title: Psychoanalytic treatment of chronic pain: the body speaks on multiple levels.
abstract: Chronic pain is a complex issue, requiring careful consideration of environmental, physical, and psychological factors. The primary emphasis must be on listening carefully to what the patient is attempting to communicate. The pain may be a metaphor for many underlying conflicts, conscious and unconscious. If the therapist is attuned to what the patient is saying, this can open up unexplored feelings, experiences, and unprocessed traumatic memories. This may replace the physical pain with life issues that can be worked through in a safe, nurturant, analytic relationship.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*