CFS/ME & FIBROMYALGIA

What’s Included:

 

Chronic pain is a complex interaction of neurological, psychological and behavioural processes. This CPD Masterclass gives practitioners a deep, structured understanding of pain mechanisms and teaches you how to work safely and effectively with clients experiencing acute, chronic or medically unexplained pain. You’ll learn how to reduce pain‑related anxiety, interrupt the pain–fear–tension cycle, apply advanced hypnotherapeutic interventions and support clients in regaining function, confidence and quality of life.

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​​​​You’ll explore:

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• Understanding pain
  The difference between acute and chronic pain, and how pain is processed in the brain and body.

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• The neuroscience of pain
  Neural pathways, sensitisation, gating mechanisms, predictive coding and the role of the autonomic nervous system.

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• Psychological and emotional factors
  Fear, catastrophising, hypervigilance, trauma history and the emotional meaning of pain.

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• The pain–fear–tension cycle
  How pain escalates through physiological and cognitive loops — and how to break the cycle.

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• Types of chronic pain
  Musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, pelvic pain and medically unexplained symptoms.

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• Triggers and maintaining factors
  Stress, sleep disruption, movement avoidance, beliefs, expectations and behavioural patterns.

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• Assessment and red flags
  Understanding what must be ruled out medically, when to refer, and how to work safely alongside healthcare providers.

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• Pain‑related anxiety
  How fear amplifies pain signals and how to reduce anticipatory and reactive anxiety.

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• Hypnotherapeutic interventions
  Analgesia techniques, sensory modulation, dissociation, reframing, confidence building and autonomic regulation.

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• Somatic and sensory regulation
  Breathwork, grounding, warmth, movement and techniques that reduce physiological reactivity.

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• Cognitive and behavioural strategies
  Challenging pain beliefs, reducing avoidance, pacing, graded exposure and restoring normal routines.

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• Working with flare‑ups
  Helping clients manage setbacks without fear, regression or loss of progress.

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• Lifestyle and supportive approaches
  Sleep, pacing, stress reduction, gentle movement and habits that complement hypnotherapy.

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• Supporting identity and self‑worth
  Addressing the emotional impact of long‑term pain, loss of roles and reduced confidence.

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• Advanced techniques
  Glove anaesthesia, sensory substitution, metaphor work, future pacing and hypnotic rehearsal for movement.

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• Case studies
  Realistic examples illustrating pain patterns, therapeutic pacing and hypnotherapeutic outcomes.

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​Additional Info:

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CPD Hours: 15

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Cost: £125 (discount available to returning students)