Dr. Paula Harkins
Dr. Harkins is a licensed clinical health psychologist specializing in pain management psychotherapy and health behavior change. As part of a multi-disciplinary team of experts at the Kansas Pain Management Clinic, she helps patients learn skills and strategies to cope with chronic pain and continue to live their best lives. She employs a mind-body approach to treating chronic pain, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction, as well as behavioral strategies to improve sleep, lose weight, and quit smoking.
In addition, Dr. Harkins is trained in hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and treating anxiety and depression associated with chronic pain. She also provides presurgical psychological evaluations, opioid risk assessments, disability evaluations, and diagnostic assessments for PTSD, ADHD, and other mental health disorders.
Dr. Harkins earned her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and trained at KU Medical Center and the Guidance Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. She has worked as a pain psychologist for over 12 years and has extensive experience in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, loss, addiction, couples counseling, sex therapy, and eating disorders. Her patient-centered approach combined with evidence-based treatment modalities and therapeutic alliance helps patients improve resilience and coping strategies to help manage their chronic pain.