In the United States, more than 1 in 4 children have an episode of chronic pain that lasts three months or more, according to psychologists at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
“Too many children live their day-to-day lives in chronic or persistent pain,” said Katherine Spencer, PsyD, assistant professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Monroe Carell. “Chronic pain and functional discomforts can wreak havoc on the lives of children, interfering with school, sleep, friendships and activities.
“Parents and caregivers are also deeply affected; they may miss weeks of work caring for their child and struggle with feelings of helplessness. This program will be a powerful tool to help these families help themselves.”
Spencer and a cohort of Monroe Carell psychologists, including Amanda Stone, PhD, associate professor of Anesthesiology, and Gloria Han, PhD, assistant professor of Anesthesiology, will begin offering a workshop to help patients and families impacted by chronic pain and persistent functional symptoms.
The Comfort Ability Program is an evidence-based, interactive one-day program for the treatment of pediatric chronic pain and functional symptoms.
“The group-based program/workshop provides education about how the nervous system works and why these symptoms are challenging to overcome,” Spencer said. “The program is designed to arm families with mind, body and behavioral interventions that can reduce symptoms and improve day-to-day function.”
Spencer, who brought the program to Monroe Carell, said she saw its benefits while working for another institution and wanted to provide the evidence-based resources to Monroe Carell’s patients and families.
“There is limited access to pain psychology in our community. This program is a way to bridge the gap for resources for children in need,” she added.
The Comfort Ability Program was developed and tested by pediatric psychologists at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and is now offered at dozens of children’s hospital across the U.S., Canada and Australia.
Monroe Carell will be the first licensed site in Tennessee to provide the programming, with its initial workshop set for May 18. Future workshops will also be offered to established Monroe Carell patients between the ages of 10-17.
The daylong workshop will offer clinical interventions for understanding and managing chronic pain and functional symptoms. Participants will learn a core set of concrete skills that can be immediately used.
For more information about the program and the workshop, email thecomfortability@vumc.org.