Course curriculum

This course offers a nuanced exploration of pain, equipping students with a multifaceted understanding and a diverse toolkit for effective pain management in clinical settings.

    1. Treating the Complex Pain Experience - Richard Hill

    2. Quiz Part 1

    1. Treating the Complex Pain Experience (Part2) - Richard Hill

    2. Quiz Part 2

    3. Certificate

Course Description

This course delves into the intricate facets of pain, examining its manifestations at various levels of consciousness, from psychological experiences to the deeper realms of biology, nerves, and the brain. Drawing insights from a presentation to the Australian Society for Clinical Hypnotherapists, this course, by Richard Hill, provides a comprehensive understanding of pain processes, neurobiology, and the interplay between emotions, memories, and social contexts. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy in addressing the affective dimensions of pain. Students will explore the neurological systems involved in pain perception, examining how the brain processes sensory, affective, and cognitive aspects of pain. The course covers the influence of social factors, such as rejection and disconnection, on pain experiences, and how pain serves as a cue for attention and action. Additionally, students will gain insights into the potential of various therapeutic approaches, including mental therapies, lifestyle considerations, and collaboration with other therapeutic modalities for effective pain management.

  • Understand the Four Major Pain Processes: Transduction, transmission, modulation, and perception, and their role in the pain experience.

  • Explore Neurobiological Systems: Gain insights into the three principal cortical systems involved in pain perception and their contributions to sensory, affective, and cognitive aspects.

  • Analyze the Role of Social Factors: Examine how social rejection and emotional needs contribute to the pain experience.

  • Evaluate Therapeutic Approaches: Assess the potential of mental therapies, lifestyle considerations, and collaboration with other therapeutic modalities in pain management.

  • Apply Knowledge in Practical Scenarios: Develop the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life cases, understanding the complexity of pain experiences and tailoring interventions accordingly.

  • Explore Interconnected Elements of Pain: Investigate the interconnectedness of psychological, biological, and social factors contributing to pain, fostering a holistic understanding.

  • Develop Collaborative Therapeutic Skills: Recognize the importance of collaboration with other therapists, especially in complex cases like Borderline Personality Disorder.

  • Enhance Therapeutic Flexibility: Acquire the skills to adapt and combine various therapeutic approaches based on the unique needs of each client.

Instructor

Chief Education Director Richard Hill

Richard Hill began his professional life in the performing arts and is now a practicing psychotherapist, author, educator, and Clinical Science Director and Managing Editor at the Science of Psychotherapy. Richard returned to intellectual studies at 42 (1996) achieving a B.A. majoring in linguistics, followed by 3 Masters Degrees in Social Ecology, Education, and Brain and Mind Sciences and is now a PhD candidate researching the nature of the person-responsive approach in therapy. His latest book is co-authored with Matthew Dahlitz, The Practitioner’s Guide to the Science of Psychotherapy. Richard enjoyed the good fortune to be mentored by the esteemed Ernest Rossi, PhD who introduced the field of Psychosocial Genomics and is a member of the international research team that studies the impact of therapeutic practice on the genetic level. Richard co-authored The Practitioner’s Guide to Mirroring Hands with Rossi. His main theoretical proposals concern – The Winner-Loser World Theory; the Curiosity Approach: and the Possibility Solution – which are explored in his numerous books and book chapters. Richard is active internationally including his role as Science Director for CIPPS college in Salerno, Italy, and course consultant at the University Fernando Pessoa in Portugal. He is also Patron of the Australian Society of Clinical Hynotherapists.