There can be resistance to exploring chronic pain in a psychotherapy setting. If psychotherapy can help alleviate pain, does that mean it’s “all in your head”? As Dr. Rachel Zoffness explains in this episode of “Ologies,” pain is always biological, social, and psychological. That is to say, even the most physical pain, such as a broken arm, has psychological components - the mind and body are not as distinct as we are often taught to believe. When pain becomes chronic, and especially if there is no known cause, this can often be a sign that psychological components are creating physical symptoms. People with childhood trauma, for example, are said to be at greater risk for chronic pain, due to the way trauma gets trapped in the body by the mind. This does not mean that the pain is not real, but it indicates how this type of pain needs to be approached. Approaching chronic pain from a holistic perspective can look different from client to client, but can include creating self-care and movement routines, developing a mindfulness practice, somatic therapy techniques, and getting to know the “parts” of you that interact with (or even exacerbate) your pain. Internal Family Systems, an approach that I use, is especially well-suited to working with chronic pain; you can read more about that here.