Chronic Pain, Family Conflict Mindfulness approaches

Chronic Pain, Family Conflict

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.

Family conflict is very common in society today, but it also hurts. Family should be your closest friends and loved ones; the people with whom you can share anything and feel the most comfortable to be around. Family should be able to count on one another and support one another.

However, for many people around the world, the last people they are prepared to turn to in times of trouble, is their families. Many people see their families as a source of stress, misunderstanding, disconnect and anger. The only consistent feedback is dramatic arguments, unmet expectations, and emotional hurt.

It is not only dysfunctional families that have conflict. Even the closest of families don't have perfect relationships all the time; they also experience family conflict from time to time and it can be hurtful, frustrating and challenging. Family conflict presents as little irritations that grow to buried resentments to anger and dramatic arguments. Conflict with those people with whom we are so close, the people who know us so well, can bring up intense emotions.

Family dynamics are not always harmonious, particularly when people all live together in the same house can present a range of challenges for the whole family unit. It becomes more complicated when extended family becomes involved. Even if only two people are in conflict, the whole family can be affected. If more people are having relationship problems, the unit can unravel quickly.

While therapists take different approaches to dealing with family conflict, it is good to know that they share a common goal and that is to heal family conflicts through enabling better verbal and nonverbal communication, and dealing with individual issues.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers professional  therapies or counselling to address your family conflict issues, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Mindfulness approaches

Mindfulness approaches help clients to be focused in the here and now. Generally rooted in Eastern meditative techniques,  Mindfulness approaches offer a non-judgmental alternative therapy for dealing with stress and other psychological issues.

By observing worrisome thoughts and learning to accept situations for what they are, people can learn to cope with issues better and make more productive choices.

Mindfulness approaches include a range of models, including dialectical behaviour therapy,  mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. These approaches can be used in a wide range of settings to reduce the symptoms of a broad spectrum of psychological issues.  These therapies can be practiced effectively in individual or group therapy.

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

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

Jess Holtslander

M.S.W., RCC
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