Chronic Pain therapy in Washington, DC, Virginia, and North Carolina
Chronic pain often persists even after medical causes have been addressed. For many individuals, emotional stress, unresolved trauma, and long-standing patterns of tension play a significant role in maintaining physical pain.
Chronic pain therapy in Washington, DC focuses on understanding how emotional and nervous system processes contribute to pain experiences. Research shows that emotional suppression, chronic stress, and unresolved emotional conflict can amplify physical symptoms over time.
Using an ISTDP-informed approach, therapy helps individuals safely explore emotional patterns that may be contributing to pain while improving emotional regulation and nervous system functioning.
Chronic pain therapy in Washington, DC
Physical Symptoms-Somatization
Somatization, or the conversion of emotional problems into physical symptoms, is a well-documented phenomenon that accounts for a large proportion of office visits to physicians, primary care doctors, specialists, and emergency room visits.
These disorders are often referred to as “unexplained medical symptoms”, “psychosomatic disorders”, or “somatoform disorders.” The result is Chronic Pain. Regardless of the name, the financial and emotional costs of these disorders are high.
These disorders often go undiagnosed for years, resulting in a burden on the system and the patient alike due to unnecessary treatments, testing, hospitalizations, disability, and “revolving door” failed treatments.
These disorders can be broadly classified into either pain or non-pain-related symptoms. Pain-related symptoms would include lower back pain, chest pain, headaches, joint pain, body aches, and stomach/reflux issues.
Non-pain-related symptoms include dizziness, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations, weakness, loss of movement, and sexual dysfunctions.
Characteristics of the disorder
• Headaches
• Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Pain
• Irritable Bowl Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Erectile Disorder
• Chronic Fatigue
• Nausea
• GERD
• Allergies and other immune system difficulties
• Impotence and other sexual dysfunctions
Non-pain-related symptoms include:
dizziness,
chronic fatigue
heart palpitations
weakness
loss of movement
sexual dysfunctions
Treatment for Chronic Pain:
This approach does not suggest that pain is “imaginary,” but rather recognizes the complex interaction between emotional processes and physical experience. Treatment aims to reduce pain intensity, improve functioning, and restore quality of life.
The experience of emotions overcomes somatization: research has shown that if you can experience true feelings (unconscious warded-off emotions) in the moment, the process of somatization is weakened or overcome. The experience of mixed feelings about present and past event removes the anxiety and somatization symptoms. This process is diagnostic. IF we see a drop in symptoms after the experience of feelings, then we have evidence there was a somatization process at work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
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Therapy can help by addressing emotional stress, nervous system dysregulation, and psychological factors that contribute to the persistence of pain.
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No. Chronic pain is real and complex. Therapy recognizes the interaction between emotional processes, the nervous system, and physical symptoms.
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I work with stress-related pain, tension headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, and pain that persists despite medical treatment.
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Yes. Many clients experience reductions in pain intensity, improved functioning, and better quality of life through therapy
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Yes. I provide chronic pain-focused teletherapy for adults in Washington, DC