Home ⟩Patient Care ⟩Faculty Practice ⟩Chronic Headaches

Lifestyle Redesign® for Chronic Headaches

Headache disorders, including migraines, are invisible neurologic diseases that can significantly affect function at home, school or work, and they are associated with high rates of stress, anxiety, and depression. For a person living with a headache disorder, it can also be difficult to communicate the pain and suffering. Since headache disorders can be triggered by lifestyle and environmental factors, the American Headache Society and clinical treatment guidelines recommend developing healthy lifestyle behaviors and modifying risk factors.

USC Lifestyle Redesign occupational therapists will guide you through behavioral, non-pharmacological treatment options for headache disorders, including adhering to a consistent daily schedule, improving sleep routines, and reducing stress. The goals of our program focus on learning self-management skills to reduce the frequency and duration of your attacks, increase your sense of empowerment, and improve your quality of life. Our OTs work alongside neurology headache specialists to facilitate the long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes that can improve your headache disorder.

We can help you to:

• Track your symptoms and identify your triggers
• Learn medication management and self-management coping strategies
• Use time management strategies to establish daily, regulating routines, including eating, exercise and sleep
• Manage stress, anxiety, and depression through healthy coping strategies and self-regulation techniques
• Implement strategies to pace your daily activities and conserve your energy
• Understand ergonomic and body mechanic principles and customize them for your own home and workplace
• Modify your environment and utilize adaptive equipment to reduce triggers
• Practice assertive communication and self-advocacy skills in home, workplace or school, and healthcare contexts
• Increase participation in your social, leisure, and community activities

Brochure

View/download the Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Headaches brochure.

Get more information/contact us

To make an appointment, or for more information, contact us today!

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.