Integrating Chronic Pain into Mental Health Treatment: Evidence-Based Strategies and Language for Holistic Care

Integrating Chronic Pain into Mental Health Treatment: Evidence-Based Strategies and Language for Holistic Care

Enroll in the Online Self-Study and complete the training on your own schedule.
1.5 CE hour available for behavioral health clinicians completing the Online Self-Study.

This course tackles the critical issue of clinicians overlooking the significant influence of chronic pain on mental health. By taking a more holistic approach, healthcare professionals can gain a deeper understanding of how chronic pain disrupts daily life and exacerbates mental health symptoms. This newfound awareness empowers clinicians to develop comprehensive treatment plans with evidence-based practices that address the whole person, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Another major problem addressed by this course is the fragmentation of care that individuals with chronic pain often experience. Many patients are shuffled between various specialists, leading to disjointed and inefficient treatment efforts that fail to fully address the interplay between physical pain and mental health. This fragmentation can result in patients feeling misunderstood, frustrated, and inadequately supported, exacerbating their symptoms and hindering their recovery. Furthermore, certain populations, such as those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds or marginalized communities, frequently face additional barriers to receiving cohesive and culturally sensitive care. By highlighting these issues, the course underscores the necessity of integrating mental health and chronic pain treatment, ensuring that all patients receive coordinated, empathetic, and effective care tailored to their unique needs.

The course is appropriate for practitioners of all disciplines and levels; incorporating pain into the biopsychosocial perspective can be relevant at all levels and in all practices where mental health and pain are entwined.

This course offers an innovative integrative approach that combines physical and psychological perspectives on chronic pain, bridging a gap often overlooked in traditional mental health training. By introducing specific chronic pain language and communication techniques, the course enhances therapeutic rapport and client trust. Additionally, it delves into evidence-based interventions tailored for chronic pain, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), equipping practitioners with concrete strategies and practical tools for clinical application. By incorporating these advanced skills and strategies, the course significantly enhances the knowledge base of mental health professionals, leading to improved client outcomes and overall wellbeing.

Participants can expect to fundamentally transform their approach to chronic pain by integrating both physical and psychological perspectives into their treatment plans. The course will equip mental health professionals with specialized language and communication techniques to validate and empathize with clients' pain experiences. They will also learn to apply evidence-based interventions specifically tailored for chronic pain, enhancing their ability to address the complex needs of clients holistically.

These changes are crucial because traditional mental health training often overlooks the intricate connection between chronic pain and mental health. By addressing this gap, the course empowers practitioners to provide more comprehensive and effective care. Enhancing the therapeutic rapport through better communication and applying tailored interventions can significantly improve client outcomes, reduce the emotional toll on both clients and practitioners and foster a more collaborative healthcare environment.

Register for the 1.5 CE Online Self-Study for $45

Payment Options are listed at checkout

Registration for the Training Video coming soon

Payment Options are listed at checkout

Select each tab for course details

Upon completion of this training, professionals will be able to do the following:

  • Understand the integrative approach to chronic pain that combines physical and psychological perspectives.
  • Master specific chronic pain language to enhance communication and validate clients' experiences.
  • Apply evidence-based interventions such as CBT-CP, ACT, and MBSR tailored for chronic pain management.
  • Develop cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in treating clients from diverse backgrounds.
  • Promote self-care and professional development to prevent burnout and maintain high-quality care.

Course details

Upon completion of this training, professionals will be able to do the following:

  • Understand the integrative approach to chronic pain that combines physical and psychological perspectives.
  • Master specific chronic pain language to enhance communication and validate clients' experiences.
  • Apply evidence-based interventions such as CBT-CP, ACT, and MBSR tailored for chronic pain management.
  • Develop cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in treating clients from diverse backgrounds.
  • Promote self-care and professional development to prevent burnout and maintain high-quality care.

Instructor

Amie Bryant Headshot

Victoriya Reich, LCDCIII, LISW-S

Victoriya Reich is a clinical social worker and chemical dependency counselor who provides comprehensive therapy and case management for individuals, couples, families, and companies to improve personal and profession development. After spending nearly a decade working in the field of social work, Victoriya knows what truly drives conversions and impacts meaningful change in people’s lives - and it’s not just about giving advice or reciting paragraphs from books. It is how well you connect with the people you are trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. Victoriya strives to create individual goals and plans for each person, promoting empowerment and self-efficacy. Victoriya teaches at Cleveland State University and provides social work supervision. Victoriya holds a BA in Psychology, MA in Criminal Justice and MSW in Social Work from the University of Toledo.

Victoriya has worked her way through various facets of social work, having been employed in community-based settings with adults and youth, facilitated the creation of a youth drug and alcohol program in a residential setting, implemented and expanded an outpatient mental health program for seniors and most recently provided specialized treatment for injured workers struggling with chronic pain.

Testimonials