What is Pain Psychology?

Psychologists working in the Pain Management Service specifically work with patients who experience persistent pain and persistent pain-related issues.

Your doctor or nurse may have suggested that it could be helpful to meet with the Psychologist in this service. This does not mean that they believe “the pain is all in your head”. Psychologists are involved in the Pain Management Service because they know that pain affects the way we think, feel and behave. Pain can affect all areas of people’s lives, including their ability to work, complete domestic chores and participate in social activities; this can have a significant impact on their roles and relationships and overall quality of life.

The way pain impacts on your life can understandably leave you feeling frustrated, angry or down and you may worry about the future because of the pain and how it affects you, the people around you and your life overall. These feelings in turn can negatively impact on your confidence and motivation, leaving you feeling even worse and stuck.

Why see a Psychologist in the Pain Management Service?

Psychologists cannot make the pain go away, they do not prescribe medication or perform medical/physical procedures. Instead, they will work with you to understand the pain and how it has impacted on your life and mood. The aim of this is to understand your pain problem and how it affects you; having space to talk things through and reflect can be very helpful.

Once you have a shared understanding, you and the Psychologist can work together to explore alternative ways of coping with the pain problem, manage the emotional impact of the pain better and feel more in control of your life. The aim of any intervention is to help you to improve your quality of life and to live well with the pain.

Who works in the service?

There is one Clinical Psychologist working in the Pain Management Service. At times there may be Trainee Clinical Psychologists working in the service, who are under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.

What do Clinical Psychologists do?

Clinical Psychologists use and integrate a range of evidence-based psychological approaches while working with you. These include therapeutic approaches such as:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,
• Compassion Focused Therapy,
• Systemic Therapy,
• Narrative therapy.

What to expect from Psychologists in the Pain Management Service

Before you meet with the Psychologist you may be asked to complete a number of questionnaires.
The Psychologist will initially meet with you for 1-2 sessions to complete an assessment. This will help to clarify if individual psychological input around pain will be helpful for you. You will be asked about the pain and its impact on you and your life. Your social circumstances and current situation will also be discussed. Your appointment(s) will last 50 minutes.

At the end of the assessment, you and the Psychologist will agree a plan together. Together, you might decide that a different service is better suited to your needs, e.g. a mental health service if your distress and difficulties are mainly linked with a mental health problem. In some cases, you may agree that you are doing well at the moment and do not need psychological input at present.

If you and the Psychologist decide that psychological input around your pain would be beneficial, this could take the form of group or individual sessions. You might be invited to our Pain Management Programme. Alternatively, if individual psychological input would be most appropriate, you may be offered around 6 sessions. These will last up to 50 minutes. The number and duration of sessions may vary depending on your individual needs and circumstance.

What information do Psychologists keep and how is the information stored?

The Psychologists will keep short notes of things they need to remember about you and your treatment. This information will be documented in your medical notes and kept confidential. Other healthcare professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses) involved in your care will have access to these notes; this is meant to ensure that all professionals involved in your care can work together efficiently. If any of the information you share is particularly sensitive, we will ask your permission before sharing it. Over the course of your treatment, the Psychologist will also write to your GP and the person who referred you to the Pain Management Psychology Service to update them on the plan you have agreed together and the outcome of the intervention, where relevant. All of these people are legally obliged to keep your information safe and confidential.

In exceptional circumstances, e.g. if there were concerns about your safety or the safety of someone in your care, the Psychologist might have to contact your GP, local authorities or the Police. This would be discussed with you prior to any information being shared.
Please discuss any concerns you may have regarding the confidentiality of your information with the Psychologist.

What if I do not wish to see a Psychologist in the Pain Management Service?

You do not have to meet with a psychologist. If you would like to decline this, you can contact the service to let us know. Alternatively, you will be removed from the Psychology waiting list if you do not respond to the opt-in letter within three weeks.