You or your doctor may have suggested that gaining a greater understanding of the role
that pain plays in your life would be helpful. A psychological assessment of chronic pain
will examine how your thoughts, feelings, appraisal of your circumstances, functioning,
social factors, and support systems interact with your pain and physical symptoms. We
understand that your pain is real and your pain physicians may be seeking additional
tools to help you cope with it. While they are medically addressing the underlying
causes of the pain, our goal is to expand your treatment approaches with a
comprehensive view of your conditions to guide targeted therapies and improve your
overall quality of life
 

Chronic pain can impact many areas of your functioning, diminishing the overall quality
of your life. Comprehensive pain intervention includes addressing and managing all
aspects of pain. We will discuss your medical history, your family’s medical history, your
medications, support systems, your surgical history, your mental health history and prior
treatments. We will discuss the interactions of pain with anxiety, depression, suicidal
thoughts, negative behaviors, cognitive dysfunction, and psychosocial stress.
 

Your psychological evaluation begins with a consultation which provides you with an
opportunity to discuss how your past and current experiences may be impacting you
and are getting in the way of doing the things that matter most to you. During the
evaluation process we will talk through psychological measures which help me
understand your emotional wellbeing and how you process stress and manage pain.
This provides a more comprehensive view of your psychological framework. Once
completed, I will review the results, answer your questions, address any remaining
concerns, and if needed, offer you suggestions to help tailor your treatment plan to your
unique psychological framework. At your request, I can send the report to your physician.

 

If you are interested, we can discuss treatment options that may encompass cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, self-hypnosis, relaxation training, support groups, or interdisciplinary pain management programs. We can discuss whether you are interested in psychotherapy at this time or not quite ready, and what resources are available. We are here to assist in any way you may feel the need.