Martha Teater – Treating Chronic Pain: Proven Behavioral Tools

Outline

Finally! Your Top 6 Questions Answered

Question 1: What is Pain?

• Defining pain: Acute vs. chronic

Question 2: What’s the Brain’s Role in Chronic Pain?

• Central sensitization
• How the brain’s pain processing contributes to pain

Question 3: How do Emotions Influence Pain?

• Chronic pain onset
  • Physical
  • Emotional
• Chronic pain cycle
  • Psychological
  • Physical
• Emotions and pain
  • Often more problematic than physical aspect
  • Anxiety, fear, catastrophizing
  • Why mindset matters for pain relief
• Suffering
  • Determined by the emotional aspect of pain
• Suicidality and chronic pain
• Marijuana and pain

Question 4: How does Trauma Contribute to Chronic Pain?

• ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study and pain

Question 5: How are Special Populations Impacted?

• Veterans
• Children
• Low income population
• Racial and ethnic considerations
• Elderly

Question 6: What is the Role of Opioids in Pain Treatment?

• Scope of the problem
• The “painful” myth
• Medication-assisted recovery
• Risks vs. benefits

10-Session Treatment Model

Session 1: Assessment

• Goals of 1st session
• Diagnostic options
• 5 “E’s” of pain interview
• Self-report measures
  • Central Sensitization Inventory
  • Pain Catastrophizing Scale
  • PHQ-9
• Collaboration with medical team
• Motivational interviewing techniques
• Best questions to ask during treatment

Session 2: Goal Setting

• How to develop appropriate goals
• SMART goals

Session 3 & 4: CBT Tools

• ABC worksheet
• Thought distortions
• De-catastrophizing
• Automatic negative thoughts

Sessions 5 & 6: Mindfulness Interventions

• Breathing
• Guided imagery
• Personal visualization
• Yoga
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Meditation
• Body scan
• Grounding

Session 7: Increasing Activity Level & Time-based Pacing

• Helping clients learn that movement won’t be damaging
• Increasing ability to accomplish tasks without triggering pain

Session 8: Pleasant Activity Scheduling

• Encouraging clients to infuse pleasure and joy into their daily life

Session 9: Sleep Hygiene

• Help clients develop healthy sleep patterns for improved quality of life

Session 10: Relaxation and Stress Management

• Similarities of stress response and pain response
• Development of stress response tools
• Building a relaxation plan for all areas of life

Additional Treatment Options

• Limitations of the research and associated risks
• Resources