CRPS Therapist & Pain Management Coaching
Psychological support and pain education for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and chronic pain. Therapy in California. Coaching available worldwide
Living with CRPS isn't like other chronic pain conditions.
The pain is relentless—piercing, stabbing, burning, shooting. It spreads to other parts of your body without new injury. It doesn't improve with rest. In fact, you wake up more exhausted than before you slept, and finding the motivation to keep going can feel impossible.
And it's not just pain. CRPS affects your entire system—immune function becomes compromised, digestive issues emerge, the vagus nerve gets involved. Your body feels like it's breaking down in ways that don't make sense.
Simple touch becomes painful. A hug, a hand on your shoulder, even clothing against your skin can feel unbearable. Intimacy becomes complicated. Connection feels impossible.
Treatments that might help aren't covered by insurance, yet the condition is disabling. How do you pay out of pocket when you can't work?
And then there's the disbelief. Providers who dismiss you. Family and friends who try but often may not understand how a minor injury could cause this level of suffering. The isolation that comes when people stop believing you—or you stop trying to explain.
I understand because I've lived it.
I've had CRPS for 16 years. I know what it's like when pain spreads, when touch hurts, when the people around you don't get it. I also know this: it is possible to build a meaningful life alongside CRPS.
I'm a licensed clinical psychologist, wife, mother, and practice owner. I work full-time, maintain relationships, and stay engaged in my life—with the tools and strategies I've developed to manage this condition.
That lived experience, combined with 26 years of clinical training in pain psychology, is what I bring to this work.
What I offer
Therapy for California residents (New York coming soon)
Individual therapy focused on the psychological impact of living with CRPS and chronic pain.
The work includes:
Processing the grief that comes when pain spreads or treatments fail
Healing from medical trauma and gaslighting by providers or loved ones
Navigating intimacy and relationships when touch becomes painful
Managing the financial and emotional stress of disability and limited treatment access
Addressing the exhaustion and hopelessness that comes with waking up worse than before
Distinguishing between pain (the stimulus) and suffering (our relationship to it)
Building resilience and finding meaning when rest doesn't restore you
We use emotional interventions that work with your nervous system, not against it. The goal isn't to eliminate pain—it's to reduce suffering and help you reclaim parts of your life.
Therapy is available in-person in Pasadena or virtually throughout California.
Individual coaching sessions (available worldwide)
One-on-one coaching for pain education, coping strategies, and quality of life management. This is not therapy—it's skill-building and practical support for living well with CRPS or chronic pain.
Here's a core principle we work with: pain is a stimulus, but suffering is something different. We can't always control the pain, but we can work with how we relate to it.
Coaching sessions focus on:
Emotional regulation techniques that calm the nervous system
Vagus nerve interventions to support your autonomic function
Strategies to reduce suffering even when pain persists
Building sustainable routines when rest doesn't restore you
Finding meaning and motivation when every morning feels harder than the last
Coaching sessions are available to anyone, anywhere.
CRPS coaching membership community (launching soon)
I'm developing something that doesn't currently exist: a coaching community for CRPS clients and a separate community for family members—led by someone who is both a licensed psychologist (in California, with New York coming soon) and lives with CRPS.
This will include group coaching, pain education, peer support, and resources for managing the day-to-day reality of CRPS.
If you're interested,, you can JOIN THE WAITLIST
Make it stand out.
Why this matters
CRPS is sometimes called the "suicide disease"—not because it's terminal, but because the combination of severe pain, spreading symptoms, treatment barriers, and disbelief from others can feel unbearable.
Most CRPS resources fall into two categories: clinical professionals who've never experienced it, or patient communities without professional training.
I offer both. Clinical expertise and lived experience.
I'm not here to tell you that positivity will cure your pain or that your suffering isn't real. I'm here to help you navigate it—with honesty, skill, and deep understanding of what you're facing.
Who this is for
People living with CRPS or chronic pain who need psychological support
Those struggling with the emotional and relational impact of chronic illness
Family members trying to understand and support someone with CRPS
Anyone looking for evidence-based strategies to improve quality of life alongside pain
Ready to start?
For therapy (California residents) or individual coaching sessions:
I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to see if we're a good fit. Call (626) 214-5366 or click below to schedule.
Interested in the CRPS coaching membership community?
Join the waitlist to be notified when the community launches.
[JOIN WAITLIST button/form]
Dr. Darshana Lele is a licensed clinical psychologist in California (PSY #24852) with specialized training in pain psychology and 16 years of personal experience living with CRPS. Therapy services are available to California residents. Coaching services are available worldwide.