Pain Rehabilitation Center in Minnesota

Group Therapy

Group therapy is an integral part of the PRC program. When chronic pain intrudes on life, many find themselves overwhelmed by intense, often negative, emotions including panic, fear, grief and anger. Like the pain that causes them, these emotions affect the body, sapping energy and intensifying pain. As a result more time may be spent alone and less time with friends and family.

The type of group therapy offered does not focus on the "why" of pain but instead focuses on the "how" to return to a normal life. Group therapy sessions are designed to help patients recognize and deal with negative changes and emotions, improve relationships and become more effective at managing their pain. Group therapy is a combination of informal discussions about how lives have been affected by chronic pain and formal lectures on how to effectively deal with pain.

During group therapy sessions, PRC staff encourage patients to:

• Talk about how daily life has been affected by health concerns
• Avoid talking about symptoms
• Focus on present issues, not prior difficulties
• Identify specific problems and issues to resolve
• Be open to new ideas and alternatives
• Identify constructive ways to respond to pain and healthier ways to manage the cycle of pain
• Plan for ways to incorporate new skills into life at home

Group therapy sessions are structured, focusing on a particular theme, pattern of behavior, or area of learning, such as:

• Anger management
• Assertive communication
• Perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
• Cycle of chronic pain
• Planning for a difficult day
• Personal responsibility
• Relationships and chronic pain