Improving Functioning in Pediatric Chronic Pain Patients

Friday, January 6, 2017
Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Program: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Friday Forums are cosponsored with the
Metropolitan State University Psychology Department

About the Program

Pain is a part of every child’s life experience. Unfortunately, for many children, pain becomes chronic, and can have a significant impact on normal development. Chronic pain is often challenging to treat and merits interdisciplinary treatment, including psychological interventions. Specifically, cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT) have now acquired a large evidence base demonstrating excellent efficacy in treating children and adolescents with different chronic pain conditions.  CBT is used to help children and their parents learn ways of thinking and behaving to minimize pain and the negative effects of chronic pain. In this workshop, the presenters will focus on building skills in pain management for the child/pediatric psychologist who understands CBT principles but does not have specialized training in pain. The session will include instruction in methods for conducting a thorough psychosocial assessment, developing a treatment plan, and setting treatment goals with children and their parents.  Building from the psychosocial assessment, training in several psychological techniques for chronic pain management will be presented.  These techniques include biobehavioral strategies to promote relaxation, parent interventions, and lifestyle interventions such as returning to school. In addition, the presenters will discuss which patients are likely to need an intensive pain rehabilitation program and describe one such program, the Mayo Clinic Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center. Case vignettes will be used to highlight principles in assessment and interventions with youth with chronic pain. Audience participation and discussion will be encouraged to enhance learning.

This session qualifies for 3.0 continuing education credits. You must attend the full 3-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe assessment methods and measures to utilize for children and adolescents with chronic pain.
2. Apply effective CBT strategies to the population of children and adolescents with chronic pain.
3. Describe effective behavioral management skills for parents of children and adolescents with chronic pain.
4. Discuss when to refer children to an intensive interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program and describe effective components of an intensive pain rehabilitation program.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS:  If you need disability related accommodations, including parking, to make this event accessible, please contact the Metropolitan State University Center for Accessibility Resources, 651-793-1549, or [email protected]. 

About the Presenters:

Ashley Junghans-Rutelonis, Ph.D., is a medical psychology fellow in the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry at Mayo Clinic. Her research and clinical work focus on child adjustment to and functioning with chronic illness.  Dr. Junghans-Rutelonis is currently focused on examining physical activity and sleep among youth who experience chronic pain.  She earned her doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology at Oklahoma State University in 2013.

Cynthia Harbeck-Weber, Ph.D., LP, ABPP, is a psychologist at the Mayo Clinic Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center in Rochester, Minnesota.  Her current clinical work, teaching, and research focus on helping teenagers and young adults live a full active life despite having chronic pain. Dr. Harbeck-Weber earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1990) while researching children’s understanding of pain.  

To Register:

Register Online

Click here for a pdf Registration Form 

Refund/Cancellation Policy: A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled. Refunds, less a $5 handling free, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins. Transfer of fee to another program is granted if written cancellation notice is received at least one day before the program. No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.