Healing the Loop: Treating Chronic Pain and Addiction Together in Nova Scotia
Chronic pain and addiction often go hand in hand. For many people in Nova Scotia and beyond, this connection creates a difficult cycle that can feel impossible to break: pain leads to substance use, substance use may provide short-term relief but ultimately worsens the pain and deepens dependency. At my counselling practice, I work with individuals facing this dual struggle, offering specialized support through individual and group sessions — with a strong focus on Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT).
The Link Between Chronic Pain and Addiction
Pain is not just a physical sensation. It’s deeply tied to our nervous system, our emotions, and our past experiences. When pain becomes chronic — lasting longer than 3–6 months — it often stops being a reliable signal of tissue damage and becomes a learned brain response.
To cope with persistent pain, many turn to substances: opioids, alcohol, cannabis, or even prescription medications that aren’t intended for long-term use. This can lead to dependency, even when the original intention was simply to get some relief.
The challenge is that chronic pain can worsen in the presence of stress, fear, and emotional distress — all of which are common in addiction and withdrawal. This creates a loop where pain drives substance use, and substance use intensifies the experience of pain.
A New Way Forward: Pain Reprocessing Therapy
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is an evidence-based approach developed to treat chronic pain by helping the brain "unlearn" pain messages that are no longer serving a protective function. It’s grounded in neuroscience and has shown remarkable success in clinical trials — including one study where the majority of participants were nearly or completely pain-free after just a few weeks of PRT.
PRT works by helping you:
Understand the brain-based origins of chronic pain
Reframe your thoughts and beliefs about pain
Learn techniques to calm the nervous system and reduce fear responses
Practice new, pain-free experiences to rewire the brain’s pain pathways
For clients dealing with both pain and addiction, PRT offers a compassionate and empowering path. It’s not about ignoring the pain or just "thinking positively" — it’s about shifting how your brain processes the sensation of pain, so it no longer triggers panic, fear, or the urge to numb out.
How I Support Clients with Pain and Addiction
In my practice, I offer both individual and group Pain Reprocessing Therapy sessions online, available to clients across Nova Scotia. These sessions are designed to be safe, supportive, and trauma-informed — recognizing that many people living with pain and addiction have also lived through difficult experiences. (Not in Nova Scotia? That’s ok - both individual sessions and groups take place online, so feel free to reach out if you’d like to join us).
Some ways we might work together include:
Changing the way you relate to pain - rewiring the neural pathways that drive pain to decrease pain.
Addressing the psychological triggers that drive substance use
Practicing somatic and mindfulness techniques to regulate your nervous system
Replacing harmful coping strategies with healthier, sustainable tools
Building confidence in your body again — one step at a time
Group sessions can be especially powerful for those navigating both chronic pain and addiction, as they provide community, accountability, and a sense of shared understanding.
You’re Not Broken — You’re Wired for Healing
If you’ve been told your pain is "all in your head" or that you "just need to stop using," you’re not alone — and you deserve better. Your pain is real. Your struggles are valid. And healing is possible.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy is one piece of the puzzle, but when combined with compassionate counselling and support for addiction, it can help you find real, lasting relief.
Interested in learning more or booking a session?
I’m currently accepting new clients for both individual and group PRT sessions online. You don’t have to face chronic pain and addiction alone — let’s talk about how I can support your healing.