In this episode, hosts Drs. Jenna Ermold and Carin Lefkowitz sit down with clinical psychologist and national pain management expert Dr. Jennifer Murphy to dismantle the traditional, "find it, fix it" biomedical approach to chronic pain. Drawing from her extensive background, including five years as the National Director of Pain Management for the VA, Dr. Murphy highlights why addressing persistent pain is a critical piece of mental health advocacy, particularly for Veterans.

The conversation explores the complex intersections of chronic pain with PTSD, sleep disturbances, and elevated suicide risk. While providers often feel ill-equipped to ask about pain, Dr. Murphy demystifies the treatment process, revealing that evidence-based protocols (like CBT for Chronic Pain) rely heavily on foundational behavioral health skills clinicians already ...