Managing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain has a multitude of causes, many of which are not well understood or effectively treated by medical therapies. Individuals with chronic pain often report that pain interferes with their ability to engage in occupational, social, or recreational activities. Their inability to engage in these everyday activities may contribute to increased isolation, negative mood, and physical deconditioning, which in turn can exacerbate their experience of pain.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has been proven effective at managing various chronic pain conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain and tension/migraine headache. CBT engages patients in an active coping process aimed at changing maladaptive thoughts and behaviours that can serve to maintain and exacerbate the experience of chronic pain. This Therapist Guide distils many of these empirically validated techniques into one convenient volume. Each session presents the basic methods of a technique, such as stress management, sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, and cognitive restructuring.

Designed to be used in conjunction with the corresponding Workbook, this Therapist Guide offers a complete treatment program. It provides session outlines, sample dialogues, and homework assignments for each technique, as well as addresses assessment and relapse. This program can be used for the successful management of chronic pain, helping patients regain control of their lives.