Psychological Wellbeing

Living with persistent pain can affect many areas of a person’s life, including family, relationships, work, social life, and how the person feels about the world, the future and about themselves. For some people, this can result in a variety of emotions.

We also know stress caused by life events can make persistent pain feel worse, which in turn can make the pain more difficult to cope with.

Clinical and Counselling Psychologists can help people develop strategies to cope, living with a persistent pain condition. They work with people to help them understand their condition and to develop more effective ways of coping with, and managing their pain.

SMSKPc is not a mental health service. Therefore, we cannot provide general mental health support for patients.  We encourage patients to access, or continue to access, psychological support from their local mental health providers via their GP or other organisations they may be accessing. With patient consent, we may liaise as appropriate with other mental health professionals involved in your care to ensure your healthcare is collaborative. 

If you are already seeing a psychologist or counsellor, we will discuss with you how this therapy fits with any psychological input you are offered for your pain management. Sometimes, it is more helpful for different aspects of psychological care to be completed at different times, rather than all at the same time.

Therefore, you might be asked to finish the work you are completing with your psychologist or counsellor, before starting work with one of the pain psychologists in SMSKPc. The timing of your psychological therapy for pain management will be discussed with you at assessment and outlined in your treatment plan.    

Please visit our Crisis Support page for support and guidance information.