Extending Pain Psychology Beyond the Psychologist: The Need for a Professional Clinical Identity

This paper outlines the argument for establishing a commonly understood designation for allied health clinicians who specialize in psychological interventions for chronic pain. There is a growing need for clinicians with skills in psychological interventions for pain ("pain psychology"). However, there are not enough pain psychologists to meet the demand. Recent research has suggested that allied health professionals from varying disciplines can safely and effectively deliver pain psychology interventions. Clinical training in psychological interventions for pain outside of clinical psychology has been growing but remains limited. As the pool of crossdiscipline clinicians with expertise in pain psychology expands, this specialization would benefit from developing a shared professional clinical identity. A clear and descriptive nomenclature would facilitate learning and collaboration across disciplines, and clarify the role's clinical utility for patients, insurers, and other allied health professionals. Standards for training, licensure, and orientation to evidence-based and patient-centered care should be outlined and agreed upon. The establishment of a professional clinical identity for clinicians across disciplines who specialize in pain psychology is a critical step in improving patients' access to safe and effective pain management.