Shalyn Thomas. Psy.D

Hello and congratulations on taking the first step to taking back power over your life! I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in clinical psychology, chronic pain, and related mood difficulties. At Ascending Resilience, my focus is on helping individuals build resilience—the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, trauma, and chronic stress. The phoenix, a symbol of renewal and strength, represents this journey of rising from hardship toward healing. My goal is to empower clients with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate life’s challenges and foster lasting psychological well-being. I offer evidence-based treatment meaning treatment that has been proven effective through extensive research. Although there are various behavioral approaches for pain, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard and recommended as a first-line treatment. When pain persists over time, the system becomes overly sensitive, and pain is more likely to be debilitating, negatively impacting overall function and mood. CBT-CP equips individuals with an active, problem-solving approach to manage and decrease the challenges associated with chronic pain. By understanding helpful strategies, it is possible to change one’s pain experience, physically and emotionally.   My emphasis and focus is on increasing an individuals’ self-efficacy by empowering patients with a better understanding of pain and a skill set to minimize and manage related symptoms. While treatment may not eliminate pain entirely, the focus of CBT-CP is to improve overall functioning and quality of life. By the end of treatment, participants leave with a personalized pain management plan and a toolbox of techniques to continue their progress.   It takes bravery to advocate for your needs and to work towards building a healthier life and it takes courage to get started. Healing is possible, and there is support for you when you’re ready. For a video describing the patient experience: https://youtu.be/H58_jUKBkvg   For additional information, please consider the following: The mysterious science of pain / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eakyDiXX6Uc