Chronic Pain Therapist Denver: Chronic Pain Management in Denver, CO
Chronic pain is more common than diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure among U.S. adults. Even more concerning, nearly two-thirds of those who develop chronic pain continue to suffer from it a year later. -- National Library of Medicine
Your Pain Is Real: We Can Help
We know how much chronic discomfort can disrupt your life. It makes it hard to do everyday activities and enjoy the things you used to love. We’re here to help you find relief.
At Gorog Health, we offer specialized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for chronic pain management, which helps individuals understand and manage the psychological and emotional aspects of the condition.
Explore how CBT at Gorog Health can empower you to reduce discomfort, improve coping strategies, and enhance your overall quality of life.
WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond the time one would expect normal healing to occur (usually about 3-6 months longer). Chronic pain is often the result of persistent tissue injury and ongoing activation of pain receptors that may lead to pharmacological, physiological, and anatomical changes in the central nervous system, where pain information is processed.
The Hidden Costs of Chronic Pain
Long-term pain is not only physically taxing for those who experience enduring symptoms but also socially and emotionally challenging. Often, patients seek treatment, and a provider can only address the physical symptoms without getting to the root cause.
Moreover, people have shared countless experiences where their symptoms have been minimized, and they are left feeling invalidated and discredited.
The management and treatment of long-term discomfort have proven difficult because medical models have only recently evolved from a dualistic (mind or body as the cause for symptoms) understanding of pain to a more holistic one that involves a mind-body connection of the condition’s experience.
The sensory experience of discomfort also encompasses one’s subjective emotional experience, thoughts, actions, and interpretations of actions, which ultimately sheds light on the psychological aspects of chronic pain that may worsen one’s experience of having pain.
Chronic pain takes a significant emotional and social toll. Many individuals with chronic pain face skepticism, invalidation, and isolation. The medical community is only beginning to understand the complex interplay between physical and psychological factors in chronic pain management.
That’s where a chronic pain therapist, or pain psychologist, can really shine and bridge the gap for many who suffer in silence.
What is a Chronic Pain Therapist?
A chronic pain therapist is a healthcare professional who helps people manage long-term discomfort. Their job is to work with you to understand your symptoms and find ways to reduce them to improve your quality of life. They don’t focus only on the physical aspects of the condition but also consider how it affects your emotions and daily life.
The approach to long-term discomfort management varies for each patient because everyone’s experience with the condition is different. What works for one person might not work for another. Long-term pain therapists tailor their treatment plans to fit each patient’s unique needs.
When Should You Seek a Chronic Pain Therapist?
You should consider seeking a chronic discomfort therapist when your discomfort becomes a constant part of your life and starts affecting your daily activities. If you’ve been dealing with symptoms for a long time—more than three to six months—and it’s not going away with regular treatments like rest, medication, or physical therapy, you should see a specialist.
Here are some specific signs that indicate you need to seek help from a chronic pain therapist:
- Pain interferes with daily life: If your condition is making it hard to do everyday activities like getting out of bed, going to work, or spending time with family and friends, consider seeing a therapist. They can help you find ways to manage the condition so you can get back to your normal routine.
- Emotional stress from symptoms: Chronic pain doesn’t affect only your body—it also takes a toll on your emotions. If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or frustrated because of your discomfort, a therapist will help you manage the emotional aspect of the condition and find strategies to cope better.
- Unsuccessful treatments: If you’ve tried different treatments like over-the-counter medications and physical therapy and nothing seems to work, it’s a good idea to see a chronic pain therapist.
- Desire to reduce medication: If you’re taking a lot of painkillers and want to avoid the side effects they cause, a therapist can help you. They may introduce non-drug treatments that help you rely less on medication while still managing your symptoms.
Are you a silent sufferer of chronic pain?
Chronic pain is not only physically taxing for those who experience enduring pain, but also socially and emotionally difficult. Oftentimes, people with chronic pain have had to see multiple providers in search of diagnostic answers and treatment remedies. More so, people have shared countless experiences where their pain has been minimized and they are left feeling invalidated and discredited. In their personal life, people with chronic pain often end up feeling isolated, discouraged, and exhausted when they receive criticism and cynicism about the debilitating nature of their experience.
Our APPROACH TO CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
At Gorog Health, we offer long-term therapy to help improve your quality of life and reduce your discomfort. Here’s what makes our approach different:
Validate Your Pain With Specialized Care
Our priority when we meet someone with chronic pain is to validate that their physical pain is real and they are not “crazy”. Unfortunately, many people with chronic pain have been given the message that their pain is not real, or it is all in their head.
Instead, upon my first meeting we want my patients to leave feeling understood and hopeful that a psychophysiological treatment approach is an evidence-based ancillary treatment approach that is recognized to provide real benefit and relief.
I also help you understand how both your physical and emotional experiences contribute to your symptoms so that you’re not just treated but truly understood. I believe in a compassionate approach that addresses your symptoms and supports your holistic well-being.
Here are our different methods for pain management
CBT for Pain Management
We provide each patient with an explanation of CBT, detailing the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors, and provide examples of how pain is intertwined in these relationships impacting your overall experience with chronic discomfort.
We will explain how stress of any kind (although mental) can exacerbate your condition. We will then plan appropriate interventions aimed at reducing your overall symptoms and helping you get your life back on track despite any temporary discomfort you may be experiencing.
We can discuss how negative thought patterns and emotions can worsen your condition. We’ll also develop strategies to change these patterns. We’ll set realistic goals and practical steps to help you manage daily challenges and regain a sense of control.
Biofeedback Therapy
We also use biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback for long-term discomfort is considered a gold standard treatment approach for relaxation in the service of treating many presentations.
We’ll use the Nexus 10 MK-II to provide real-time clinical feedback on your breath, heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature, and more. This information is important to use alongside CBT for long-term pain because it gives us real-time physiological data.
With this data, we can reduce your discomfort and ultimately work on addressing your relationship with pain with physiological data to help guide us.
What Makes Our Approach to Chronic Pain Different
As you can see, we do things a little differently at Gorog health. Ultimately, our goal is to get on the same page with you and collaboratively determine your goals as they relate not only to current symptoms but also your goals related to your well-being.
It is not uncommon for people with long-term discomfort to also experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. I aim to help you live a life free from pain using cutting-edge research into psychotherapy, biofeedback, and CBT. Your pain is real and together we address and beat it once and for all.
What is the Best Psychotherapy for Chronic pain?
In addition to the therapy techniques mentioned above, these techniques can also be utilized in our practice to help you overcome your persistent pain:
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT is a newer form of therapy that encourages patients to accept their symptoms and commit to living a meaningful life despite it.
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): MBSR combines mindfulness meditation with stress management techniques. The goal is to help patients become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and to reduce the stress that can exacerbate symptoms.
- Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy explores the unconscious mind to understand emotional conflicts that may be contributing to chronic discomfort.
- Behavioral activation: This form of psychotherapy focuses on increasing engagement in meaningful activities to improve mood and reduce discomfort. The idea is that by staying active and involved in life, patients can break the cycle of pain and depression.
With so many tools in our toolbox, we’ll work with you to determine the best therapy for you specifically. There are no one-size-fits-all approaches here.
The Gorog Health Difference: Mental Health that Improves Your Life
Here are four reasons to consider Gorog Health if you’re experienced prolonged chronic pain:
Local to Denver
Choosing Gorog Health means you get care from a team that truly understands the Denver community. Being local to Denver, CO, we are familiar with the unique location-specific challenges and lifestyle factors that can affect your mental health.
Plus, our convenient location makes it easy for you to access the support you need at the moment you need it.
Expertise in Pain Management
Dr. Gorog has a Doctorate in Psychology, specializing in comprehensive and compassionate mental health care. She combines her expertise in psychological principles with a dedication to holistic well-being in her practice.
The team of psychologists at Gorog Health is trained in the latest techniques and therapies designed to address both the physical and emotional aspects of long-term discomfort. We work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that aims to reduce your symptoms and help you regain control over your life.
Customized Treatment Plans
We believe that your mental health journey is unique, so our team creates customized treatment plans tailored specifically to your needs. We take the time to understand your personal history, challenges, and goals, and then develop a plan that addresses your specific situation.
Holistic Healing Approach
Our care plan adopts a holistic approach to therapy. It integrates traditional psychological techniques with a strong emphasis on overall wellness, including physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
We are committed to using evidence-based practices, drawing on the latest research and clinical insights to inform our therapeutic methods. Our holistic approach ensures that you receive the most effective and comprehensive treatment tailored to your individual needs.
If you’re experiencing pain after trying several different practitioners with no results, we believe we can help. Book a free consultation today!
Contact
Schedule an Appointment With One of Our Chronic Pain Therapists Today
At Gorog Health, we are committed to helping you overcome the challenges of chronic discomfort with compassionate and personalized care.
Our goal is to help improve your pain symptoms with cutting-edge research in psychology. You don’t have to suffer alone any longer.
If you are searching for a complete and holistic approach to chronic pain management, contact Gorog Health to set up a consultation with our team. We will create a plan customized just for you.
Mental Health Therapy for Chronic Pain FAQ
Pain reprocessing therapy is a psychological approach that retrains your brain to interpret chronic pain differently. It reduces or eliminates symptoms by changing how your brain perceives and responds to discomfort.
A pain psychologist is a specialist who uses psychological methods to manage chronic discomfort. They provide psychotherapy therapy to address discomfort-related stress, anxiety, and emotional issues.
Yes, you can combine therapy for chronic pain and depression. Integrated approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction address both issues simultaneously.
Yes, self-treatments for chronic pain include listening to music, practicing guided imagery, meditation for relaxation, and physical exercise. However, it’s better to combine these self-help techniques with professional treatments for, such as CBT.
A pain psychologist focuses only on the psychological and emotional aspects of pain, while a chronic pain therapist takes a more holistic approach, addressing both the physical and psychological components of chronic pain.
Gorog Health does not accept any insurance or Medicaid.
The speed of relief from chronic discomfort varies greatly depending on the cause and treatment methods. Some people experience noticeable improvement within weeks of treatment, while others take months or longer.
The management and treatment of chronic pain has proven to be difficult because medical models have only recently evolved from a dualistic (mind or body as the cause for pain) understanding of pain to a more holistic one that involves a mind-body connection of the pain experience. This means that the sensory experience of pain also encompasses one’s subjective emotional experience, thoughts, actions, and interpretations of actions, which ultimately sheds light into the psychological aspects of chronic pain that may worsen one’s experience having pain.
What our Client's Say
Adam and Cam Wells2024-05-30We recently had the pleasure of having sessions for our child with Dr. Gorog for help with anxiety and behavioral development, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Dr. Gorog is truly exceptional in her approach, skillfully addressing both the psychological and somatic aspects of anxiety. Her comprehensive method ensures that every facet of one's well-being is considered, not just the mental or emotional symptoms. From the very first session, Dr. Gorog made my kiddo feel understood and at ease. She has a remarkable ability to identify the physical and somatic manifestations of anxiety and provides practical strategies to alleviate these symptoms. Her holistic approach has helped ALL of us gain a deeper understanding of how the body and mind are interconnected, which has been incredibly empowering. Dr. Gorog's expertise in treating anxiety is evident in the personalized care she offers. She tailors her sessions to the patient's unique needs, and ensures that our child always feel supported and heard. With her guidance, our child has learned effective techniques to manage anxiety, and we as the parents have learned a great deal more about how to support their journey. I highly recommend Dr. Gorog to anyone struggling with anxiety, especially if you're looking for a provider who addresses both the mental and somatic dimensions of this condition. Her compassionate care and comprehensive treatment approach have made a significant difference in our family and our kiddo.
Linden Brooks2024-03-20Dr.Gorog is the best therapist I've ever seen. After struggling with my mental health for years and trying multiple therapist and approaches I was losing hope....until I walked into Dr.Gorogs office. She creates an environment of safety allowing you to be truly vulnerable, for me I was able to go deeper then ever before. This environment and trust allows her to guide patients in restructuring the meaning assigned to external factors and exploring how past events and traumas have wired our brains, which for me was a large cause of my mental distress. She helped me reframe my anxiety and view it in a positive light, an emotion/stimulus I no longer fight but embrace and explore with curiosity. Through our time, I've done some exploration of my mental health outside of traditional practices, she was supportive, encouraging, and provided valuable advice on how to approach a new therapy modality, which was solely effective because of the work we had previously done. Furthermore, she was important in the integration of the experience and holding me accountable to the discoveries. I would recommend Dr.Gorog to any and everyone whose looking to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions, overcome and cope with deep trauma, navigate a large life event, or simply improve your life to lessen your symptoms and be more fulfilled.
Gabe Casher2023-08-10As a fellow therapist, I highly recommend Dr. Gorog for psychotherapy services. She has a warm and down-to-earth presence, and uses an evidence-based, no nonsense approach with her clients. She is direct and gentle at the same time, which leads to great outcomes for clients. With Dr. Gorog, you are in good hands!
Efrain Lemus2022-04-12Best psychotherapy in Denver, I was having hard problems with anxiety and she gave me the tools to fight the anxiety and keep it controlled. Dr. Lauren I’ll definitely come back to you in the future when I feel the anxiety is getting out of control again.
Terrel Davis2021-07-07Dr. Gorog is a well-qualified and compassionate therapist, who provides a safe environment for self-growth and healing. Without hesitation, I recommend her highly to friends and family.
Amber “Amber B Shells”2020-12-19My experience with Dr. Gorog was extremely insightful. I have learned skills and knowledge that cause me to feel calmer, more secure in myself and gave me a deeper understanding to myself on a deeper level. I tend to be a sensitive person due to trauma and with my session with Dr. Gorog I gained a higher level of consciousness and was able to see how things effect my nervous system and heart rate. My session gave me the understanding of how things that appear as normal daily occurrence like my phone ringing effected my physiological make up and took me out of the present moment. Amber B. Shells
Marc Allan (Marc_Allen)2020-02-15I have made great progress with my anxiety and depression with Dr. Gorog’s help. Dr. Gorog is passionate about helping others and is one of the most compassionate people I’ve met. She has helped me look at life and myself in thoughtful and positive ways. I highly recommend Dr. Gorog.
Gorog Healh
In The News
Denver based Clinical Health Psychologist, Dr. Lauren Gorog, appears on the Kathie J Show from KCDO Local3 & Denver7 to speak about sleepwalking, night terrors, night terrors vs nightmares, and child sleepwalking vs adult sleepwalking.
Watch this interview of Dr. Gorog on the Kathie J show on Local3 Denver’s Hometown Station where they discuss all things insomnia, CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), and what insomnia treatment and help with sleep looks like in my practice.
Watch this interview of Dr. Gorog on the Kathie J show on Local3 Denver’s Hometown Station where they discuss all things insomnia, CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), and what insomnia treatment and help with sleep looks like in my practice. Click here to go to the article.
Gorog Health
We do not accept insurance or medicaid
