#123- Chronic Pain & Aging: 4 Themes Therapists Must Know

Chronic pain isn’t just physical—it's personal, emotional, and deeply misunderstood. And when it comes to older adults, the pain often hides in plain sight. In this episode, I sit down with pain psychology expert, Dr. Jennifer Steiner, to explore the invisible impact of chronic pain and what every therapist must understand to truly help older adults living with it.

You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective—and four critical psychological themes—that can transform the way you support older adults in your practice.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The real size of the chronic pain epidemic—and why it’s often underestimated in older adults

Common pain conditions affecting people 65+

Dr. Steiner’s personal journey from growing up with chronic pain to becoming a national leader in pain psychology

How chronic pain influences mental health, identity, relationships, and work

The 4 psychological themes every therapist must recognize when treating chronic pain:

1. The Body as an Obstacle
2. Pain is Invisible—and Real
3. Disrupted Sense of Self
4. Unpredictability of the Condition

AttentionTherapists:

• Download your free guide on the Depression-Pain Cycle
• Become a sought after specialist with our Pain Psychology Certificate Course (14.5 CE Credits), where's you'll learn ACT and CBT for Chronic Pain, as well as strategies to address bias in pain care.

Click here to go to Show Notes

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PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits