Welcome to another episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast, Jeanene Wolfe sits down with Jaimee Arnoff, Ph.D., to discuss the complex biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain. Dr. Arnoff delves into the multifaceted aspects of chronic pain, encompassing biological, psychological, and social components.. Dr. Arnoff shares her personal journey and emphasizes building rapport with clients who feel alienated by the medical system, highlighting the significance of validating their experiences. The discussion transitions to addressing grief, loss, and the importance of self-compassion, alongside practical techniques for retraining the brain through somatic tracking and mindfulness activities. Cultural and societal influences on pain perception are also considered, emphasizing the role of support systems and collaborative care with medical providers. 

“In terms of working with clients with chronic pain, I always like to remind them, just because pain can be addressed psychologically does not imply that it’s imaginary.” – Dr. Jaimee Arnoff

Key Points:

***Biopsychosocial Understanding of Chronic Pain: Chronic pain is not merely a physical issue; it involves biological, psychological, and social factors. Dr. Jamie Arnoff emphasizes that addressing all these components is crucial for effective treatment and support.

***Building Trust and Rapport: Establishing trust with clients who have experienced chronic pain and may have had negative interactions with the medical system is essential. Validating their experiences and showing empathy can help build a therapeutic relationship.

***The Importance of Self-Compassion: Techniques like self-compassion, safety reappraisal, and mindfulness activities are key to pain reprocessing therapy. They help clients reframe their relationship with pain and regain trust in their bodies.

***Cultural and Societal Influences: Treatment for chronic pain must consider cultural and societal factors, as these shape clients’ lived experiences and access to support. Involving family members and caregivers in therapy can enhance the effectiveness of interventions.

***Collaboration and Advocacy: Collaborating with medical providers and advocating for clients is crucial. Having support systems in place, such as someone to accompany clients to appointments and using tools like spoon theory to understand communicate energy levels, can improve care and reduce the burden on clients.

About Jaimee Arnoff, Ph.D:

Dr. Jaimee Arnoff is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in adolescents and young adults with internalizing disorders, including those in the Deaf Community, at her private practice in Beacon, NY. Dr. Arnoff is certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy and has been featured on multiple podcasts discussing mental health treatment for chronic pain including Confidently Insecure and Behavioral Health Today. She is on the Founding Providers Board for the venture-backed digital health company, Flowly, that combines virtual reality and biofeedback training for chronic pain patients. She also provides them and other agencies with workshops for individuals, their families, and providers on how to manage physical pain therapeutically. As an individual who experiences chronic pain personally, she hopes to reduce the stigma of seeking out therapy services as a treatment for chronic pain.

Connect with Jaimee:

Website: BFFTherapy.com

Instagram: @BFFTherapy