Psychology of Pain Symptom Management

$5.00 | CE Hours:1.00

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CE Course Description

This topic will address pain and symptom management. Managing pain within healthcare settings is a challenge and must consider patient-centered preferences, treatment goals, guidelines, and laws from governing bodies. There are physical and psychological elements of pain that create psychological responses. Understanding these psychological responses is important for social work intervention. Evidenced-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy will be explored in this course as well as implications for social work practice.

Author: Katie Papke, LMSW, CAADC, CCHTVSP

CE Course Objectives

  1. Define the concept of pain and types of pain.
  2. List the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for pain and the risks of using opiates to treat chronic pain.
  3. Discover how emotions and pain are related.
  4. Understand the social worker's role in a multi-disciplinary approach that can be effective with clients with chronic pain.
CE Course Outline

Introduction (2 minutes)

Section 1: Understanding Pain (11 minutes total)

  • Definition of Pain (2 minutes)
  • Key Facts (2 minutes)
  • Types of Pain (7 minutes)

Section 2: Pain Assessment (8 minutes total)

  • Pain Scales (3 minutes)
  • Pain Assessment (5 minutes)

Section 3: Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Pain (9 minutes total)

  • Pharmacological Treatment (6 minutes)
  • Risks of Using Opiates (3 minutes)

Section 4: Emotions and Pain (4 minutes total)

  • Psychological Responses (2 minutes)
  • Chronic Pain Cycle of Emotions (2 minutes)

Section 5: Evidence-Based Practices, Complementary, and Alternative Therapies (9 minutes total)

  • Cognitive Therapy (2 minutes)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (2 minutes)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (2 minutes)
  • Complementary and Alternative Therapies (3 minutes)

Section 6: The Social Worker’s Role (12 minutes total)

  • Interventions (4 minutes)
  • Ethics (2 minutes)
  • Ethical Dilemmas (2 minutes)
  • Culture and Diversity Factors (2 minutes)
  • Health Disparities (2 minutes)

Section 7: Conclusion (5 minutes total)

  • Conclusion (3 minutes)
  • References (2 minutes)
Total Time: 1 hour
Course Level: Introductory

Social Work Approval

Social Work CE Credit for this course is offered with the following approvals. Many state boards of social work will accept the approvals listed. Provider Approvals by state and license type can be found here.

  • Quantum Units Education is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, CAMFT Provider #89970, to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEP. Quantum Units Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
  • Florida board for Social Workers CE Provider #50-8650 (Quantum 'immediately' reports CE Credits to Florida licensees) 
  • Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, License No. 159.001261 approved CE Sponsor
  • Ohio CSWMFTB #RCST091701 approved CE Provider
  • Texas Board of SWE #5070 approved CE Provider
  • Quantum Units Education, #1289, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 01/03/2026 - 01/03/2029. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 'General' continuing education credits.

To see other approvals in your state, see our state by state provider approval listings here.

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Added On: 02/06/2026

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