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Behavioral, Psychological, and Social Dimensions

BKO-03 - Behavioral Health and Social Services Breakout: "Addressing Pain Psychology from Acute Trauma to Chronic Adaptation"

Tuesday, September 8, 2026
2:15 PM - 4:15 PM PDT

    Co-Presenter(s)

  • Mel Pohl, MD

    Chief Medical Officer
    The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center
    San Diego, California

  • Les Aria, PhD

    Chief Psychological Officer
    The Pointe Malibue Recovery Center
    Sacramento, California

  • David Cosio, PhD, ABPP

    Psychologist
    University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Pain Medicine & Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
    Chicago, Illinois

The "Behavioral Health and Social Services Breakout: Psychosocial Dimensions of Pain Care" is designed to equip psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, chaplains, and case managers with the tools to address the complex psychosocial factors influencing pain management. This session emphasizes integrated behavioral health approaches, trauma-informed care, and strategies for supporting patients and families through chronic pain challenges. Attendees will explore topics such as cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, substance use disorder interventions, social determinants of health, and ethical considerations in pain-related mental health care. Through interactive workshops and discussions, participants will practice therapeutic techniques, screen for trauma, map community resources, and navigate ethical dilemmas, fostering a holistic and patient-centered approach to pain care.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the neurobiological mechanisms by which behavioral health interventions produce measurable changes in chronic pain.
  • Distinguish between symptom based pain management and pain recovery as clinical targets and how these frameworks shape the treatment planning process.
  • Apply evidenced-based behavioral health strategies such as, somatic awareness, nervous system regulation and value-based actions that influence outcomes.
  • Describe the unique and central role of behavioral health providers within the integrative pain care team.