Chronic pain syndrome appears to have certain dimensions which make it unique as a disabling condition. When pain persists, the resulting anxiety and depression, others' reactions to the patient's sick role behaviors, and situational variables such as disability benefits may all contribute to the pain syndrome and complicate the rehabilitation process. Effective counseling intervention is often dependent upon the rehabilitation professional's ability to identify and understand the implications of these underlying variables. Recognizing the complexity of chronic pain syndrome, researchers favor a multidisciplinary approach to pain management. There is a vital role on such a team for the vocational rehabilitation counselor according to M. Tuck (1983) with activities that include:"disability evaluator, patient advocate, rehabilitation liaison, translator, outpatient social worker, family counselor, placement specialist and community organization worker, as well as motivator, social reinforcer and legal expert." Since the philosophy of rehabilitation is to consider the whole individual in treatment planning, it would seem that the rehabilitation counselor is in many respects especially well-suited to working effectively with individuals with complex chronic pain syndrome. More research needs to be done concerning which counseling approaches prove most effective with this population. More attention needs to be given to developing standards for treatment approaches and measuring outcomes. (LLL)