Pain Solutions Group:
Confronting Chronic Pain
YAACOV J. KRAVITZ, Ed.D., Licensed Psychologist
The Problem of Pain
If you experience chronic pain due to back injury, fibromyalgia, accident or illness you probably have been searching for a “solution” for your pain. Along the way you have probably tried a variety of medications, physical therapy, surgery, and alternative treatments. Yet, you still experience pain and, even worse, the likelihood is that your life has become a mere shadow of what it was before the pain became such a problem. Struggling with pain may be the main focus of your life.
Pain Solutions
The Pain Solutions Group is a synthesis of two approaches which have been successfully used with pain patients to help them manage their medical condition and develop the skills to cope with adverse psychological reactions to having that condition.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is an approach that teaches participants a variety of powerful, yet gentle, mindfulness practices including mindfulness meditation, simple muscle stretching and relaxation, and mental imagery. Clinical studies of mindfulness practices have demonstrated their effectiveness in helping individuals with stress, depression, anxiety, hypertension, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, cancer, GI distress, chronic pain and heart disease.
The contextual behavioral approach used in this group is ACT –Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT has been listed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. government as an empirically supported treatment.
Using selected components of MBSR and ACT participants in the Pain Solution Group learn:
· behavioral strategies to decrease the impact of negative thoughts and feelings, and increase psychological flexibility
· how to start rebuilding your life.
· simple sitting and walking meditation techniques to cope with pain and stress.
· how the inter-connections of mind and body influence pain and how these connections can facilitate healing.
The Pain Solutions Program
An individual diagnostic interview
along with the completion of several psychological 
inventories is used to determine how you have responded to
pain and to identify cognitive, emotional and behavioral factors that may be
affecting your pain experience. Together we will develop a plan to address your
pain that may involve individual and/or group sessions. The cost of the
interview may be covered by your insurance and standard co-pay.
The Pain Solutions Group
What: 4 sessions meeting once a week
When: Tuesday mornings; 10:00am to 12:00 pm beginning May 10
Where: 8120 Old York Rd. Yorktown Plaza, Suite 315, Elkins Park, PA 19027
Cost: $150
Please contact Dr. Kravitz at drk@dr-yjkravitz.com or 215-635-3O11 for enrollment information and to learn how you can create solutions for your chronic pain problems.