One in every five adults deals with some form of chronic pain, and pain is the number one reason patients access the health care system. The opioid crisis has taught us that pharmacological treatment of chronic pain is not the answer. 

In October of 2021, St. Croix Health began offering Empowered Relief™ classes, a new service for addressing chronic pain. Developed at Stanford University, this evidence-based treatment is a single, two-hour pain management skills class which has been found to offer as much benefit as eight sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients experiencing chronic low-back pain (CLBP) in a NIH study. The class is taught by Dr. Colleen Erb, a clinical psychologist at St. Croix Health (SCH) and a Certified Instructor for Empowered Relief™.  Dr. Erb learned about Empowered Relief™ when she attended the American Academy of Pain Medicine Conference and SCH proceeded to support her in obtaining certification by Stanford in an effort to give our patients a non-pharmacological treatment option.  

To reach as many individuals as possible, we offer this class monthly to the public at NO cost. The class is offered virtually so the patient just needs a phone, computer, or other device to attend. Family members are welcome to join as well. Registration is required so that class materials may be sent.   

Since our first Empowered Relief™ class was offered in October of 2021, we have had 66 individuals attend the class, an average of six to seven attendees per class. In addition to the attendees from our St. Croix Health service area, we have had individuals sign up from as far away as Maine, New York, California, and Texas. Participants can learn more or register to attend a class on the SCH website (saintcroixhealth.org) or through our link on the Empowered Relief™ site at Stanford University. 

You can learn more about the research behind Empowered Relief™ 

“. . . medicine and this class go hand in hand. Today, I am thankful, and I will spread the word in our pain community.” – an Empowered Relief™ attendee