Lucy Dunning, Ed.S, LPC, LCMHCS, NCC, PMH-C, BC-TMH
Lucy’s story
Lucy has a rare disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 2. Lucy has had several nerve resection surgeries and a spinal cord implant. Lucy’s pain journey started in 2017 with the birth of her daughter and has now dedicated her work to helping clients and their families with transitioning and advocating whether they are experiencing chronic pain, chronic illness, and educating professionals on treating those experiencing chronic pain and or chronic medical conditions and mental health and provides mental health case consultation with mental health and medical providers. Lucy is currently working with cutting edge technology and assisting with virtual reality company’s in assisting chronic pain clients and provides in office use of the device fffafdf that is currently only available in a hospital setting.
Like many patients of complex and chronic diseases Lucy was not given a good prognosis for a quality of life, and through her journey she found ways to still be a mother of 3 kids and find her life’s work in helping others faced in similar circumstances.
Advocacy is an important part of Lucy’s work and she continues to raise awareness and close gaps in health care that continue to exist. Lucy is the Advocacy and Support Group Leader for the US Pain Foundation for North and South Carolina, she spoke for NORD in February 2021 on educating professionals on rare diseases to improve health care, she was Pain Warrior of the Month Dec 2020, and in July of 2021 she was featured in the Invisible Pain Project Magazine in regards to the impact that having an Invisible Disease can have on mental health, Stigmas, and the importance of finding the right mental health provider when seeking support.
I am a Board-Certified Tele-mental Health Counselor. I am licensed in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
As a BC-TMC I have had extensive training and assessment in providing effective telehealth services to clients. I stay up to date on the latest policies and best practices when providing therapy or coaching services through a virtual platform.
Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching specializes in working with individuals who are living with chronic pain. I help clients work through the trauma of experiencing chronic pain and move them from being “stuck” in a toxic cycle of alternating between intense pain flares and anxiety, giving them the psychological freedom to move forward and increase their quality of life despite having chronic pain. As a collaborative team, I am by your side as you create and reach goals focused on increasing your sense of belonging and empowerment.
You may have tried counseling before but it was unsuccessful. You may be on the fence about going to counseling again based on your previous experience. My role as a chronic pain patient gives me the insight to understand the chronic pain experience from a deeper level – Please learn about my Pain Story (see above) to help answer questions you may have about my personal experience. Chronic pain, unlike most illnesses, starts with a beginning (when the pain started) and has no ending. When a result does not exist, it can make it very difficult to figure out how to move forward.
I help clients navigate the complex relationship between chronic pain and mental health by creating a personalized pain plan designed specifically to decrease your flare-ups, increase or maintain your involvement in tasks you enjoy.
Through a therapeutic platform, your experience is unique with only you understanding the narrative of your chronic pain. By participating in counseling or coaching, you are an active participant in managing your chronic pain. Seeking tools, skills, and resources gives you the ability to decide how much of your life will be controlled by chronic pain versus your chronic pain controlling you. If your chronic pain is taking over your ability to enjoy life, Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching can help you walk through the middle of this difficult journey. You do not have to face your journey of pain alone. Schedule an appointment today with Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching to begin your path of acceptance, and empowerment as you redefine your life with Chronic Pain.
Lucy Dunning, Ed.S, LPC, LCMHCS, NCC, PMH-C, BC-TMH
Therapeutic Models for Chronic Pain
Evidence-based theoretical approaches used in treatment:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Somatic Processing
- Family Systems
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Pain Coaching
- Motivational Interviewing
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Hypnosis for Chronic Pain
- Self-Regulation Skills
- Chronic Pain Neuroscience Education
- Pain Reprocessing Theory
- Story Telling and Narrative Therapy
Chronic Pain Blog
Education
Bachelor of Science of Psychology: Georgia Southern University
Masters of Education (M.Ed) in School Counseling: University of West Georgia
Ed.S, Education Specialist Degree in School Counseling: University of Georgia
Certificates
Certificate in Pain Science from Keck Medical School of Southern California
Certificate in Play Therapy from University of North Carolina Charlotte
National Certified Health Coach
Certified Perimental Health Provider
Empowered Relief Coach
National Certified U.S Pain Foundation Support Group Leader and Advocate Leader
Licenses
Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in North Carolina
Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
Organizations
Member of the American Counseling Association
Member of International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
Member of the National Board for Certified Counselors
Member of the American Psychology Association
Member of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
U.S. Pain Foundation
NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)
Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching
316 SE Alexander St. Suite 2
Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 470-810-1213
