Chronic Pain & Medical Psychology
If you’ve been living with pain that doesn’t go away — or a medical condition that’s taking a toll no one seems to be treating — you already know that something is missing. You’ve probably seen multiple specialists. The tests come back normal, or the diagnosis is clear but the suffering goes on. And at some point, someone may have implied it’s “all in your head.”
It isn’t. Your pain is real. And the psychological piece isn’t a dismissal of that reality — it’s part of the treatment.
This is one of my core clinical specialties. I trained at Mayo Clinic’s Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center — one of the most well-known programmes in the world for treating chronic pain and functional symptoms in young people. That training shapes how I approach every case: the goal is not to eliminate pain, but to rebuild a life that isn’t controlled by it.
Who this is for.
I work with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing:
- Chronic pain — persistent headaches, migraines, abdominal pain, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, widespread pain, fibromyalgia
- POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) — the psychological and functional impact of dysautonomia
- Chronic fatigue — including post-viral fatigue and functional impairment
- Functional neurological symptoms — seizure-like episodes, movement disorders, or sensory symptoms without a structural neurological cause
- Medically unexplained symptoms — persistent physical complaints that medical investigations have not fully explained
- Psychological adjustment to chronic illness — the emotional toll of living with a long-term medical condition
- Feeding and eating difficulties in children — food refusal, sensory-based avoidance, fear of choking or vomiting
- Sports and athletic injuries — injury-related anxiety, return-to-sport fear, performance-related pain
Chronic pain often co-occurs with anxiety, low mood, and sleep disruption. When that’s the case, I address both — they’re not separate problems.
The gap you’ve probably noticed.
Most people with these conditions have already seen multiple specialists. The medical workup is done (or ongoing), but no one has addressed the psychological factors that maintain or worsen the symptoms — pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance, deconditioning, disrupted sleep, mood changes.
These aren’t separate from the medical picture. They amplify it. And they respond well to targeted psychological intervention.
This is the gap I work in: the space between “we’ve done the scans” and “here’s what we do next.”
How I work.
Treatment draws on several evidence-based approaches, matched to the person and the condition:
- CBT for chronic pain — targeting pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance beliefs, and behavioural deactivation
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — building a meaningful life alongside the condition rather than waiting for the pain to resolve
- Graded exposure — systematically re-engaging with activities, movement, and daily functioning
- Parent coaching — helping families respond to pain and symptoms in ways that support recovery rather than reinforcing disability
The focus is always functional restoration — doing more of what matters to you, even when pain is present. For children and adolescents, that means school attendance, friendships, physical activity, sleep. For adults, it means work, relationships, and the parts of life that chronic pain has pushed out.
I coordinate closely with referring physicians, physiotherapists, and other specialists involved in your care. Medical psychology works best as a team effort — I’m the psychological piece of pain management, not a replacement for your medical team.
What to Expect
Starting point. The first session is usually up to two hours. I’ll ask about your pain history, medical experience, daily functioning, and the emotional toll that chronic pain takes. If you’re a parent bringing a child, I’ll spend time with both of you. I may use standardised screening measures (such as the DASS-21 or pain-specific questionnaires) to get a clearer baseline. My aim is that you leave this session having already learned something real about yourself — even if we decide I’m not the right ongoing clinician for you.
Active treatment. Sessions are 60–90 minutes. Frequency depends on the case — typically weekly to start, tapering as things improve. Treatment length varies, but most people begin to notice meaningful shifts within 8–12 sessions.
Cost. Initial consultation: SGD 600 (usually up to two hours). Follow-up sessions: SGD 300 (60–90 minutes). Payment is due before each session. Full fee details are on the Fees page.
Not sure yet? Book a free 15-minute Meet & Greet to ask questions before committing. Book here.