Chronic Pain Family Education Guides
We LOVE a great collaboration! We are so excited to introduce an incredible joint effort from the Meg Foundation and the the Society of Pediatric Psychology’s Pain Special Interest Group.
Connected by our mutual goal to help kids and families coping with chronic pain, we have joined forces to create a series of chronic pain education resources!
These resources are freely available for anyone to use, and represent the cutting edge of medical research and best practices. You can rest assured they were created and vetted by some of the top experts in the world! Why? Because while knowledge is power, turning it into action is life changing!
We send special thanks to the many who worked hard to make this project happen. This includes Dr. Rachael Coakley of Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. Sara Fligelman of Seattle Children’s Hospital, Meg CEO Dr. Jody Thomas, and the SPP Pain Special Interest Group leadership team!
1. Chronic Pain and Daily Functioning
Getting back to normal daily activities is really important but can feel like a big challenge when you’re struggling with chronic pain. This guide, written for kids, breaks down both the why and how. Learn why function often improves before pain improves, and discover how small steps like low-impact exercise, a regular schedule, and fun activities can gradually restore energy and strength.
We have a version for adults too!
But, to access the guide for kids, click the download button below.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps kids and teens with chronic pain by focusing on how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. This guide explains how CBT can empower kids to better manage pain through relaxation techniques, positive thinking, and structured plans. With the support of parents, teachers, and healthcare providers, CBT encourages a collaborative approach, making it easier for kids to get back to school, sports, and other activities they enjoy.
3. Chronic Pain and School
School can be tough, especially when kids are dealing with chronic pain. This guide is here to help! Discover strategies for balancing education with chronic pain, and find out how parents, teachers, and healthcare providers can team up to ensure that chronic pain patients get the support they need to succeed in school.
4. Healthy Sleep for Kids and Teens with Chronic Pain
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for everyone, but it’s especially important for kids and teens dealing with chronic pain. This guide offers helpful tips for improving sleep quality and building healthy sleep habits. From setting a consistent bedtime routine to managing screen time and creating a sleep-friendly environment, these simple changes can make a big difference.
A Note About Keeping This Free
Good pain care should be a right, not a privilege.
We’ve spent our careers treating pain and medical anxiety, and we know that comfort and control come from putting the power where it belongs: in your hands. Everything here is free and open source by design. No parent should have to pay to learn how to get their child through a vaccine or a bad headache. No provider should have to hunt for what they need to do their job well. Hundreds of thousands of people have used Meg tools, and not one of them has ever been asked to pay.
But free still costs something.
We rely on the generosity of people like you to keep it that way. It takes about 1 in 30 of us, each giving $15 a month, to keep these tools available for free. If they helped you and you’re able, $15 a month keeps these resources available the next time you or another family need them.
Thanks for being here. Whether you are able to give or not, I’m so grateful a kid somewhere has you in their corner.
— Dr. Jody, Founder and CEO
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