Common Questions

Counseling is a very personal experience with most individuals unsure about therapy in the beginning of the process. Our counseling and coaching gives you the tools and skill set to regain a sense of control and reach acceptance with circumstances that are not within your control. Choosing to be an active participant in your own therapy is necessary to reach your therapeutic goals.

Chronic Pain Counseling is a profoundly individual journey that begins with an initial session to define your therapy objectives and discuss any pertinent history or current issues. You can experience this in the privacy and comfort of your own space, assured by its confidentiality and the absence of judgment. Consider it a partnership, with the focus being on your own narrative. Together, we will establish goals, uncover underlying issues, and navigate through obstacles. Engaging in this process of self-discovery helps reveal behavioral patterns that affect your current life. Ultimately, the goal of counseling is to nurture personal development, enhance mental well-being, and elevate the overall quality of your life.

Therapy is a transformative journey for your physical and mental health. I view clients as experts of themselves, and my role is as a collaborative support system. As your therapist I will help you navigate your circumstances and serve as an accountability partner in reaching your goals. Together we process the ripple effect chronic pain is having in your life, developing solutions that not only help you cope with Chronic Pain, but help you thrive.

With professional guidance, you will learn self-regulation strategies to help you manage emotions stemming from living in chronic pain, such as stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression. Giving you the space for growing, and self-awareness by identifying your triggers. Directly addressing your triggers will give you the emotional freedom to reduce feelings of fear which are holding you back from living a life that you enjoy despite your circumstances.

Understanding that our perception significantly shapes our choices and perception, I help clients make changes that will have a profound impact. Working with you on skills that have a profound impact on your quality of life and ability to move forward successfully. Having a sense of control in your life is imperative when living with circumstances that are uncontrollable. I help clients get comfortable with living in the unknown and unpredictable future. A life with Chronic Pain has many unknowns acting as a conduit for negative thinking patterns and belief systems. Working through your individualized thinking patterns, we train your brain to adapt to more healthy cognitive thought perceptions and break the cycle you continue to be in and give you the emotional freedom to look forward to the future.

In counseling, you are in a space free from judgment. It’s a place for you to express yourself openly and explore your thoughts and feelings with a professional who offers understanding and support, not criticism. The goal of our counseling and coaching is to help you heal and grow, and that can only happen in an environment of acceptance. Here, every part of your story is met with compassion, and every step forward is celebrated.

Mental health professionals are held to a standard of having additional education and training with Chronic Pain. Do not be afraid to ask your potential therapist about their training and experience!

By having a certificate in Pain Science from Keck Medical School, University of Southern California, I have extensive training and education on the psychological and medical perspectives.

Mental health and Chronic Pain have a complex relationship. Part of therapy is exploring which strategies work best for you. The effectiveness of an intervention is going to be determined by several factors.

Interventions I utilize include but are not limited to the following:

1. Art Therapy, Expressive Arts and Journaling
2. Mindfulness-Based Approach: This technique encourages a non-judgmental focus on pain, using mindfulness practices such as breathing exercises and body scans to retrain the brain’s response to pain, reducing associated anxiety, depression, and stress.
3. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: CBT challenges and changes negative thought patterns that contribute to the psychological distress associated with chronic pain, promoting healthier ways of thinking.
4. Relaxation Techniques: Techniques, which include muscle relaxation and mental calming exercises, help in alleviating both the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain.
5. Somatic Anchoring: This method combines rapid self-hypnosis, cognitive restructuring, and mindfulness to help manage pain, using both direct and indirect suggestions via hypnosis.
6. Hypnosis: Hypnosis is shown to be effective for most chronic pain sufferers by retraining the mind, although a small subset of people may be resistant to its effects.
7. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)**: ACT helps individuals to accept what is out of their control and commit to actions that enrich their lives, thereby managing painful feelings and thoughts and reducing the impact of pain.
8. Pain Reprocessing Theory: Which involves pain education, neuroscience, fight or flight, perception, and stress reactions. This is a relatively newer therapy to address chronic pain and research studies have shown its effectiveness.
9. Self-Regulation Strategies
10. Communication and advocacy skill building such as communication skills with medical professionals and appropriately advocating for your needs.

If you’ve felt let down by therapy before, I want to acknowledge your courage in considering another chance. Feeling like you have been burned by a professional can create significant barriers. With no standard of care being established for mental health professionals when working with Chronic Pain, individuals with Chronic Pain often find themselves seeing multiple therapists in an effort to find someone who specializes in working with chronic pain.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!

While a therapist does not need personal experience to be effective, relating to my patients gives me another level of awareness with Chronic Pain that would not have existed if I did not live a life defined by chronic pain. Having the experience of once being pain free to always experiencing pain gives me an appreciation for clients and their experiences living with Chronic Pain. Sharing an experience that is difficult to describe to others who do not have chronic pain, is exhausting and overwhelming. Having similar circumstances with my clients, I am able to address issues that you may have a hard time finding the words to explain.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!

Chronic pain is influenced by a myriad of factors, including the familial environment. The dynamics within a family can significantly impact a person’s experience with chronic pain, potentially perpetuating pain problems. Therefore, incorporating family is essential for a comprehensive approach to pain management.

I provide Chronic Pain Coaching for individuals throughout the United States. Through Chronic Pain coaching we focus on immediate goals and strategies such as lifestyle changes, movement goals, and communication strategies with your medical team. Therapy is provided only in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Both services are effective for the management of Chronic Pain.

I am a certified Empowered Relief Provider.  I offer online support groups for both Chronic Pain patients and Care Partners. I offer workshops for both clients and professionals. Please check out our Groups and Workshop page and join our Newsletter for the most up to date listings!

In January 2024, Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching will be opening up Phoenix Chronic Pain Psychological Institute. Phoenix Chronic Pain Psychological Institute offers workshops, certificate programs, consultation groups, and training dedicated to working with the Chronic Pain Population. Please subscribe to our newsletter.

I take BCBS. Please visit our insurance and rates page for more information.