Behavioral Treatment of Chronic Pain: Evidence-Based Techniques to Move People from Hurt to Hope

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Speaker

Eric K. Willmarth, PhD Related seminars and products

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Eric K. Willmarth, Ph.D., is the president of the Society for Psychological Hypnosis (APA Division 30) and a past-president of both the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. He has used hypnosis in clinical practice for over 40 years, including over 30 years in a chronic pain management setting.

Dr. Willmarth is the chair of the department of applied psychophysiology department in the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, Saybrook University. He oversees the hypnosis certificate program at Saybrook, which involves basic, intermediate and advance hypnosis courses and he is a frequent presenter and Keynote speaker at national and international hypnosis conferences and workshops. He is the winner of the Distinguished Contributions to Professional Hypnosis Award from the American Psychological Association and the Ericka Fromm Excellence in Teaching Award from the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.

In addition to his teaching, Eric has recorded hundreds of interviews with prominent hypnosis clinicians and researchers from around the world. Many of these video clips can be viewed at www.hypnosiscentral.com

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Eric Willmarth has employment relationships with Saybrook University and Michigan Behavioral Consultants. He is a training consultant with ProCare Systems, Inc. Eric Willmarth receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Eric Willmarth is a fellow of the American Academy of Pain Management and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. He is on the council of representatives for the American Psychological Association and a member of the Michigan Psychological Association, the AAPB Counsel of Chapters, and the International Society of Hypnosis.

Objectives

1. Describe how the emotional aspect of client’s pain can be more problematic than the physical aspect.
2. Specify the differences in risks of opioid medications use in men, women and the elderly and the related treatment implications.
3. Assess the psychological, physical, social, and behavioural factors that contribute to chronic pain and articulate their treatment implications.
4. Implement motivational interviewing techniques to motivate clients toward behavioural change that reduce the symptoms of chronic pain.
5. Summarize the CDC recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain and communicate how that impacts clinical treatment.
6. Utilize mindfulness-based strategies to decrease symptoms of chronic pain in clients.

Outline

Pain

• Acute vs. chronic pain
• Emotional aspect of pain
  • More problematic than physical aspect
  • Anxiety, fear, catastrophizing
• ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
  • Study and link to pain
• Chronic pain onset: Physical & emotional
• Pain vs. suffering
• Impact of pain
  • Prevalence
  • Societal costs
• Chronic pain cycle
  • Psychological
  • Physical
• Factors that impact pain
  • Physical, thought, emotions, behaviours
  • Social interactions
• Suicidality and chronic pain

Opioids

• Scope of the problem
• The “painkiller” myth
  • Not effective pain relief
• Medication-assisted treatment
  • Methadone
  • Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
  • Naltrexone injection (Vivitrol)
• Risks
  • Men, women, elderly

Assessment

• Pain experience factors
  • Psychological
  • Behavioural
  • Social
  • Physical
• 5 E’s of pain interview
• Self-report measures
• Impact of pain

Treatment

• Treatment options
  • Medication
  • Invasive
  • Non-invasive
• CDC guidelines
  • Behavioural treatment first
  • Importance of therapeutic relationship
• Mindfulness
  • Powerful evidence-based interventions
• Motivational interviewing
  • Proven techniques to move toward behaviour change
• Goal-setting
  • SMART goals
  • Matching goals with client values
• CBT tools
  • Automatic negative thoughts
  • Thought distortions
  • ABC worksheet
  • Decatastrophizing
• Additional behavioural treatment tools
  • Breathing
  • Imagery
  • Pleasant activities
  • Progressive muscle relaxation
  • Anger management
  • Time-based pacing
  • Stress management
  • Sleep hygiene

Research limitations and risks of psychotherapeutic approaches

Target Audience

• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Counselors
• Addiction Counselors
• Occupational Therapists
• Psychotherapists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Case Managers
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Other Helping Professionals

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