Being yourself can feel hard when coping with pain. Discomfort and fatigue can leave you feeling anxious and depressed. Spending time with friends and family can feel exhausting. Doing what you love can start to feel out of reach.
The Importance of Pain Management
For young people who experience frequent pain and physical discomfort, being themselves can become a struggle. Stomachaches before a big test can make it difficult to concentrate. Headaches after a long day of school can make it difficult to sleep. Nausea and exhaustion after activities and commitments can make it difficult to hang out with friends. Physical symptoms can also make it harder for a child to separate from parents and attend school. For young people, pain management is very important.
Frequent pain and physical discomfort can interfere with several areas of daily life. These areas could include school attendance and performance. Or family and social relationships and involvement in enjoyable activities. Other related health problems, such as sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, and mood changes often go with recurrent pain. These symptoms can lead to reduced functioning or difficulty “being a kid. “ For some, this reduction in functioning can lead to a downward spiral of disability out of proportion to what the medical tests show.
Dr. Lindsay Clendaniel provides cognitive and behavioral intervention to help young people learn strategies to improve pain management and improve their quality of life.
Examples of conditions seen by our psychologists:
Irritable Bowl Syndrome
New Persistent Daily Headache
Migraine Headache
Functional or Recurrent Abdominal Pain
Recurrent Nausea
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Fibromyalgia
Body pain and aches that are exacerbated by stress/anxiety
Other persistent pain conditions
Therapy for Pain Management
Our psychologists have helped numerous young people learn to cope with pain and thrive in their everyday lives. They have helped children and young adults learn about their bodies, gain control of their nervous system, and cope with symptoms. They’ve also guided teens in understanding the importance of self-care and helped foster their independence. We support young people through their journey of learning to engage in life while coping with symptoms. Your child’s pain does not need stop them from reaching their full potential. We can help.
The Thinking Tree Psychology Approach to Pain Management
Change can happen. If your child is experiencing challenges related to coping with pain or physical discomfort, we can help. Our psychologists use cognitive and behavior therapy (CBT) techniques, acceptance-based intervention, relaxation, mindfulness meditation, biofeedback and hypnosis. We can guide your child down the path of healing and healthy adjustment.
Pain management services are available for children, adolescents and young adults, ages 5 through college age. Clinicians will provide treatment for adults on a case-by-base basis, so be sure to inquire if you are an adult interested in services.
Focus of Intervention may Include:
Adjustment to diagnosis and changes related to pain conditions
Understanding the connection between mind and body
Coping with acute and chronic pain
Increasing mindfulness and awareness
Regulating the autonomic nervous system
Establishing healthy routines
Improving health behaviors (sleep, physical activity, eating/diet)
Addressing school anxiety or attendance concerns
Supporting parents in helping their child cope with pain
Dr. Lindsay Clendaniel describes her treatment approach:
“My work with youth focuses on increasing coping skills through relaxation training, mindfulness and thinking approaches with the goal of improving symptom management and wellness. I enjoy working with clients and families who are ready to learn. When a young person is invested in understanding their brain and body and is willing to use this information to help improve their symptoms, the outcomes are exciting. Watching a young person grow and improve their physical and mental well-being with their own grit and determination is a highlight of my job.”
Begin Pain Management in Severna Park, MD
Pain and physical discomfort do not need to control your child’s life. Therapy can help your child learn to cope and thrive and be themselves again! Our Severna Park office has caring psychologists who specialize in supporting your child with pain management. To start your therapy journey, follow these simple steps:
Meet with one of our caring psychologists
Start helping your child get their life back
Other Services at Thinking Tree Psychology
Therapy for pain management is not the only service we offer at Thinking Tree Psychology in Severna Park. Other mental health services provided by Thinking Tree Psychology include family therapy, psychoeducational testing, therapy for anxiety, therapy for ADHD, and therapy for chronic illness. At this time, we are also offering telehealth psychology services as a convenient, safe way to attend therapy. Please visit our therapy overview page to learn more about additional therapy services. For other questions, please visit our FAQ page.