Chronic Pain: Biological Understanding and Treatment Suggestions for Mental Health Counselors

Abstract

Biopsychosocial factors related to chronic pain are discussed as a necessary foundation for understanding and helping clients who are in pain. Familiar evidence-based counseling approaches that have proven useful for working with clients who are in pain are reviewed to identify how practitioners can use their counseling skills to help these clients. Approaches reviewed are assessment considerations, use of psychotropic medications, cognitive-behavioral strategies, hypnosis and imagery techniques, family considerations, and positive psychology.