1. Can therapy really help with chronic pain?

Yes. Therapy doesn’t take pain away directly, but it changes the way your brain and nervous system respond to it. As a psychologist in Newport Beach, I specialize in helping people live better with pain through approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, pain reprocessing, and existential therapy. Many of my clients find that their suffering decreases, their resilience grows, and their sense of control improves even when pain remains.

2. How can a psychologist help me sleep better if I have insomnia?

Insomnia often isn’t “just about sleep.” Stress, rumination, and even pain can keep the nervous system on high alert. I help people calm both body and mind through evidence-based methods like cognitive strategies for racing thoughts, relaxation training, and guided imagery. My Painsomnia offers audios specifically for those struggling with the double burden of pain and insomnia.

3. What type of therapist should I see if I have a chronic illness?

Not all therapists understand the unique challenges of illness. You’ll want someone familiar with both psychological care and the lived experience of medical conditions. I’ve treated over five thousand clients with chronic illness since 2004, and I also live with a primary immune disorder and chronic pain myself. That personal experience allows me to connect with patients on a deeper level and tailor therapy to both body and mind.

4. What is existential therapy and how can it help me?

Existential therapy explores life’s biggest questions, meaning, freedom, mortality, and isolation. For people facing chronic pain or illness, these questions often feel urgent. I use existential therapy to help clients confront suffering honestly, while also building a sense of purpose and dignity in the face of limits. It’s about finding a way to live fully, even when health is fragile.

5. What is pain reprocessing therapy?

Pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is a method that helps retrain the brain to interpret pain signals differently. Instead of seeing all pain as danger, the nervous system can learn to calm down. In my practice, I often weave PRT with mindfulness and guided imagery to help clients reduce pain intensity and regain activities they once avoided.

6. Can therapy help with nighttime rumination and racing thoughts?

Absolutely. Rumination — going over the same worries at night — is one of the biggest barriers to sleep. In my work, I help people develop new mental habits, shift their relationship to intrusive thoughts, and quiet the mind. I also create guided audios specifically for rumination, designed to help people ease into rest even when thoughts feel overwhelming.

7. What’s different about working with Dr. Jeffrey Bone?

Many therapists treat mental health in general, but my entire focus is on the intersection of psychology, chronic illness, and chronic pain. I combine existential-humanistic depth with practical tools to diminish suffering and improve quality of life. Beyond therapy, I also create guided imagery, journaling prompts, and online resources so that people have tools they can use between sessions.

8. Can online therapy help if I live in California but not near Newport Beach?

Yes. I work with many clients online across California who are unable to travel due to pain, fatigue, or scheduling. Virtual sessions allow us to do the same therapeutic work from the comfort of your home. However, I can only treat clients within California as a psychologist.

9. Does therapy cure illness or pain?

No. My goal isn’t to cure illness. My role is to reduce suffering, improve sleep, and help people live with more peace and meaning in the face of pain or limitations. For many clients, this shift dramatically improves quality of life.

10. How can I start working with Dr. Bone?

You can explore my guided audio programs and journaling resources. For those seeking therapy in California, you can reach out through my website for availability. Whether through sessions, audio programs, or writing, my goal is to provide support, clarity, and tools for living better with chronic illness and pain.