I study chronic pain and illness in adults and adolescents with a focus on assessment and treatments aimed for facilitate meaningful living within a context of persistent symptoms. Through my research program, I have found that:

1. Chronic pain is a complex experience, composed of more than nociception alone
2. It is possible to improve willingness to have pain in the service of personally-identified values, even if pain remains,
3. Substance misuse issues in chronic pain occur in a clinically significant minority of individuals
4. Treatment effectiveness can be quantified as engagement in meaningful living, not merely as pain reduction.

My research has resulted in just over 90 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, 1 edited book, and more than 100 national and international oral presentations.