Somatic Symptom Disorder
Understanding Somatic Symptom Disorder with Predominant Pain: Clinical Assessment and Intervention
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $15 full members; $60 partial members & non-members
Continuing Education Hours: 4.0
Course Description
This 4-hour training provides an in-depth examination of Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) with predominant pain. The training will focus on clinical conceptualization, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Participants will explore the biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying persistent pain presentations, including the interaction between neurological processing, psychological factors, and social context.
The training will address common diagnostic challenges, including distinguishing SSD from medical conditions and illness anxiety disorder, as well as navigating provider bias and systemic barriers that impact care. Emphasis will be placed on practical tools for assessment, case formulation, and treatment planning across clinical settings.
Participants will also learn intervention approaches grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and lowtech biofeedback techniques. Strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration, patient engagement, and reducing stigma will be integrated throughout.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Define and diagnose Somatic Symptom Disorder with predominant pain using DSM-5-TR criteria, including key specifiers and clinical features.
- Differentiate SSD from related conditions.
- Explain the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain, including central sensitization, cognitive-emotional processes, and environmental influences.
- Understand comprehensive assessments, and learn how to incorporate basic assessment of chronic pain into clinical interviews, screening measures, and functional impairment measures.
- Develop case formulations that integrate psychological, physiological, and social contributors to pain experiences.
- Apply evidence-based interventions, including CBT, ACT, and low tech biofeedback strategies, tailored to individuals with predominant pain presentations.
- Address barriers to care, including stigma, provider bias, and patient resistance to psychological framing of symptoms.
- Evaluate treatment progress and adjust interventions based on patient response and functional outcomes.
About the Trainer
Kristen Payne, Ph.D.
Kristen Payne is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Wisconsin with extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions in the context of medical and chronic pain disorders. Her clinical work focuses on integrating evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to support individuals with persistent and medically unexplained symptoms.Kristen has worked across settings (e.g., outpatient clinics, hospitals), collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and reduce fragmentation in care. She has provided training and consultation to clinicians on diagnostic clarity, ethical practice, and effective intervention strategies.
Her approach emphasizes the intersection of mind and body, with a focus on reducing stigma, improving patient engagement, and equipping providers with practical tools for complex clinical presentations.