Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) uses a system of psychological techniques that aim to retrain or rewire neural pathways in the brain to help deactivate intensified pain signals.
What do we mean by “intensified” pain signals? Click here for a great introductory video on how chronic pain is produced in the brain!
The video linked above talks about a type of pain called “neuroplastic” pain. This is pain that is caused by altered pain-sensory pathways, rather than physical or structural problems in the body. Common types of neuroplastic pain include fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and tension headaches. It is the type of pain that PRT is designed to treat.
Many people with chronic pain have a component of neuroplastic pain that may benefit from PRT. This will be assessed for during your initial intake appointment.
PRT has five main components:
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Education about the origins of pain, the pain-fear cycle, and the reversibility of pain.
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Gathering and reinforcing personalized evidence to help people to challenge the idea that pain is due to a structural/physical problem.
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Leading people through exercises to help them change their perception of pain and interrupt the pain-fear cycle, allowing them to see pain sensations through a lens of curiosity and compassion.
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Addressing other emotional threats to help lower a person’s overall threat and stress levels.
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Helping people to shift away from a high-threat level (“danger mode”) and to gravitate towards more positive feelings and sensations (“safety mode”).
Click here to learn more about PRT!
Note: currently, we’re only able to offer PRT through one-on-one sessions. However, if you prefer group-based options, you may want to check out the virtual Healing Workshops offered through the PRT Institute. Click here for more information!
