Pain Reprocessing Therapy

 

There is hope

Learn an evidence-based approach to reduce or eliminate your chronic pain

 

structural vs neuroplastic pain

Structural pain is when there is something structurally wrong with the body that is the cause of the pain, e.g., an acute injury like a broken leg. The majority of chronic pain is something called neuroplastic pain which is where the pain is actually originating in the brain, as opposed to something being structurally wrong with the body. In neuroplastic pain the brain is interpreting normal, safe signals as painful or dangerous. We can retrain the brain that there is nothing actually wrong with the body, and that these signals are neutral/safe.

 
 

what is pain reprocessing therapy?

Developed by psychotherapist and author Alan Gordon, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) involves breaking the chronic pain cycle by retraining the brain to properly interpret and respond to signals from the body. PRT can be broken down into five main elements:

  1. Education about neuroplastic pain - how it originates in the brain and how it is reversible

  2. Gathering personal evidence for the above and reinforcing this evidence

  3. Reappraising the sensation of pain through a lens of safety

  4. Addressing underlying emotional issues and/or negative emotional reactions to pain, e.g. fear

  5. Learning to gravitate towards positive feelings and body sensations

PRT was studied in a randomized controlled trial where 100 people with chronic back pain were assigned to either a PRT group or a “treatment as usual” group for one month. At the end of the month, 98% of people in the PRT group showed improvement with 66% of them pain-free or nearly pain-free. This study was published in JAMA Psychiatry

 

what are some common types of neuroplastic pain?

 

The following are some examples of pain or symptoms that are most likely neuroplastic:

  • Migraines/headaches

  • Back/neck pain

  • Irritable bowel syndrome

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Repetitive strain injuries

  • Pelvic floor pain

  • Long COVID symptoms/pain

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Dizziness/vertigo

  • Nausea

 
 

is my pain neuroplastic? take the free screening below.

Please note I CURRENTLY HAVE AN APPROXIMATE WAITLIST OF 3-4 MONTHS. I’M HAPPY TO HAVE A CONSULTATION IN THE MEANTIME.

If you need immediate counselling for pain (including ICBC sessions), please contact Ashley Hewer, RCC: Path to Essence for online therapy in BC.