Another option for ongoing migraine care is the headache clinic. Headache clinics take a holistic, or “whole-person,” approach to migraine treatment. The professional focus of a headache clinic is usually multidisciplinary, with various pain medicine, neurology, counseling, and mental health professionals on staff. Dietitians, pharmacists, and physical therapists may also lend their expertise as the treatment plan is developed. And some clinics even have professionals that specialize in complementary medicine, such as acupuncturists, affiliated with their programs.

Because they tend to be on the leading edge of migraine care, headache clinics are often involved in research and are involved with patient recruitment for clinical trials for new treatments and therapies. A handful of headache clinics also have inpatient programs for complicated migraine cases, such as patients who have comorbid medical conditions and those who may have developed a dependence on pain medications.

Appendix A contains resources for finding headache specialists and clinics in your area.