A Biopsychosocial Model for Chronic Pain | May 21, 2024

ABOUT THIS EVENT
It’s estimated that 50 million adults in the United States have chronic daily pain and approximately 19.6 million of those adults are experiencing high impact chronic pain that interferes with daily life or work activities. Nation-wide the cost of chronic pain is estimated to be between $560-635 billion annually and our nation is facing an opioid crisis that, over the past two decades, has resulted in an unprecedented wave of overdose deaths associated with prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids. Multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial pain management has long been the gold standard for the treatment of care, yet most allied behavioral health professionals are not trained in evidence-based interventions for chronic pain.
FACILITATORS
Kaitlin Touza, PhD is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. She provides evidence-based individual and group intervention, including CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT. She also provides consultation to a broad population in the Pacific Northwest region and Alaska through UW’s TelePain program.
Bethany Pester, PhD is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. Her patient-centered approach incorporates evidence-based psychological treatments for chronic pain, such as CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT, while partnering with each patient to understand their unique needs and tailor treatment accordingly.
Eric Wanzel, MSW, LICSW is a masters-level therapist at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. Eric has a special interest in the intersections between chronic pain and PTSD and provides evidence-based interventions to this population including CBT, ACT, PRT, CPT, PE, and WET.
Elisabeth Powelson, MD, MSc is trained in anesthesia and pain medicine and treats patients at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief and Harborview Medical Center. Additionally, she is an acting assistant professor in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and a T32 Research Fellow at the Pediatric and Sleep Innovations Lab.
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