Active Pain Coping

Active Pain Coping 

• LivePlanBe – Free online pain self-management and education program.
• My Pain My Way – Tools and strategies to help you live well with chronic pain.
• Pain BC – Resources, education, and support for people living with pain.
• Pain Management Guidebook – Free e-book from Del Brocco & others (2020).
• Pain Science Workbooks - Greg Lehman – Educational workbooks on pain, movement, and recovery.
• Pain Toolkit – Practical self-management tips for persistent pain.
• Pain U Online – Self-paced modules to improve pain management and function.
• Power Over Pain – Access to pain resources, courses, and peer support.
• painTRAINER – Eight online sessions teaching evidence-based pain management skills.
• Self-Care Resources – Free self-help guides for coping with chronic health conditions.

Alberta

• Alberta Virtual Pain Program – Free virtual program for Albertans with persistent pain to learn pain management skills, connect with others, and improve quality of life.
• Alberta Healthy Living Program – Free programs including exercise, nutrition education, and self-management workshops for Albertans.
• MyHealth.Alberta.ca – Online articles and videos on chronic pain, healthy coping strategies, medications, and self-management.
• The Wellness Centre at South Health Campus – Free wellness programs focused on nutrition, emotional well-being, chronic conditions, and life skills.
• The Pain Society of Alberta – Non-profit organization providing education and resources on pain conditions and treatment.

Canada

• Psychology Works Fact Sheets – Fact sheets on pain, including chronic pain, pediatric pain, and pain management.
• Pain Canada – National organization providing resources, education, and support for people living with chronic pain.

Loss & Grief

• MyGrief.ca - helps people understand and work through grief and loss.
• Centre for Loss & Life Transition - with Alan Wolfelt, an international speaker on grief and loss.

Mental Health

• BounceBack - Free program for managing depression, anxiety, stress, and worry.
• CCI Self-Help Resources - Free workbooks and information on mental health and well-being.
• NHS Self-Help Guides - Free downloadable guides for common mental health concerns.
• Exercise and Depression Toolkit - Evidence-based resource on using exercise to manage depression.

Loss & Grief

• Grief Resources – the Grief Support Centre, Alberta Health Services, a series of talks on grief.

Pain Science

• Getting a Grip on Pain and the Brain - Lorimer Moseley
• Pain: Do You Really Get It? - Lorimer Moseley
• Part 1 - Explain Chronic Pain in Less Than a Minute - Neil Pearson, B.C. physiotherapist and educator on chronic pain
• Part 2 - Explaining Chronic Pain in Detail - Neil Pearson, B.C. physiotherapist and educator on chronic pain
• Tame the Beast – It’s Time to Rethink Persistent Pain - Lorimer Moseley
• Treating Pain Using the Brain - David Butler
• Understanding pain: What to Do About it in Less Than 5 Minutes – by HPRC

Stress Management

• How to Make Stress Your Friend - TED Talk by Kelly McGonigal, health psychologist.
• DocMikeEvans - Dr. Mike Evans, evidence-based health information such as Healthy Eating 101, 90:10 Stress, and Best Advice for People Taking Opioid Medications.

• Canadian Migraine Tracker – Track migraine frequency, triggers, symptoms, and medication effectiveness.
• Curable – Pain education and evidence-based exercises, including meditation, CBT, and relaxation techniques.
• Migraine Buddy – Track migraine symptoms, triggers, lifestyle factors, and weather-related patterns.
• My Pain Diary – Monitor pain, symptoms, and triggers to identify trends and patterns.
• PainScale – Track pain, access educational resources, and connect with a pain management community.
• Virtual Hope Box – Mental health app with tools for coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking.

Active Pain Coping

Caudill M (2015) (4th Ed). Managing pain before it manages you. New York: Guilford.
Dahl J & Lundgreen T (2006). Living beyond your pain: Using acceptance and commitment therapy to ease chronic pain. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Gardner-Nix J (2009). The mindfulness solution to pain: Step-by-step techniques for chronic pain management. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Otis JD (2007). Managing chronic pain: A cognitive behavioral therapy approach workbook. New York: Oxford University Press

Communication (Big Skill #5)

Bower SZ and Bower GH (2004) (updated addition). Asserting yourself: A practical guide for positive change. Perseus Books.
Eloff K (2023). The chronic pain couple: How to be a joyful partner & have a remarkable relationship in spite of chronic pain. Exisle Publishing.
Patterson K & others (2011). Crucial conversations tools for talking when stakes are high. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fear Avoidance

Bourne, E. J. (2010). The anxiety and phobia workbook (5th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
Wehrenberg M (2018) (2nd Ed). The 10 best-ever anxiety management techniques workbook. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Wilson R (2009) (3rd Ed). Don’t panic: Taking control of anxiety attacks. New York: Harper.

Goal Setting

Duhigg C (2014). The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business. Anchor Canada: Random House.
Prochaska JO & others (1995). Changing for good: A revolutionary six-stage program for overcoming bad habits and moving your life positively forward. New York: William Morrow and Company.

Loss & Grief

Devine M (2017). It's ok that you're not ok: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn't understand. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, Inc.
Eifert GH & others (2006). Act on life not on anger: The new acceptance and commitment therapy guide to problem anger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Self-Talk (Big Skill #4)

Greenberger D & Padesky C (2015). Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think. New York: Guilford. (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Harris, R. (2022) (2nd Ed). The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living. Shambhala Publishing. (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
Van Dijk S. (2012). Calming the emotional storm: Using dialectical behavior therapy skills to manage your emotions and balance your life. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).

Stress Management

Elkin A (2025) (3rd Ed). Stress management for dummies. Published by For Dummies.
Siskov S (2021). Relaxation and stress management made simple: 7 proven strategies to calm your mind, stop negative thinking and improve your life.
 

Pain Science

Butler D & Moseley L (2013). Explain pain. Adelaide, Australia: Noigroup.
Butler D & Moseley L (2017). Explain pain supercharged. Adelaide, Australia: Noigroup. 
Doidge N (2007). The brain that changes itself. New York: Penguin.
Moseley L & Butler D (2015). The explain pain handbook: Protectometer. Adelaide, Australia: Noigroup.

Positive Psychology

Achor, S. (2013). Before happiness: The 5 hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change. New York: Crown Business Publishing.
Fredrickson, B. (2009). Positivity: Top-notch research reveals the upward spiral that will change your life. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Seligman, M. (2011).Flourish: A v isionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York: Free Press.