CBT is an approach to treatment that focuses on identifying current problems that a client is having, examining the historic causes and current beliefs and behaviors that maintain these difficulties, and generating alternative strategies to break unhelpful cycles. CBT tends to be active and collaborative, and focused on specific goals. The “cognitive” part of CBT is focused on identifying your automatic thoughts (and underlying beliefs) that may be driving emotional distress and problematic behavior. Techniques are taught to gather evidence in order to challenge these beliefs and replace them with more adaptive, helpful ways of seeing yourself, others and the world. Behaviorally, CBT seeks to identify and change maladaptive behaviors (often avoidance, acting out, controlling or self-defeating behaviors) in order to develop new, more adaptive choices and skills. New behaviors are not only the goal; they also create new experiences (data), which can help change old beliefs and feelings.

CT uses mindfulness techniques to help clients accept what is out of their control (both internal experiences and external circumstances) in order to focus on what we do control: taking committed action to create a rich and meaningful life. Like CBT, ACT helps clients become aware of the negative self-talk and painful feelings that keep them stuck in old patterns; but, instead of battling, buying in or obeying them, it uses mindfulness to “defuse” or disengage from the negative stories. Mindfulness is similarly used to make peace with unpleasant emotions and frustrating situations in our lives, so that we can free up energy from worrying and ruminating about them. Instead, we can focus on our core values – the parts of ourselves we want to bring alive and express more in the world. ACT teaches skills for clarifying values and skills for effectively putting them into action.

Pain psychology is a scientifically-supported treatment for chronic pain and illness, anxiety, depression, sleep, and other issues. Pain psychologists help identify and resolve stressors that trigger flare-ups, and teach skills to minimize and prevent pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as being both a negative sensory and an emotional experience. Psychology is built into the very definition of pain.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a system of psychological techniques that retrains the brain to interpret and respond to signals from the body properly, subsequently breaking the cycle of chronic pain. Pain Reprocessing Therapy has five main components: 1) education about the brain origins and reversibility of pain, 2) gathering and reinforcing personalized evidence for the brain origins and reversibility of pain, 3) attending to and appraising pain sensations through a lens of safety, 4) addressing other emotional threats, and 5) gravitating to positive feelings and sensations.