Chronic Pain &

Physical Health Illnesses

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy/Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Stress Management skills/Pain management/Mindfulness skills/Assertiveness skills/Communication skills/Psychological-therapies/Individually tailored

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the main therapy offered within the NHS today and is recommended by NICE guidelines for a wide range of conditions. CBT is a structured, time-limited therapy where the therapist and client work collaboratively in order to achieve the desired changes. CBT places emphasis on thoughts, emotions, behaviour and physiology and how these interact.


The therapist helps the client formulate the problem and give it context. Although earlier experiences and childhood issues will often be discussed and used to inform the understanding of the current problem, the sessions are more focused on the present and the future.


Together with the therapist the client will learn to identify and modify unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving in order to achieve a more positive frame of mind and less negative emotions. Unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving are highlighted and clients learn how to modify their thoughts, thereby experiencing less negative emotions and engaging in less maladaptive behaviours. Homework form an integral part of CBT and acts as the bridge between the sessions and the client’s outside world.


Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT-Mindfulness based therapy and Chronic pain/Physical Health Illnesses

The practice of Mindfulness originates from traditional Eastern philosophies and is now increasingly becoming widely incorporated into Western settings. There is promising evidence base for a wide range of physical, emotional and mental health problems and is recommended as a treatment for depression in NICE Guidelines (2004, 2009).


Cognitive therapy exercises and Mindfulness are being combined to form new approaches to working with distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people learn new skills to cope with stress and pain- helping people to improve on their quality of life leading a valued life.

ACT aims to help individuals to change their relationship with negative thoughts and feelings that are taking over their lives and in some cases are greatly impacting their health and well-being.


Acceptance and Commitment therapy can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals. It is particularly useful in helping clients to cope with problems such as pain, physical health illnesses, anxiety, depression, obsession compulsion disorders, trauma, substance abuse, eating disorders and even psychotic symptoms.