Mindfulness and Chronic Pain

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Location: Virtual

Instructor: Hang Ruan, LICSW & William Meyer, PhD

CE credits: 3 CE's (pending)

Course Description:

Estimates show that about one in five people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain costs our society more than $650 billion each year, which is more than heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Veterans suffer from chronic pain at significantly higher rates than the general population. Opioid pain medications are not recommended as long-term solutions for chronic pain—the most effective treatment, as indicated by research, involves the biopsychosocial approach aimed at restoring functioning and improving quality of life, as opposed to eliminating pain.

Chronic pain is increasingly recognized as a neuroplastic phenomenon that can be treated with psychosocial modalities (in addition to biomedical ones). Mindfulness is an evidence-based treatment for chronic pain. Studies have shown that mindfulness can help reduce pain intensity, increase acceptance, and improve functioning, as well as reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and bodily tension. Additionally, research has suggested that learning about the impact of pain on the brain can reduce the impact of pain on quality of life and movement.

This workshop will review the mindfulness technique, the difference between acute and chronic pain, the neuroscience of pain, and research evidence for mindfulness for chronic pain treatment. We will discuss the fundamentals and history of mindfulness and how it applies to the pain experience. Integrating research and clinical recommendations from the world’s leading pain experts, we will explore the evolution of chronic pain education, the function of pain, neuroplasticity, pain as an alarm system, and pain sensitivity. We will also discuss the potential for technology in the future of pain management and pain neuroeducation. The workshop will include a didactic of the topics above, as well as brief experiential mindfulness exercises to illustrate the technique as it applies to chronic pain. Workshop will end with a 15-minute Q&A and discussion. 

Learning objectives. At the end of this training participants will be able to:

1. Describe the fundamentals of mindfulness technique
2. Describe the difference between acute and chronic pain
3. Demonstrate understanding of pain and neuroplasticity
4. Demonstrate awareness of research evidence for mindfulness for pain
5. Practice mindfulness meditation

References:

Ruan, H., DelVentura, J.L., Katz, A.C., Meyer, W.J., Goerlitz, D.S., Chen, J.A & Goldberg, S.A (2025). Mindfulness practice time and quality in veterans with chronic pain. Current Psychology 44, 14586–14596 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08182-3

Ruan, H., Pocock, I. T., & Ruan, H. (2023). “You just have to stick with the practice”: A long-term weekly mindfulness group at the VA. Group, 46(1), 91-114. http://doi.org/10.1353/grp.2023.0008

Calvert CM, Haley A, Hagel Campbell EM, Bangerter A, Taylor BC, Branson M, Cross LJS, Allen KD, Ferguson JE, Friedman J, Meis LA, Burgess DJ. Relationships Between Applied Mindfulness Practice, Chronic Pain, and Pain-Related Functioning in Veterans. J Pain, 2024 Nov;25(11):104648. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104648