No Wrong Door: Navigating Chronic Pain, PTSD, and Suicide in Military Populations

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 possess.

Because military-connected clients can often be more comfortable entering care to address physical versus behavioral health symptoms, treating a patient’s pain can act as a pivotal therapeutic gateway to addressing trauma and PTSD down the road. Ultimately, validating a patient's lived experience is the first step toward restoring autonomy and opening the door to deeper clinical healing. There is no wrong door and the most important thing we can do as providers is keep as many of them open as possible.

Did this episode spark your interest in expanding your chronic pain practice toolkit? Did it bring up a question or underscore an impactful moment you experienced? Reach out to us via email or leave us a message on Speakpipe. And remember to stay curious and mind your EBPs!

Dr. Jennifer Murphy is a clinical psychologist who has specialized in pain management for twenty years. She is CEO of Pain Expert Consulting and Senior Clinical Strategist for Applied VR. From 2020-2025, Dr. Murphy served as the National Director of Pain Management for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is lead author of the VA’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain Manual, a book entitled Chronic Pain and Opioid Management: Strategies for Integrated Treatment, as well as numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• AppliedVR: Explore immersive, FDA-authorized virtual reality healthcare technology designed to help patients manage chronic pain. Learn more at AppliedVR.
• Consortium for Defense Psychology (CDP) Training: CDP offers evidence-based protocol training in CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) multiple times a year. Check out the upcoming training schedule on our upcoming trainings page

Calls-to-action:

• Take a CBT for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) workshop through CDP
• Share your impactful moment in the comments or via https://www.speakpipe.com/cdpp4p
• Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
• Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email