An Introduction to Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Education E275

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

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.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify health disparities that exist in the management and treatment of chronic pain.
2. Define chronic pain terminology.
3. Explain the role of the brain and central nervous system in chronic pain.
4. Differentiate the biomedical and biopsychosocial models of pain.
5. Describe methods of teaching patients and clients about chronic pain using the biopsychosocial model of pain and pain neuroscience.

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Scope of the Problem
  • Health Disparities
  • Biomedical Prioritization
• Definitions of Pain
  • A Revised Definition of Pain
  • Acute versus Chronic Pain
• Chronic Pain and the Central Nervous System
  • Chronic Primary Pain
  • Treatment Implications for Nervous System Involved Pain
• Pain Theories and Models Throughout History
  • Specificity Theory
  • Gate Control Theory
  • The Biopsychosocial and Biomedical Models
• Misinformation About Chronic Pain
  • Teaching About Pain
  • A Biopsychosocial Case Conceptualization
• Chronic Pain Treatment Using Psychoeducation and Psychotherapy
  • Establishing Rapport
  • Framing Pain Within the Biopsychosocial Model
  • Validating Pain Experience with the Chronic Pain Cycle
  • Highlighting Patterns of Fear-Avoidance
  • Pain Neuroscience Education
• Cultural Considerations
• Summary

Author

Anna Redmond, Psy.D., BCB

Anna Redmond, Psy.D., BCB earned her doctorate in Psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Dr. Redmond is a clinical psychologist specializing in chronic pain management and is board certified in biofeedback through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. Dr. Redmond’s clinical work has spanned many settings, including private practice, hospital, VA medical centers, online education, and in primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings. She served as a clinical associate in the department of psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and worked at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in multiple roles, which included clinical director of the Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program, coordinator of pain psychology services, and primary care psychologist. Dr. Redmond currently owns a private practice specialized in educating and helping women live with chronic pain.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/08/21-08/08/24.

Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.