#124- Chronic Pain and Depression: Breaking the Cycle with Mental Health Care

Chronic pain increases the risk for depression and suicide.

The connection between chronic pain and depression is stronger—and more dangerous—than most professionals realize. In this powerful episode, Dr. Regina Koepp sits down with pain psychology expert, Dr. Jennifer Steiner, to uncover the complex and bidirectional relationship between chronic pain, depression, and suicide risk.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why people living with chronic pain are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• The true drivers of suicide risk in chronic pain—not just pain intensity, but emotional, relational, and financial strain
• How the brain’s stress response amplifies both physical pain and emotional suffering
• What research says about which comes first—pain or depression—and why it’s not always clear-cut
• How chronic pain affects sleep, cognition, and identity, creating a vicious cycle of distress
• The essential role of therapists trained in chronic pain in breaking this cycle
• What to look for in a therapist who can truly support someone living with chronic pain

Whether you’re a therapist, psychologist, social worker, or aging life care expert—this episode will transform the way you think about pain. Because treating chronic pain isn’t just about reducing discomfort… it’s about restoring dignity, function, and hope.

Click here to see show notes

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.

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