Pre-Surgical Evaluations for Pain Pumps and Spinal Cord Stimulators

What is a Pre-Surgical Psychological Evaluation for a Pain Pump or a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

Supporting Your Journey, Inside and Out

A psychological evaluation before surgery is a standard part of many surgical care plans. The goal is not to create barriers—it is to ensure you are fully supported and prepared for surgery. A pre-surgical psychological evaluation gives your surgeon and healthcare team insight into your emotional and psychological readiness for surgery.

Each part of the evaluation serves a specific purpose in helping create a holistic picture of your needs:

Initial Clinical Intake and Psychosocial Interview – This is a one-on-one conversation where we discuss your medical and psychosocial history, any current symptoms, past surgical or pain management experiences, and your expectations for the upcoming procedure. We also explore your coping strategies, lifestyle habits, and available support system, since these factors can greatly influence surgery recovery.
Self-Report Questionnaires – You will be asked to complete brief self-report questionnaires about your mood, stress levels, substance use history, quality of life, and pain experience. These tools provide a standardized way to capture how you have been feeling and functioning. They also help us identify both strengths and areas where additional support may be needed.
Personality Measures – Personality assessments are included to better understand how you tend to think, feel, and respond in different situations. These measures can highlight resilience, problem-solving approaches, or patterns that may influence how you adjust after surgery.
Treatment Recommendations – After reviewing all parts of the evaluation, a set of recommendations is tailored specifically to you. These may include strategies to manage stress or pain, referrals for additional resources (such as counseling or support groups), and suggestions for how to best prepare for recovery. A written report will also be shared with your surgeon to ensure coordinated care.

How do I get a Pre-Surgical Psychological Assessment?

Some surgeons and surgical teams have a list of psychologists from whom they would like you to choose. Other surgical teams might suggest that you find your own evaluating psychologist through your insurance company or through other means.

You can find out if Soul Work Counseling is in network with your insurance by checking on our website insurance tab and clarifying with your insurance plan.

Please contact us for more information and to get started on the evaluation process!

Telehealth Evaluations

We can conduct online telehealth interviews (HIPAA compliant videoconferencing) and remote online psychological testing under most circumstances for Minnesota residents. It is important that you check with your insurance that they will cover telehealth psychological evaluations.

Dr. Benson is also a PSYPACT telehealth provider (APIT # 10303) and is authorized to provide interjurisdictional telehealth psychological services for clients residing in other participating PSYPACT states, via telehealth. If your state is highlighted in blue on the map in the link below, then Dr. Benson can work with you. (If Dr. Benson is out of network for your insurance, you may pay upfront for services and a Superbill can be provided to you after services are completed, which you may then submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.) https://psypact.site-ym.com/page/psypactmap

What will this evaluation say about me, and how will it affect my Surgery?

Typically, recommendations psychologists give will not interrupt your pre-surgery process; these types of recommendations are informational or instructive to help you maximize your future benefit from a pain management surgery like a pain pump or spinal cord stimulator.

The evaluation process is designed to be empowering

By addressing concerns before surgery, it can help you feel more confident and prepared for what lies ahead during your surgery recovery and beyond.
It also brings attention to the strengths and coping strategies you already use, ensuring these can be integrated into your surgical recovery plan.
The evaluation provides personalized recommendations for managing pain, stress, or emotional challenges, giving you tools that can make the recovery process smoother and less overwhelming.
Perhaps most importantly, this evaluation ensures that your surgical team has a full understanding of your readiness so they can tailor your care to meet your unique needs.

What else is helpful for Pain Pump and Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery Patients?

Besides conducting these health and behavior pre-surgical psychological evaluations, some of our practitioners at Soul Work Counseling also provide psychotherapy, as needed, for patients before and after surgery to help with surgery preparation and also to address any emotional and behavioral surgery adjustment needs.

Please Contact Us!

lease do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the Pre-Surgical Psychological Evaluation or questions about other services that might be helpful to you either before or after surgery. We can get you scheduled for an Intake Appointment to take the next step.

We would be happy to help!

Contact our main office for scheduling 763-746-0842

(When checking your insurance, pre-licensed providers conducting these evaluations are supervised under Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP at Soul Work Counseling, Blaine location.)