Chronic Pain, Unwanted Habits Logotherapy

Chronic Pain, Unwanted Habits

Chronic pain brings hundreds of people to therapy every week. Many physical and psychological issues can cause chronic pain and it is important to rule out any medical causes and get treatment by speaking to a physician.

Some people experience chronic pain as the result of untreated emotional overwhelm, unexpressed anger, depression or grief. Symptoms of chronic pain typically include headaches; muscle tension, pain or fatigue;  shooting nerve pains, and tension in the back, neck and shoulders.

Many people with chronic pain disorder are reluctant to explore the emotional causes of their pain for fear of being told that they are inventing the symptoms. However, true somaticizing is a very real condition in which the emotions are unable to leave the body.

Another reason why people are loathe to admit the emotional roots of their pain, is that they fear that there would be no medical cure. Chronic pain with an emotional root requires that they confront the emotions that have been hidden away, and this can be challenging.

Therapists and psychologists who do  chronic pain therapy offer a confidential and safe environment in which people can explore pent-up emotions and as a result experience short term and long term relief. Symptoms caused by long term emotional build-up may require long-term treatment and due to the physical changes, some medical intervention and active physiotherapy is often very important as well.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who works with chronic pain you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Logotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Logotherapy stems from the Greek word for logo, which means 'meaning'. The therapy is based on the theory that any wisdom on healing can be found in our spiritual or noetic dimension. We all possess the cure for any negative emotions, relationships and issues inside of our inner spirits. The approach was developed by Viktor Frankl whose theories were heavily influenced by his personal experiences of suffering and loss in Nazi concentration camps.


The therapist will apply Logotherapy by helping the client recognize that he or she is a unique spirit. This uniqueness is what we express through our beliefs, behaviours and lives.

Logotherapy helps people to move beyond their own negative beliefs and to pursue our desires in order to achieve satisfaction in life and fulfill our purposes. By changing our perceptions, we can see things differently and learn to accept what we can't control.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Logotherapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy encompasses a range of six principles that aim to help clients develop greater psychological flexibility. The six principles include:

1. Cognitive defusion help to reduce tendencies to regard thoughts, memories and emotions as real and concrete events.

2. Acceptance is about allowing the thoughts to surface and pass without the need to allow them to interfere with daily life.

3.  Being present means being aware of current existence and being involved with the now.

4. Self observation helps the client to be aware of the self and the unchanging consciousness.

5. Exploring values to discover those that are most important to the person.

6. Committed action involves setting goals based on the explored values, and setting actions in place to reach those goals.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy and is commonly used in therapy, and in it's sub-forms and helpful for a range of conditions, including OCD. If you require Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, have a look at the counsellors listed below.

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Ashley Shankar

M.S.W., RCSW
I’m a cis South Asian woman. My Masters in Social Work from the University of British Columbia has granted me the opportunity to work extensively in diverse community mental health settings. I work with... Read more

Michelle Carchrae

M.C., RCC
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People come to counselling when they want to feel better. I'm here to help you do that.  Whether you're experiencing depression and stuckness, anxiety, overwhelming emotion or difficulty in your... Read more