York University Psychology Clinic offers Coping with Chronic Pain group program

For those living with chronic pain that is reducing their quality of life and who want to find a better way to approach their pain, the York University Psychology Clinic (YUPC) is offering a six-session group program, titled Coping with Chronic Pain.

The program is designed to help participants learn techniques to more effectively cope with chronic pain. Sessions will focus on learning and practising cognitive-behavioural techniques, which research has shown to have a positive impact on the lives of people who suffer from chronic pain.

The group will be limited to 10 registrants with the first session taking place Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 6:30pm in the York University Psychology Clinic, 102 Behavioural Science Building, Keele campus. Following sessions will run on Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and 10, and Jan. 7 and 14.

York psychology Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell (right), a registered psychologist and member of the YUPC, will facilitate the sessions. Pillai Riddell has focused on the assessment and management of pain for over a decade. Clinically, she has worked across the country with different complex chronic pain teams serving a wide range of patients across the lifespan.

Pillai Riddell is also an award-winning scholar who is currently directing or participating in numerous pain-related research projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ministry of Research & Innovation.

The fee for the six sessions is $120. For participants with extended health coverage for psychological services, the fee should be reimbursable.

To register, call 416-650-8488. For more information about the YUPC , visit its Web site.