Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) or Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Older Veterans With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran; * Age 50 years and older; * 3 months of musculoskeletal pain including low back pain and other regional pain syndromes (e.g. neck, leg, pelvic pain and temporomandibular joint disorders), whiplash, widespread pain (e.g. fibromyalgia), or tension headaches. Exclusion Criteria: * Leg pain greater than back pain (to exclude radiculopathy in isolation); * Electromyography (EMG)-confirmed "tunnel" syndromes (e.g. carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome) without any other pain complaints; * Autoimmune disease that typically generates pain (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis); * Confirmed hip or knee osteoarthritis without any other pain complaints; * Cancer pain, sickle cell disease, neuralgias (e.g. trigeminal neuralgia), burn pain, infection associated with pain (e.g. vertebral infection), cauda equina syndrome, gout as the only pain complaint, migraine or cluster headaches only; * Uncontrolled severe psychiatric disorder including current psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder not controlled with medications), dissociative identity disorder, or active suicide/violence risk in the past 6 months; * Moderate to severe cognitive impairment or dementia (Mini-Mental State Exam score ≤ 25); * Active severe alcohol or substance use disorder that inhibits the participant's ability to attend sessions or participate in homework; * Currently with pain-related litigation or applying for compensation or compensation increase (e.g. applying for VA service connection or applying for VA service connection increase for pain); * Unable to fluently read/converse in English; * Planning to move from the area in the next 6 months.