Chronic Pain
Are you struggling with chronic pain?
CBT aims to improve the way that you manage and cope with your pain, rather than finding a biological solution to it. This approach is related to problem-solving and giving you control over your pain. CBT helps to identify negative thinking patterns and to develop effective challenges. With careful planning of tasks and daily activities and the use of relaxation training, CBT will enable you to take back control of your life, to do more, and to feel better.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is long-standing pain that persists beyond the usual recovery period or occurs along with a chronic health condition, such as arthritis. Chronic pain may be “on” and “off” or continuous. It may affect individuals to the point where they can’t work, eat properly, take part in physical activity, or enjoy life. This can, in turn, lead to feeling very low or depressed as well as anxious about when pain may next be experienced.
When to seek treatment for chronic pain management
You should consider treatment for your chronic pain when:
Your pain has lasted for more than 6 months, or if it is due to an injury, it should have healed by now.
Your pain medication isn’t effective, even at its maximum dose.
Your sleep is affected due to the pain.
Your pain is affecting your social life or relationships.
You can’t work because of the pain.
You are finding it harder for you to enjoy life than it was before your pain began.
You feel low, hopeless, frustrated or anxious.
What do Onebright offer for chronic pain management?
We offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for chronic pain, as there is evidence to suggest it can be of support in terms of building resilience to symptoms and improving both daily functioning and quality of life. CBT can also help address any factors which might be contributing to the pain experienced. Whilst it may not be possible to stop the chronic pain, understanding what affects how you experience it, and how it impacts your life, can help you make positive changes. This can lead to a better quality of life overall.
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Benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for chronic pain
CBT is an evidence based, goal-oriented and collaborative psychological therapy approach that focuses on understanding the past and present connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (termed the ‘formulation’). It also offers powerful tools, strategies, and techniques to identify, challenge and reframe unhelpful thought patterns and associated feelings and behaviours, helping to significantly improve mental health and quality of life.
Find out more
Get started by answering some simple questions below or call 020 8175 4908
Book therapy for chronic pain
Onebright's client liaison team are available Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays).
You must be aged 18 years or above to access our therapy services.
You must be aged 18 years or above to access our therapy services.
Chronic pain FAQs
In some cases, chronic pain may have an obvious cause. For example, you might be dealing with a long-term condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia that causes pain. In other cases, the cause of chronic pain may be less obvious, and there might be several factors contributing to the pain you are feeling.
As the cause of chronic pain can be complex, some people may live with it for some time before receiving a clear explanation, or without ever receiving one. This doesn't mean the pain they are experiencing isn't valid, and finding the right support can still have a significant impact on their quality of life.
As the cause of chronic pain can be complex, some people may live with it for some time before receiving a clear explanation, or without ever receiving one. This doesn't mean the pain they are experiencing isn't valid, and finding the right support can still have a significant impact on their quality of life.
Effective chronic pain management usually relies on a combination of approaches. Engaging in regular, gentle exercise, practising breathing techniques, sticking to a regular sleep routine, and investing in talking therapy can all work together to help you understand and manage your pain.
For most people, chronic pain cannot be cured, but it can be managed effectively enough to significantly improve daily life.
For most people, chronic pain cannot be cured, but it can be managed effectively enough to significantly improve daily life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a well-established and evidence-supported psychological therapy for chronic pain. It focuses on how you think about and respond to pain, rather than trying to change the pin itself.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy recognises chronic pain as a real, physical experience, but helps reframe how an individual thinks about it, responds to it, and structures their life around it. This can have a positive impact on how much chronic pain impacts day-to-day life.
CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that can make chronic pain feel more overwhelming, and replaces them with strategies that help you stay active, cope with flare-ups, and rebuild confidence in your everyday life.
CBT helps you identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that can make chronic pain feel more overwhelming, and replaces them with strategies that help you stay active, cope with flare-ups, and rebuild confidence in your everyday life.
