Is fear, anxiety, frustration, or depression linked with your experience of
pain
? Have you had a loss of functioning, independence, or productivity because of your
pain
? Have you seen multiple doctors, chiropractors, surgeons and still seeking a way to get rid of
pain
?
Pain
has been viewed as a biomedical issue; however, science is telling us that the causes and treatments for
pain
are biopsychosocial. This means that biology, psychological, and social components are all important to address in your treatment. Medical interventions alone are not sufficient.
Kerry Lang
Counselor, LMHC, MA, ET
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Do you suffer from fatigue,
chronic pain
, or unexplained health issues? Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, chronic Lyme disease, Long Covid or ME/CFS? I am here to BELIEVE you, support you, validate you, and guide you along whatever journey you are on. I believe that the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected and that therapy is just one element of healing. I use holistic & integrative modalities to help clients work through challenges while providing support & resources along the way.
Laura A Payne
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I use evidence-based treatment approaches for adults struggling with anxiety, depression,
chronic pain
, and related disorders. My practice focuses primarily on short-term, exposure-based treatments that provide demonstrable results in a relatively short time frame. My approach fosters a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where we work together to challenge anxious/negative thoughts and modify maladaptive behaviors to achieve your specified treatment goals.
Waitlist for new clients
Isabel Lippincott
Pre-lic, BA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I believe in creating a kind, supportive space where people are welcomed as their whole selves and given opportunities to grow and change. Specialty areas include adults, neurodiversity-affirming counseling, Highly Sensitive People (HSP),
chronic pain
or
illness
, anxiety, and complex trauma. Somatic mindfulness and trauma healing are central to my practice. Through these practices, clients can expect to connect with their intuitive wisdom, embodiment, and find groundedness.
Brad Spickard
Psychologist, PhD, MPA
Verified
Verified
I have significant training and experience with health issues, including insomnia, weight loss, diabetes, and
chronic pain
management, as well as adjustment issues associated with medical conditions including cancer, cardiac rehabilitation, physical injury and other health-related issues.
I provide solution-focused therapeutic services to older adolescents, adults, and assessments for both ADHD and bariatric surgery. I specialize in life transitions, depression, anxiety, relationships, mood disorders, and health related issues. My approach is patient-focused and interactive with primary emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I like to work with strengths of the individual and their support network in order to provide effective therapeutic interventions and facilitate change. I often utilize mindfulness principles and stress management in order to meet goals related to improved mental and physical health.
Not accepting new clients
Dr. Anjuli Harvey
Psychologist, MFA, MDiv, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Hello! I appreciate how vulnerable a person can feel in therapy, and so I do my best to provide a safe, supportive, and warm environment. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client can be very meaningful and important, and so I work to provide my clients with deep empathy and my full attention. I have worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds with a wide variety of concerns, including relationship issues, family issues,
chronic pain
, and general stress. I offer Internal Family Systems-Informed therapy, and am training in EMDR.
Leslie Goodhue
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
Verified
Leslie Goodhue is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the state of Massachusetts with over 8 years of experience working in a variety of settings with children, teens, and adults who are facing acute medical concerns, substance use disorders, child protection issues, mental
illness
, end of life, and bereavement. Leslie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Maine and went on to get her Master's in Social Work at Salem State University.
Regine Thiam-Kindler
Counselor, LMHC
Verified
Verified
I have extensive experience with ASD, OCD, eating disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders, stress related to
chronic pain
and medical conditions, and trauma informed care.
Dear Reader, You deserve credit for taking this important step by searching for a provider who can support you on your journey of healing and growth. You might be anxious about making the right choice because you don’t want to waste your time and money. Know that I aim for my clients to experience therapy as a worthy investment. I am a licensed mental health counselor and former dietitian. I offer the perspective of someone who has lived, studied, and worked in two different countries, and who has served people from diverse backgrounds in various settings including inpatient, residential and outpatient care.
Waitlist for new clients
Sydney Appelbaum
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW
Verified
Verified
I work with clients who are dealing with the various stressors of life. Whether those stressors are a new job, life transitions, serious
illness
, difficulties at home or coping with trauma, I am here to support you and be your partner in building effective coping strategies. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you are not alone and we can work together to get through those emotions. Whether you're new to therapy or someone with years of experience, our time together is spent working on what feels most pressing to you.
Waitlist for new clients
Laura Greve
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am a clinical health psychologist specializing in treating adults with anxiety, depression, chronic
illness
, stress, medical issues, mood disorders, and difficulties adjusting to life changes. I specialize in high achieving students and professionals or those in high-pressure careers. I integrate various techniques and perspectives from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies, relaxation training, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and supportive therapy to create a tailored treatment for each individual. For more information please visit my website at bostonhealthpsych.com.
Laura A Richardson
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
The decision to begin psychotherapy takes courage, strength, and openness to the process. When one is ready to understand themselves in a more authentic way, it can be a powerful transition. I tailor my psychotherapeutic approach to each person as an individual allowing them the opportunity to learn about themselves and their interpersonal world in a safe space. At times, when one is feeling stuck, misunderstood, and/or in deep emotional
pain
the therapeutic process can allow for meaningful exploration of long standing repetitive patterns. Of course, such a journey to understanding complex thoughts and feelings can be difficult.
Waitlist for new clients
Molly Williamson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have experience treating young adults and adults coping with chronic disease or
illness
, anxiety, depression, existential stress, life transitions, and interpersonal relationship challenges.
Please note that I have a wait-list for clients, and my practice is fully online. Are you looking to make or adjust to a change? Explore your identity and values? Grieve a loss, or losses? My goal for our work together is to help discover ways for you to live a better, more authentic life. If you are looking for support in coping with anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, academic/career concerns, or relationship difficulties, my practice might be right for you. I hope together we can work to enhance your coping, self-care, problem solving, and communication skills.
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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.