Photo of Carol Lee Hilewick Phd, Psychologist in 20016, DC
Carol Lee Hilewick Phd
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Washington, DC 20016
My goal is to help patients learn to be responders and to be in charge of themselves. Throughout treatment, a functional medicine approach is employed. Care collaboration is valued. Patients with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges benefit from a variety of cognitive behavioral, neurobehavioral, and psychophysiological modalities. Patients with such conditions as emotional and physical trauma, chronic pain, addictions, brain injuries and disorders (autism, Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, motor and balance challenges, for example), sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression are treated. Individuals with neurological, autoimmune, metabolic, endocrinological, and other complex medical conditions find that the treatment modalities promote healing.
My goal is to help patients learn to be responders and to be in charge of themselves. Throughout treatment, a functional medicine approach is employed. Care collaboration is valued. Patients with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges benefit from a variety of cognitive behavioral, neurobehavioral, and psychophysiological modalities. Patients with such conditions as emotional and physical trauma, chronic pain, addictions, brain injuries and disorders (autism, Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, motor and balance challenges, for example), sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression are treated. Individuals with neurological, autoimmune, metabolic, endocrinological, and other complex medical conditions find that the treatment modalities promote healing.
(301) 327-2544 View (301) 327-2544
Photo of Pat Webbink, Psychologist in 20016, DC
Pat Webbink
Psychologist, PhD, MA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Washington, DC 20016
I have produced 15 Creative Visualization recordings on Mindfulness, Dream & Sleep, Enhancing Relationships, Healing Pain & Illness, Centering & Weight Loss.
With 50 years of clinical experience, a Duke U. Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, I am an empathic, results-oriented psychologist. My specialties: relationships, anxiety, depression, stress reduction, intimacy, trauma & abuse. I work with adults, adolescents, & children in individual, couple, family & group therapy. I counsel in Spanish, French & Japanese. I've authored 4 books on intimacy & relationships & hold FREE monthly Zoom workshops on Mindfulness, Creative Movement & Relationships using guided imagery & music. My licensed associates and I serve MD, D.C. & VA. My interactive audio flyer is available at AacCounseling.com. Call me.
I have produced 15 Creative Visualization recordings on Mindfulness, Dream & Sleep, Enhancing Relationships, Healing Pain & Illness, Centering & Weight Loss.
With 50 years of clinical experience, a Duke U. Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, I am an empathic, results-oriented psychologist. My specialties: relationships, anxiety, depression, stress reduction, intimacy, trauma & abuse. I work with adults, adolescents, & children in individual, couple, family & group therapy. I counsel in Spanish, French & Japanese. I've authored 4 books on intimacy & relationships & hold FREE monthly Zoom workshops on Mindfulness, Creative Movement & Relationships using guided imagery & music. My licensed associates and I serve MD, D.C. & VA. My interactive audio flyer is available at AacCounseling.com. Call me.
(240) 435-4843 View (240) 435-4843
Photo of Aaron Pearl, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in 20016, DC
Aaron Pearl
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LPC, LCPC
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Washington, DC 20016
I work with individuals, couples, and groups that are faced with a variety of challenges, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, interpersonal conflict and dissatisfaction, infidelity, impulse control, and adjustment issues. I am trained and use ACT principles when working with my clients. ACT is a mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment approach to psychotherapy. Working together, I help clients slow down the thought process so they can thoughtfully respond to difficult thoughts and emotions. This allows you to take value-based behavioral action as opposed to having emotional, automatic reactions.
I work with individuals, couples, and groups that are faced with a variety of challenges, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, interpersonal conflict and dissatisfaction, infidelity, impulse control, and adjustment issues. I am trained and use ACT principles when working with my clients. ACT is a mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment approach to psychotherapy. Working together, I help clients slow down the thought process so they can thoughtfully respond to difficult thoughts and emotions. This allows you to take value-based behavioral action as opposed to having emotional, automatic reactions.
(301) 265-2821 View (301) 265-2821
Chronic Pain Therapists

How does chronic pain therapy work?

Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.

What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?

Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.

Are there new treatments for chronic pain?

Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.

How long does therapy for chronic pain take?

There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.