Chronic Pain Management

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment approach for 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 behaviors that can serve to maintain and exacerbate the experience of chronic pain.

Who do we see?

We have experience working with individuals of all age groups. We help pre-teens, teens, and adults who are experiencing chronic musculoskeletal and/or neuropathic chronic pain conditions. Individuals who are interested in learning more about treatment  can either ask their provider to make a referral or contact the Behavioral Medicine Program at CARD at (617)-353-9610. Our front desk staff will connect you with a therapist who will answer all of your questions.

Our Treatment Approach:

Each patient will participate in a comprehensive pain assessment in order to gain a greater understanding of the factors that have contributed to their condition. Based on this assessment, we will develop a individualized treatment plan that will be reviewed with the patient including a list of pain management skills and overall treatment goals identified by the patient. Our treatment approach is based on the evidence-based CBT treatment program developed by Dr. John Otis entitled Managing Chronic Pain (Oxford University Press: Treatments that Work Series). 

CBT for chronic pain is short-term and goal-oriented therapy that is designed to give our patients skills that they can use. Patients do not need to stop taking their current pain medications to participate; however, people who participate in CBT for pain often report that they are able to reduce their reliance on pain medication.

For more information on CBT for chronic pain management see the Managing Chronic Pain website.