Coping With Chronic Pain Comprehensively Through Occupational Therapy

Thrive • September 13, 2022
By Thrive Wellness Reno Occupational Therapist Dr. Meadow Deason, OTD, OTR/L

Twenty percent of adults experience chronic pain, and many report that it limits their abilities to participate normally in daily activities. Chronic pain may be the result of various health conditions, while sometimes it also occurs for no known reason long after an injury has healed. Occupational therapy , a scope of practice that seeks to empower individuals to overcome obstacles to daily tasks, can be helpful in overcoming the mentally and physically debilitating nature of chronic pain. 

WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?

Chronic pain is any pain that:

  •  Persists longer than the typical recovery time for a particular ailment
  •  Is associated with a chronic illness

Common conditions that often contribute to chronic pain include:

  • Arthritis: A condition characterized by inflammation in the joints, causing joint pain and stiffness. Almost half of adults with arthritis experience persistent pain.
  • Cancer:   Changes in the nerves often occur while battling cancer and can result in chronic pain. Chronic pain is one of the most common long-term side-effects of cancer treatment, and 34% of cancer survivors report having chronic pain.
  • Fibromyalgia: A condition that results in widespread pain throughout the body, fibromyalgia has no known causes.
  • Malformations: Abnormally formed parts of the body, such as the brain, spine, or veins can be extremely painful.
  • Migraines and headaches: Occurring when specific nerves send pain signals to the brain, migraines and headaches can be triggered by stress , dehydration, and lack of sleep , among other reasons.
  • Neuropathic pain: Caused by injury to certain nerves, neuropathic pain may result in shooting, stabbing or burning sensations. 
  • Scarring: As a wound heals, nerve endings regenerate and the scar tissue may become painful. 
  • Spinal pain: Possibly resulting from overuse, muscle atrophy, aging processes, and other causes, spinal pain may range from dull, constant aches to sudden, stabbing sensations.

As it persists, chronic pain may radiate physically, meaning that the pain spreads to different areas of the body. Coupled with lack of movement, chronic pain can increase discomfort throughout the muscles and joints and lead to muscle atrophy. 

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF CHRONIC PAIN

Common mental health struggles resulting from chronic pain include:

  • Anxiety and depression : Chronic pain can be depressing and anxiety-inducing. Researchers have also found that pain, anxiety, and depression may overlap biologically within the body. 
  • Difficulty with daily activities: Showering, dressing, and household tasks can be more challenging when living with chronic pain.
  • Loss of roles: Some face limitations in fulfilling roles such as that of an active parent, engaged spouse, or productive employee after developing chronic pain
  • Sleep problems: Pain can often make it difficult to relax and sleep comfortably through the night. 
  • Sense of disempowerment or loss of control: The inability to function normally can make some feel like they have lost some agency over their lives.
  • Social isolation: Low mood and diminished endurance for social activities can cause one to be more withdrawn.
  • Overall reduced quality of life: Chronic pain can impact just about every area of daily life.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT 

Occupational therapy approaches chronic pain with a biopsychosocial perspective by considering the biological, psychological, and social factors and their interplay. With such a broad treatment context, occupational therapists can help individuals:

  • Function at the highest possible level
  • Maintain or redevelop their independence
  • Participate in everyday activities 
  • Achieve their goals

Concurrently, occupational therapy guides individuals in implementing evidence-based strategies for managing their chronic pain. These strategies are effective lifestyle changes that may include:

  • Communication skills training: Practicing honesty and directness about one’s chronic pain so that others are aware and respectful of one’s debilitating condition. 
  • Ergonomics: Using modification and adaptations that enable a person to effectively and safely interact with their environment. 
  • Muscle tension reduction training: Using calming techniques to relax muscles and settle one’s mind can help diminish the tension and distress associated with chronic pain.
  • Neuromuscular re-education: Retraining muscles that may have developed or adjusted abnormally due to the chronic pain and using the appropriate muscle groups to participate in daily activities.
  • Pacing activities: Taking time to rest, modifying tasks, or requesting support to help oneself avoid pain flare-ups when engaging in activities. 
  • Proactive pain control: Independently engaging in pain control modalities, such as using ice to reduce inflammation. 
  • Promotion of social engagement: Encouraging one to seek a sense of support and cultivate community. 
  • Safe body mechanics: Practicing proper body movement and posture to prevent strain and promote physical capabilities. 
  • Use of adaptive equipment: Can be leveraged to increase independence and decrease pain during daily activities.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THRIVE WELLNESS

Providing synergistic health care that includes mental, emotional, and physical health, Thrive Wellness Reno offers occupational therapy in addition to our many other integrated wellness services. Our occupational therapy services guide clients in developing and maintaining autonomy despite any physically or mentally limiting conditions, including chronic pain. Collaborating with interdisciplinary clinicians, our occupational therapists wholly consider the mind-body interaction when integrating customized interventions for each client. Reach out to learn more. 

While all Thrive Wellness locations offer interdisciplinary clinical teams who collaborate to treat eating disorders, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and additional mental and behavioral health conditions, programs and services may vary by location.

About the Author

Thrive Wellness Reno Occupational Therapist Dr. Meadow Deason, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Meadow Deason earned her doctorate of occupational therapy at Huntington University and is a licensed doctor of occupational therapy (OTD). As an occupational therapist, she has extensive clinical experience in neurological and physical rehabilitation, fall prevention education, community-based services, home health, and mental health. Dr. Deason is also trained in oral motor function assessment, feeding therapy, therapeutic pain education, home modification, aging in place, brain injury rehabilitation, sensory integration, integration of primitive reflexes, neuromuscular rehabilitation, upper extremity rehabilitation, behavioral management, ergonomics, and mindfulness. She partners with individuals and their loved ones to overcome emotional, physical, and social barriers to holistic health through meaningful activities designed to develop, recover, modify, or maintain skills for thriving in everyday life.

Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Dr. Deason gained years of experience in early childhood intervention, social services, treatment, foster care, special education, and business.

When she is not helping her clients live their life to the fullest, she enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and paddleboarding with her family.

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By Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, CPC, LPC-S, CEDS-C December 18, 2025
Sometimes, people need more support, structure, and monitoring than the typical outpatient setting can provide. When this happens, the treatment team will usually recommend that someone be "stepped up" to a different level of care, or program, that can better meet their needs. I like to think of it as being similar to medication dosages; people need different strengths of medications, or dosages, to get better when they're sick. Stepping someone up to a higher level of care is like increasing the dosage of a medication to match the severity of their symptoms. How Are Higher Levels of Care Different from Standard Outpatient Care? At the core of differentiating higher levels of care from standard outpatient care is the intensity and structure of the treatment. Higher level of care programs tend to offer more days of treatment each week and more hours of treatment per day than in the outpatient setting. Those in higher level of care programs may also meet with their treatment team members more frequently each week. There are more staff present to support someone at or after meals and snacks, or to help those who are having urges to engage in compulsions or other harmful behaviors. Clients in our HLOC programs get access to an assortment of treatment modalities tailored to their individual needs, including personalized therapy sessions, group support, medication management, medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian, and check-ins with our primary care providers. We support clients with personalized treatment plans and regular assessments to monitor and tweak interventions as needed. Higher levels of care also offer increased peer interaction and support. Intensive programs incorporate additional group therapy sessions, which can help those in treatment feel less alone as well as create a greater sense of community. For some people, it can be difficult to devote the time and energy needed to recover while also balancing other responsibilities like school or work. Stepping up to more intensive levels of care allows people to fully dedicate themselves to recovery. As they get better and make progress, a person may be stepped back down to a less intensive level of care to start practicing their recovery in their usual home, school, or work settings while also receiving professional support from their treatment team. What Levels of Care are Available? At Thrive Wellness, we offer four different levels of care to help clients step up (or down) in their treatment when needed: -  Outpatient Treatment - weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, and/or dietitian. - Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - A minimum of three hours per day, three days per week. - Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - A minimum of six hours per day, five days per week. - Residential Treatment - Coming soon in 2026, The Greenhouse at Thrive will offer residential treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This level of care offers 24-hour support for those aged 12-24 living in our residential treatment center. How To Decide Which Level of Care is Right for You If you're unsure which option is right for you or your loved one, we offer a free assessment that can be completed with our admissions team. In this initial assessment, we'll gather information from you about what you're struggling with, speak with our team of providers, and then make a recommendation for what level of care we feel is the best fit for you and your needs. If you’re experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or other behavioral or mental health challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out. To get started with our intake process, give us a call at 775-525-8103 or fill out this form . We can’t wait to help you Thrive.
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Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
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The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
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