Healing Chronic Pain Through Psychotherapy

Understanding Neuroplastic Pain and How Therapy Can Help

By Cara Chae, LCPC

What Is Neuroplastic Pain?

For years, we believed that pain was purely a physical response to an injury—a signal sent from the body to the brain to indicate harm. But new research in neuroscience has reshaped that understanding. Today, we know that all pain is generated in the brain. It is not imagined or exaggerated. Pain is real, and it is processed and experienced through neural circuits that are shaped by both physical and emotional input.

Neuroplastic pain, sometimes called mind-body pain or central sensitization, occurs when the nervous system becomes overactive and learns to send pain signals even after the original cause has resolved. Just as the brain can learn a skill like riding a bike, it can also learn pain.

How the Brain Generates Pain

The sensation of pain begins in the unconscious brain. The brain gathers information from the body, the nervous system, and the environment, and then decides whether to send a pain signal. This process is protective. Pain encourages us to pause, assess, and seek care. It is one of the brain’s primary tools for keeping us safe.

But what if the pain doesn’t go away? What if symptoms continue, long after the original injury or illness has healed?

When Pain Persists After Healing

In Western medicine, we are taught to believe that physical symptoms come from physical problems. If your back hurts, your doctor might order an MRI. If your stomach hurts, you might get allergy testing or an endoscopy. This process works well when there is a clear diagnosis and an effective treatment. But sometimes, no specific cause is found. And sometimes, the treatments don’t help.

In these cases, neuroplastic pain may be the missing piece of the puzzle. Certain neural pathways become overused, and pain becomes wired into the nervous system. Even when there is no longer any tissue damage, the brain may still send pain signals as if the danger is ongoing.

These symptoms are often called neuroplastic, psychosomatic, or functional. They are real, valid, and measurable. The pain is not “in your head,” but it is coming from the brain. Stress, trauma, and emotional overwhelm can activate the same neural pathways as a physical injury. The result is the same: real pain, even in the absence of a physical cause.

The Role of Stress, Trauma, and ACEs in Chronic Pain

People who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are more likely to develop neuroplastic symptoms later in life. Early experiences shape the way the brain and body respond to stress. Over time, this can lead to chronic symptoms that do not respond to typical medical treatment.

Research shows that individuals with high ACE scores are at increased risk for developing conditions like fibromyalgia, IBS, and chronic fatigue syndrome. These symptoms can be triggered by stress, even when test results are normal. Understanding this mind-body connection is often a turning point in recovery.

How Psychotherapy Can Help Chronic Pain

This is where psychotherapy for chronic pain can make a real difference.

Therapy helps you understand how your life history, stress responses, and emotional patterns are connected to your symptoms. You can learn to calm the nervous system, process unresolved emotions, and retrain the brain to stop sending unnecessary pain signals. As the brain learns safety, the body begins to heal.

Treatment Approaches Used by Cara Chae, LCPC

At InnerVoice Psychotherapy & Consultation, Cara Chae, LCPC, specializes in treating chronic pain and neuroplastic symptoms. She uses approaches such as:

• Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
• Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)

These mind-body therapy models help clients:

• Understand the neuroscience of pain and symptoms
• Identify how stress, trauma, or personality traits may play a role
• Process difficult emotions that may be stored in the body
• Build new neural patterns that reduce or eliminate symptoms
  

Conditions Treated with Neuroplastic Pain Therapy

Cara works with a wide range of conditions, including:

• Long Covid
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Migraines
• Fibromyalgia
• Other chronic pain conditions or unexplained physical symptoms

These conditions are often overlooked by traditional medical treatment but respond well to mind-body approaches that address the nervous system.

About Cara Chae, LCPC

Cara’s interest in this work comes from personal experience. After healing from her own neuroplastic symptoms, she became passionate about helping others find relief. She is a Practitioner Member of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS) and Freedom From Chronic Pain.

She also offers educational presentations for medical providers, therapy practices, and community organizations.

Upcoming Long Covid Support Group

In Fall 2025, Cara will be launching a new educational group for individuals living with Long Covid. This group will focus on education, support, and tools for nervous system regulation and pain reduction. If you would like to learn more or are interested in participating, email cara@innervoicepc.com.

Is Psychotherapy Right for Your Chronic Pain?

If you have tried medical treatments without lasting relief, or if your symptoms seem to worsen with stress or emotional triggers, psychotherapy for chronic pain may be the next step. Mind-body therapies like PRT and EAET are designed to treat the root of the problem by addressing how the brain and body communicate.

If you are wondering whether neuroplastic symptoms might be affecting you, take the free quiz at www.symptomatic.me. And if you’re ready to start your journey toward healing, contact us today to request a session with Cara Chae, LCPC.

InnerVoice Psychotherapy and Consultation is located in Chicago, IL and Skokie, IL and provides in person and telehealth services for anyone living in the state of IL