While several behavioral health treatments for chronic pain conditions are empirically supported and commonly recommended such as cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain, little research to date has considered the provision of these treatments in the broader behavioral health community or the accessibility by patients. The present study examines therapist training and readiness as a potential barrier to care in a sample of 100 behavioral health providers located in a variety of practice settings in a rural state. Providers were contacted through state professional organizations and licensing boards in 2023-2024 to complete a survey including both quantitative data regarding training and comfort with pain treatment as well as qualitative data regarding perceived training needs and areas of growth. Providers rated their training and comfort in treating pain fairly low. Themes identified indicated that providers feel they need to expand their skill sets in order to engage effectively with individuals with chronic pain and their treatment teams, as well as to address systemic factors that impact care. Overall, while behavioral health treatments for pain are widely recognized as forming an essential part of pain care, a significant gap exists in translation of these treatments to practice settings. Providing structured training to all behavioral health providers would reduce a key barrier to care.
