What Is Pain Psychology?

Pain psychology is a specialized area of mental health care that focuses on the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of living with chronic pain. It helps individuals understand how pain affects their mood, thoughts, and daily functioning—and teaches practical skills to manage pain more effectively. Through evidence-based approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and stress reduction techniques, pain psychology empowers people to improve their quality of life, even when pain persists. 

Pain psychology isn’t about convincing you that your pain isn’t real—it’s about acknowledging that your pain is very real and helping you find ways to live well alongside it. As a pain psychologist, my focus is on supporting your emotional and mental well-being while giving you tools to manage chronic pain more effectively.

While some strategies we use can help reduce pain in the moment, the primary goal is to help you reconnect with what brings you joy, meaning, and purpose. You’ll learn practical skills that support a value-based life—one where pain doesn't control you.

Pain psychology works best alongside medical care and is a well-researched, essential part of comprehensive pain management. We work with individuals living with a wide range of pain conditions, including chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and more.

We are now offering a living with chronic pain group. This group provides a structured setting for you to learn and grow with others going through similar things. We focus on teaching science backed coping strategies for pain. In the group you also have the opportunity to share strategies that have helped you. We ensure this is a safe space to share and grow. This is not a group where people come to complain about their pain, it is a group where you will learn helpful tools to live with your pain and get support from others who are going through pain.