Being in chronic pain inevitably shapes one's experience of being in the world. Oftentimes pain not only causes isolation, because few friends or practitioners really understand; it can also lead to depression and negativity due to the many ways it limits our activities of daily living. Perception of pain is altered by previous experiences of pain or trauma, economic status, fearful or pessimistic emotional states, spiritual beliefs and social support. Your patients may come to you with many frustrations from numerous unsuccessful efforts to find relief. Active consideration of - and appropriate responses to - these issues are essential for the care of patients with chronic or acute pain.

In this workshop patients with chronic pain will discuss their experiences and be models for massage demonstrations. Participants will learn to give patients appropriate "therapeutic expectations" and will experience a variety of techniques that provide effective pain reduction while staying well below a patient's pain thresholds.