Pain Management Programme

Introduction to Modules

To help those dealing with persistent or chronic pain that is having a negative impact on their quality of life, we have devised a comprehensive online pain management programme. It’s an 8 week course that involves over 12 hours of easy-to-follow videos, a range of pain management exercises, extensive worksheets and access to highly experienced pain specialists, the programme can be accessed at any time and is designed to be controlled and managed by you. We call it “Digitally supported self- management”.

The mental strain of living with chronic pain can be just as impactful as the physical burden. The build-up in emotions that comes with trying to cope with relentless pain can magnify the issues you may have and it can become all-encompassing, taking over your life. Our pain management programme aims to alleviate this aspect of dealing with chronic pain through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a widely acclaimed evidence based psychological technique.

Taking part in the ACT for Pain programme you will learn to embrace and cope with the chronic pain you experience on a daily basis so you can still live a life that is true to you. Previous participants who have completed the course say that their day to day functioning and overall activity levels have improved markedly and that their pain now bothers them less.

To give you a better understanding of our pain management programme and what it entails we have provided a session by session breakdown of the course below

Session 1: Introductions and Treatment Agenda

3 Videos - 60 Minutes

Introducing the participants
Reviewing your journey so far
Introducing the ACT programme and what it involves
What is ACT and Mindfulness?
Exploring the idea of controlling pain and letting go of trying to control it

Session 2: Values, behaviour change and mindfulness

3 Videos - 62 Minutes

Learning how to begin to identify what is important to you- your values
Is it possible to separate yourself from your pain? A strange concept?
How even when you are stuck in the struggle with pain, you have choices
Exploring the emotional response to pain and how to make changes
How mindfulness can help us by raising awareness of traps we fall into

Session 3: Living well with Chronic Pain

3 Videos - 75 Minutes

Letting go of control, how can we do this and what does it look like?
Exploring the choices in relation to pain and behaviour
Mindfulness, pitfalls and is there a correct way to do it?
Choosing not to focus on the pain
Willingness to let go of trying to control pain- what this means?

Session 4: Values and goals

3 Videos - 103 Minutes

Understanding acceptance as a willingness to live with a struggle- pain!
Identifying values and separating out values and goals
Goal-setting, setting SMART goals that are consistent with your values
Breaking down goals into manageable steps
Mindfulness as a useful tool to move around barriers

Session 5: Thoughts, urges and feelings

3 Videos - 71 Minutes

Awareness of negative thoughts, setting goals in line with values
Learning to identify barriers: especially thoughts and feelings
Recognising the “Boom and Bust” pattern of life with pain
Introducing "pacing", why it's important, and how to do it
Awareness of how the mind can get in the way of pacing

Session 6: Taking action versus planning

3 Videos - 82 Minutes

Pacing and exploring this concept further
Learning how to adapt action steps and pace them where necessary
Recap of many of the issues covered to date
Planning for action vs taking action: knowing the difference
Recognising internal barriers and learning to take action despite them

Session 7: Exploring “Willingness”