It is widely recognized that pain is best managed by combining pharmacological and psychological approaches.  The aim of this website is to provide medical, nursing and allied health professionals with information about specialist Workshops on pain and pain management using Guided Imagery, Relaxation and Distraction.  These techniques are used with children and adults for procedural pain and fear and can be adopted in managing all other types of pain including post-operative pain, labour pain, persistent pain and cancer pain.

The above core construct is central to the philosophy of Top-Down Pain Control.  ‘There is no way’ is not a ‘given’ it exists in the light of its polar opposite ‘There is a way’.  Change happens when we realize that we can loosen a tightly held view and uncover an alternative.

    For information on running a Workshop at your hospital or institution email Bernie Whitaker.  The minimum number of participants per Workshop is twelve (12), the maximum is twenty two (22).  Navigating the menu bar at the top of this page will take you to a number of pages providing more information on the Workshops and Top-Down Pain Control.

    If you live in the United Kingdom and you are interested in attending the next Workshop on Guided Imagery and Pain in Children at Great Ormond St Hospital NHS Trust, London, email GOSH.

Note: Updated sections: Workshops - Outline, objectives and program, and Pain and Cognition: why pain is more than nociception.

Many thanks to The Archie Foundation for support for the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital Workshop and Presentation - Procedural fear and pain in children: Restraint or relaxation?: RACH.ppt.pdf