Psychology
At Kansas Pain Management, we understand that managing chronic pain involves more than addressing physical symptoms. Emotional and psychological factors play a critical role in how individuals experience and cope with pain. That’s why we are proud to offer specialized psychological services as part of our comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to pain management.
We are committed to delivering therapy and evaluation services with the same exceptional quality of care expected in any healthcare specialty. Our assessment and treatment services are firmly rooted in research and adhere to established best practice standards, ensuring the most accurate and effective outcomes.
Meet Dr. Paula Harkins
Dr. Paula Harkins, PhD, is a licensed clinical health psychologist with over 15 years of experience specializing in pain management psychotherapy and health behavior change. Dr. Harkins is an integral member of our expert team, helping patients develop effective strategies to cope with chronic pain and improve their overall quality of life.
Dr. Harkins’s patient-centered approach combines evidence-based treatments with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. By tailoring therapy to each individual’s unique needs, she empowers patients to build resilience, enhance coping skills, and regain control of their lives.
Comprehensive Psychological Services
- Pain Management Psychotherapy: Using techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction, Dr. Harkins helps patients develop skills to manage pain, reduce stress, and improve their mental well-being.
- Health Behavior Change: Dr. Harkins works with patients to adopt healthier lifestyle habits, including improving sleep, losing weight, and quitting smoking—all of which can positively impact chronic pain.
- Specialized Treatments:
- Hypnotherapy for pain and anxiety relief
- Biofeedback to improve relaxation and stress management
- Treatment for anxiety, depression, and trauma associated with chronic pain
- Psychological Evaluations:
- Presurgical psychological evaluations
- Opioid risk assessments
- Disability evaluations
- Diagnostic assessments for PTSD, ADHD, and other mental health disorders
Why Psychological Care Matters for Pain Management
Chronic pain often comes with significant emotional challenges, including feelings of frustration, anxiety, depression, and isolation. Psychological care helps address these challenges by providing patients with tools and strategies to:
- Manage emotional responses to pain
- Build healthier coping mechanisms
- Strengthen relationships and communication
- Enhance overall quality of life
By addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of pain, Dr. Harkins and the team at Kansas Pain Management aim to support patients in living their best lives despite chronic pain.
Examples of How Pain Management Psychotherapy Helps Patients
Pain does not occur in a vacuum. Life continues to move on despite chronic pain. Focusing on setting realistic goals, pacing activity, decreasing anxiety and fear of pain, communicating needs to loved ones, and overcoming worry and guilt about any loss of ability after an injury or during recovery are common challenges that patients face with chronic pain. Overcoming these challenges and finding a balance between self-care and meeting others’ expectations are vitally important to coping with chronic pain.
Coping with stressful events is a life skill that people often work on throughout their lives. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, divorce, disability, changing jobs, or financial problems, pain can make those life challenges difficult to manage. Learning to cope more effectively, compartmentalizing, setting goals, and finding enjoyment despite pain is often the focus of pain management psychotherapy.
