CBT for Chronic Pain

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Course Description

The biopsychosocial model is currently the paradigm from which all health care professionals are expected to manage patients with persistent pain conditions. This 8-week interactive web-based course teaches providers who work with people with chronic pain the fundamental cognitive and behavioral skills for psychologically informed pain care. Pain professionals are now expected to recognize associated psychosocial distress (i.e. yellow flags) and to develop a plan of care accordingly. Research illustrating the benefit of CBT techniques for patients with persistent pain has led physical therapists to explore their use. A 2018 systematic review in the journal of Disability Rehabilitation found that with additional training, physical therapists can deliver effective cognitive and behavioral interventions.

A cognitive-behavioral approach includes techniques that target both physical and psychosocial symptoms related to pain and provides patients with lasting skills to manage symptoms on their own. This combined method has been used in a variety of settings delivered by different health care professionals and has been shown to produce long-term effects on patient outcomes. Cognitive-behavioral interventions involve a structured approach that focuses on the relationships among cognitions (thoughts), emotions (feelings), and behaviors. Evidence suggests that a cognitive-behavioral model integrated with physical therapy improves functioning and quality of life for a variety of chronic pain conditions.

This course is designed to provide PTs and PTAs with the essential cognitive behavioral skills necessary for the treatment of chronic pain. The course focuses on empirically supported pain science education, behavioral self- management, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, fear of movement and increasing physical activity. The use of stress reduction as a vehicle to address negative thoughts and emotions will be explored as an adjunct to the cognitive model. By the end of this course, practitioners will understand the importance of the cognitive model for pain care and integrate it into physical therapy practice.

Course Overview

Week 1 – Introduce the cognitive model for pain care
Week 2 – Deep relaxation and recovery training
Week 3 – Pain catastrophizing and negative automatic thinking
Week 4 – Challenging negative automatic thoughts and contracting alternatives
Week 5 – Creating coping self-statements
Week 6 – Emotions and their influence on pain
Week 7 – Activity, exposure, and pacing
Week 8 – Integrating the cognitive model into a physical medicine practice
End of Week 8 – Mandatory 90-Minute Live Coaching and Mentorship Call

**Course certificates are issued upon completion of ALL course material, a passing grade fo 70% on quizzes, and attendance at the Live Coaching and Mentorship Call (see above).

***This course includes 1.5-2 hours of educational content each week for a total of 20 hours. Participants should plan to dedicate ~2 hours per week for learning.  

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the evidence supporting a cognitive approach to pain care.
2. Demonstrate evidence-based cognitive-behavioral strategies that can be integrated into the care of patients with musculoskeletal pain.
3. Explain the stress-pain connection as it relates to HPA axis activation.
4. Explain the stress-judging-pain connection as it relates to the cognitive model.
5. Explain the three domains of pain catastrophizing (magnification, rumination, helplessness).
6. Identify one self-reported patient measure for pain self-efficacy and one for pain catastrophizing.
7. Utilize cognitive restructuring to assist clients in reframing their perspective on their pain experience.
8. Develop three patient self-coping statements related to overcoming pain.
9. Explain how to guide a patient through a progressive muscle relaxation technique.
10. Design a graded activity hierarchy and pacing intervention for a patient with chronic low back pain.

 

Who Should Take This Course?

This is continuing education and professional development course for physical therapists, physical therapists’ assistants and rehabilitation professionals who work in pain care. Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner’s license or regulation.

Continuing Education Credit

Physical Therapists – This activity is pending and currently under review by ProCert. Should the activity be certified this outcome and the Continuing Competence Units (CCUs) awarded will be posted in the aPTitude system. Certification may be awarded retroactively after the actual delivery date of the activity.

Continuing competence activities certified by ProCert are currently accepted by the following jurisdictions:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

NOTE: Many state boards accept offerings accredited by national or other state organizations. If your state is not listed, please check with your professional licensing board to determine whether the accreditations listed are accepted.

For participants outside of the United States or those who do not require a formal CEU certificate, we will be happy to provide a Letter of Participation form that you may keep for your records. Upon completion of the course, please contact us at [email protected] to request the form. Please check with your industry governing body to confirm whether this is required for your continuing education.

New York State Physical Therapists– The Integrative Pain Science Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department, State Board of Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapy assistant continuing education. This course qualifies for 36.5 contact hours.

Other professions – this activity qualifies for 36.5 contact hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your course certificate of completion, and contact your board or organization for specific requirements.

The Integrative Pain Science Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Integrative Pain Science Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructor Bio

Dr. Tatta is the Founder of the Integrative Pain Science Institute, a company dedicated to reinventing pain care through education, research, and professional training. A unique combination of physical therapist, nutritionist, and ACT trainer, he has 25 years of experience in physical therapy, integrative models of pain care, leadership and private practice innovation. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and has trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He is chair of the Physiotherapy SIG at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, the parent organization of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He also volunteers for the New York Physical Therapy Association Opioid Alternative Task Force. Dr. Tatta is the author of the book, Heal Your Pain Now and host of The Healing Pain Podcast. Dr. Tatta is also adjunct assistant faculty member Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the State University of New York Health Science Center in New York City.

Information and Materials

This is an 8-week an on-demand course with a mandatory live coaching and mentorship call at the end of the 8th week.  This course can be completed at your own pace; however, the Institute encourages students to consume the material each week in preparation for the final mentorship call. If you miss a week, you can go back and complete it at any time (forum and quizzes will remain open as well). At the end of each week is a quiz that requires a passing score of 70% in order to obtain your CEU certificate. Answering all forum questions are required and will receive a pass/fail grade. Once the course has ended, you can access the material 24/7/365 and will have lifetime access.

 

Technical Requirements

Computer with Broadband Internet connection ( Cable, DSL or LAN ) Access is currently supported by any web browser.

Cancellation/Refund Process

There is a 7-day cancellation/refund process for the course. Students are required to submit an email to [email protected] outlining the reason they are requesting a refund/cancellation. Upon receipt of the email, a refund will be processed within 72 hours.

The Integrative Pain Science Institute furnishes to the student in pre-registration an email including complete information on participant requirements, content, and activity format.

Materials

This course will be delivered online through the Integrative Pain Science Institute’s proprietary eLearning platform. You will access your course information via your unique and secure username and password. This is your online classroom where you will find your weekly assignments, learning activities such as readings, videos, lectures, PDF downloads, all forms, chat forums, and other resources. You will also submit any written assignments and take tests or quizzes through the platform. Records will be maintained with appropriate security for a period of five years.

Each of the modules presented in the course will require a Post Test with a passing grade of 70% required for CEUs.