Trauma and Chronic Pain: The Nervous System as Common Denominator
- Pain as a threat system and why it matters
- The trajectory of acute and chronic pain
- Relationship between ACEs, PTSD, and chronic pain symptoms
- Mutual maintenance and shared vulnerability models
- Principles of pain: nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic
- Pain intensity versus pain distress
- The hidden benefits of pain
Getting Started and Foundations: Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Safety Planning
- The effect of pain on clients’ sense of self
- How to help clients identify and challenge pain-related myths
- Assessment of pain and related comorbidities
- Essential health and well-being assessments
- Case conceptualization when your traumatized client has chronic pain
- When pain itself is a reminder of the traumatic event
- Identify and shift vicious cycles of maladaptive coping strategies
- Risk management and safety planning
- Help clients get the rest they need – sleep, trauma, and chronic pain
- Case study: 25yo Black female with chronic pain after ACEs
Chronic Pain Treatment Toolbox: Emerging Strategies and Complimentary Approaches
- Why psychotherapy for pain?
- Help clients rethink how they view pain: Pain neuroscience education
- Values, present moment awareness, and other ACT strategies
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to construct solutions versus focus on problems
- How to pose the “miracle” question for pain and other targeted techniques to enhance coping
- Motivational Interviewing techniques to optimize engagement and outcomes
- Pleasant activity scheduling to improve mood and pacing behaviors
- Mindfulness and yoga for pain reduction
- Hack the glymphatic system - treat chronic, low-grade headaches with behavioral & nutritional interventions
- Quiet the nervous system with relaxation strategies and breathing techniques
- Harness the power of green space
- Case study: 37yo White male with PTSD and chronic pain
Clinical Considerations
- Integrating strategies for chronic pain into trauma processing
- Cultural factors and integration of cultural humility into practice
- Special populations: children, elderly, military/veterans/first responders
- Effective collaboration with medical providers
- Involvement of family members in treatment
- Rapport and alliance when the client has chronic pain and the therapist does not
- Pain-related health disparities and social determinants of health
- Limitations of the research and potential risks


