Chronic Pain Therapy in Ottawa & Ontario

Psychotherapy for Pain, Recovery & Nervous System Regulation

Living with Chronic Pain? You’re Not Alone

Chronic pain is more than a physical experience — it affects your thoughts, emotions, and nervous system. Many people find themselves stuck in a cycle where pain persists despite medical treatment or physiotherapy.

At Sif Zaman Psychotherapy, I work with individuals experiencing chronic pain to help them:

  • Reduce pain-related distress

  • Improve daily functioning

  • Break the cycle that keeps pain ongoing

  • Support recovery alongside physiotherapy or medical care

Chronic pain is often maintained by a cycle involving:

  • Pain → Anxiety about damage or harm

  • Increased focus on symptoms

  • Changes in the nervous system (sensitization)

  • Reduced movement and avoidance

  • Increased pain over time

This cycle is not “in your head” — it reflects how the brain and body interact under stress and threat.

Effective chronic pain treatment addresses three key areas:

1. Physical

  • Physiotherapy

  • Movement and pacing

  • Heat, massage, rehabilitation

2. Psychological

  • Thoughts and beliefs about pain

  • Emotional responses (fear, frustration, hopelessness)

  • Stress and nervous system activation

3. Medical

  • Medication (when appropriate)

  • Physician-led care

👉 Psychotherapy focuses on the psychological and nervous system components, which are often the missing piece in recovery.

Effective chronic pain treatment addresses three key areas:

1. Physical

  • Physiotherapy

  • Movement and pacing

  • Heat, massage, rehabilitation

2. Psychological

  • Thoughts and beliefs about pain

  • Emotional responses (fear, frustration, hopelessness)

  • Stress and nervous system activation

3. Medical

  • Medication (when appropriate)

  • Physician-led care

👉 Psychotherapy focuses on the psychological and nervous system components, which are often the missing piece in recovery.

How Psychotherapy Helps with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is closely linked to how the brain processes threat, safety, and sensation. Therapy can help:

Break the Fear–Avoidance Cycle

  • Reduce fear of movement

  • Rebuild confidence in your body

Regulate the Nervous System

  • Decrease hypersensitivity

  • Improve stress response

Change Pain-Related Thought Patterns

  • Address catastrophic thinking

  • Shift beliefs about damage and recovery

Improve Functioning and Quality of Life

  • Increase activity levels

  • Support return to meaningful routines

My Approach to Chronic Pain Treatment

I use evidence-based approaches tailored to chronic pain, including:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Trauma-informed therapy (CPT, EMDR when appropriate)

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills

  • Pain-informed psychotherapy

  • Behavioural activation and pacing strategies

When to Seek Therapy for Chronic Pain

You may benefit from psychotherapy if:

  • Your pain persists despite treatment

  • You feel stuck in your recovery

  • You avoid movement due to fear of pain

  • Pain is affecting your mood, sleep, or daily functioning

  • You feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or hopeless

Collaborative Care with Physiotherapy

I frequently work alongside:

  • Physiotherapists

  • Family physicians

  • Rehabilitation teams

Therapy can help improve:

  • Adherence to rehab programs

  • Engagement in treatment

  • Overall recovery outcomes

What to Expect

Sessions focus on:

  • Understanding your pain experience

  • Identifying patterns that maintain pain

  • Building practical strategies for change

  • Supporting gradual, sustainable progress

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A Venn diagram showing different approaches to chronic pain management, divided into three sections: Physical, Psychological, and Pharmacological. The Physical section includes activities like daily physical activity, cold and heat, massage, and therapy. The Psychological section includes mindfulness, medical hypnosis, changing thoughts and behaviors related to pain, and parental responses. The Pharmacological section includes pain relievers, nerve pain medications, and antidepressants.
Diagram of the chronic pain cycle showing stages: pain, anxiety about tissue damage, focus on problem, nervous system changes, increased pain, more anxiety, and further nervous system changes.
Diagram showing different types of chronic pain, including primary chronic pain, nociceptive pain, chronic musculoskeletal pain, chronic visceral pain, chronic neuropathic pain, chronic post-surgical and post-traumatic pain, and chronic cancer pain, each represented with an icon.
Infographic titled '6 Facts About Chronic Pain' with six illustrations and facts: 1) Group of diverse people, mention that 1-in-5 live with chronic pain; 2) Elderly person in a wheelchair waving; 3) Doctor holding a clipboard; 4) Woman sitting with her head in her hands; 5) Group of friends supporting each other; 6) Ghost figure symbolizing hidden pain.