Clinical and psychological correlates of cognition in pain. The role of clinical hypnosis and self-hypnosis to relieve pain, anxiety and pain-related symptoms in severe chronic illnesses.

“Hypnosis is a procedure involving cognitive processes in which a subject is guided by a hypnotist to respond to suggestions for changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Hypnosis can alter and eliminate the psychological experience of pain and also the brain’s neurophysiologic processing of pain.” (American Psychological Association Division 30). Clinical hypnosis in Pain Therapy and Palliative Care, involves highly focused attention and an enhanced ability to modulate perceptions. This workshop explores a scientific review of the fields of Clinical Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis as applied to the therapy of acute and chronic pain, the related symptoms and suffering, in severe chronic illnesses.