In short
Being referred to a psychologist for pain doesn’t mean the pain is imagined. Pain is processed in the brain and is affected by stress, mood, sleep and fear. Therapies such as CBT and ACT help people reduce the impact of pain and get back to life, and work best alongside physical treatment.
On this page
“Are you saying it’s in my head?”
No. All pain is produced by the brain and nervous system, including pain from a broken bone. That’s exactly why the brain is a useful place to work on. Stress, worry, low mood, poor sleep and fear of movement all turn pain up, and long-term pain in turn affects mood and sleep. A psychologist helps with the parts of that cycle you can change.
What does a pain psychologist do?
- Helps you understand how pain works and what’s driving yours
- Teaches skills for managing flare-ups, stress and difficult thoughts
- Helps with pacing and getting back to valued activities
- Supports sleep, mood and relationships affected by pain
- Works alongside your GP, physiotherapist and other practitioners
Living with pain that hasn’t settled?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
Therapies with evidence
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, behaviour and pain. A 2020 Cochrane review found it had small benefits for pain, disability and distress compared with usual care.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focuses on living according to your values, even with pain, rather than putting life on hold until pain goes.
- Mindfulness-based approaches help change your relationship with pain and stress.
- Pain education reduces fear and makes movement easier.
The effects are often modest on their own, but they add up when combined with exercise and other treatment. For chronic low back pain, a 2022 analysis in the BMJ found psychological interventions worked best when delivered alongside physiotherapy care.
Accessing psychology in Australia
- Mental health treatment plan: a GP can prepare a plan that gives eligible people access to Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist.
- Chronic condition management: people with chronic conditions may be eligible for some Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions, which can include psychology.
- Online programmes: services such as THIS WAY UP offer structured online programmes, some of which can be prescribed by a GP.
- Pain services: public hospital pain services and private pain programmes include psychologists as part of the team.
When to get help
See a GP if pain is affecting your mood, sleep, work or relationships. If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 if you’re in danger.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Williams ACC, Fisher E, Hearn L, et al. Psychological therapies for the management of chronic pain (excluding headache) in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;8(8):CD007407.
- Ho EK, Chen L, Simic M, et al. Psychological interventions for chronic, non-specific low back pain: systematic review with network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2022;376:e067718.
- Cohen SP, Vase L, Hooten WM. Chronic pain: an update on burden, best practices, and new advances. Lancet. 2021;397(10289):2082-2097.
- Louw A, Zimney K, Puentedura EJ, et al. The efficacy of pain neuroscience education on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of the literature. Physiother Theory Pract. 2016;32(5):332-55.
- THIS WAY UP (St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney). THIS WAY UP online programs.
- Lifeline. Lifeline Australia.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.