Counselling for Chronic Pain

As most of you know I've had quite a hard year this year with one thing and another, which has meant a quite significant increase in my pain. After I'd finished my allotted physiotherapy treatments recently, my physiotherapist said that she would write to my GP to suggest a referral back to her, so that I could carry on with further treatments as the treatment had not been that successful. I was soon asked by my GP's surgery to go and see my own GP as soon as possible. When I arrived for my appointment it was not my usual GP but one I had not met before who said that he'd had a letter from my Physio saying that she felt I seemed 'quite low' the last time she saw me due to the amount of pain that I was in. He then asked if I could do with some help with my pain, to which I replied that I had seen my Pain Consultant recently who was sending me to see his Physio for some Acupuncture to see if this would help. He then said that he didn't mean that 'type' of help, but did I think that some 'Counselling' for my pain would help. 'Counselling for PAIN', I said, ' I think I could probably 'give' others counselling but 'no' I did not feel that I needed any counselling, thanks very much'. I must admit I was a bit 'cross' that they felt this was a rather 'urgent' matter and that I was seen by a GP that I did not know and who also did not know me at all, and to suggest I needed 'counselling' was quite outrageous. 'Counselling' for pain is not something I have read about nor come across in all the time I have been suffering with chronic pain, as a treatment for chronic pain. I did say to him that ' I am allowed the odd down day, like anyone else in chronic pain, but having counselling was something I did not think could help me'. He seemed a little taken aback as if it was cut and dried that I needed this type of treatment so I have decided that I will book an appointment to see my 'own' GP in the New Year to talk about it with her.