So new draft guidance to doctors from NICE for England recommends antidepressants, acupuncture or psychological therapy instead of painkillers for chronic pain relief. We won't make comment on the recommendation for antidepressants, but at least there is recognition that so-called alternative therapies can provide a non-drug solution. However, the guidance seems to imply that CBT is merely useful for changing the way sufferers think about their pain or come to 'accept' their condition. We would go further: a combined CBT/hypnotherapy approach which fully exploits the mind/body connection can, in many cases, actually reduce or even eliminate the perceived pain. We have seen the positive effects of such an approach over years of therapy practice. Call our hypnotherapy service for more details 01828 633033
