An Introduction to Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Education

Course overview

Due to the growing epidemic of chronic pain, there are two important questions to ask. Why is chronic pain increasing? Why are some of the most amazing medical treatments not working? One proposed barrier to resolving this epidemic is access to education for both clients with chronic pain and the professionals providing their care. Social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and counselors frequently encounter clients suffering from chronic pain, but they may feel uneducated and unempowered to discuss chronic pain with their clients. Clinicians' avoidance of this clinical issue, however, can worsen client experiences overall. When mental health professionals understand and can confidently interact with clients about their chronic pain, they can counteract stigma, reduce client experiences of marginalization, and empower clients around this crucial component of their health. Given the significant prevalence of chronic pain and its negative consequences, including social and economic burden, it is imperative to reduce the contribution of suboptimal care. Mental health clinicians are in unique positions to help their clients understand and self-manage their chronic pain and the purpose of this introductory learning material is to increase clinician confidence in working effectively with this population. This learning material provides clinicians with critical information regarding the global effect and health disparities of pain, evolving theories and current research on pain and pain management, and important approaches that clinicians can use to build rapport and educate clients about their chronic pain in the initial sessions. Clinicians participating in this course are offered ways to empathize and form an alliance with their clients, illustrations for delivering specific neuroscience education to clients, and a framework for introducing clients to a biopsychosocial self-management approach to chronic pain. Upon completion of this course, clinicians will be able to apply evidence-based psychoeducation when first interacting with a client who is experiencing a diminished quality of life and impaired mental health due to chronic pain.