What Is Pain?
Pain is a real and often distressing experience that involves both the body and the brain.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as:
“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”
Pain plays an important protective role. It helps us recognise injury, respond to danger and support recovery.
However, pain is not always a direct measure of damage.
For some people, pain reduces as the body heals. For others, pain may continue long after healing has occurred or develop without a clear ongoing injury.
Modern pain science recognises that pain is influenced by many factors including biological processes, nervous system sensitivity, emotions, thoughts, stress, sleep, previous experiences and social context.
This does not mean pain is imagined or “all in your head”.
It means pain is complex and involves the interaction of body and mind.
Psychological Therapy for Persistent Pain
Living with persistent pain can affect mood, confidence, relationships, identity, work and quality of life.
Psychological therapy is not about convincing people that pain is psychological.
Instead, therapy aims to reduce suffering, improve functioning and help people develop a different relationship with pain.
Depending on your goals and circumstances, therapy may support you to:
• Understand the impact pain is having on your life
• Explore patterns that unintentionally increase suffering
• Develop practical coping strategies
• Improve emotional wellbeing
• Increase confidence in daily activities
• Reduce fear and avoidance
• Build flexibility and self management skills
• Respond more effectively to pain flare ups
CBT for Pain Management
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one psychological approach that may support people living with persistent pain.
CBT does not aim to eliminate pain directly.
Instead, it focuses on understanding the interaction between thoughts, emotions, behaviour and physical experience.
Therapy may include:
• Understanding patterns that maintain distress
• Activity pacing and gradual re engagement
• Behavioural experiments
• Identifying unhelpful coping cycles
• Developing emotional regulation strategies
• Managing flare ups
• Problem solving
• Building confidence and flexibility
Research suggests CBT can help improve coping, reduce distress and improve quality of life for some people living with persistent pain.
Is Therapy Right for Pain?
There is no single approach that works for everyone.
Psychological therapy may be helpful when pain is affecting emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence, work or everyday functioning.
Therapy works alongside medical care and is not a replacement for medical assessment or treatment.
Make an Appointment
The quickest way to arrange an appointment is through our secure Client Portal.
Most clients now arrange appointments online because it is available 24/7 and allows appointments to be booked instantly.
If you have questions before booking, please contact our office.
📞 01902 827808
Alternatively, complete our online contact form.
