The goal of intervention is to guide the patient toward a sense of control over pain this can be achieved through either cognitive or behavioral techniques. The goal of intervention is to guide the patient toward a sense of control over pain this can be achieved through either cognitive or behavioral techniques

Cognitive technique

Cognitive techniques focus on perceptual and thought processes.

Passive relaxation is the active engagement of imaginative processes to dissociate the symptom.

Distraction is designed to inhibit awareness of pain or other distress by introducing distracting sensory inputs.

Cognitive restructuring is the redefinition of some or all aspects of the patient's interpretation of distress, i.e. sever pain is restricted into "this could be worse" or "I've endured worse than this".

Thought stopping techniques are designed to redirect or minimize obsessions.

Behavioral techniques

Behavioral techniques are directed at modifying patterns of behavior to help patients cope with pain.

Systemic desensitization pairs relaxation or distraction techniques with a hierarchy of anxiety/arousing stimuli presented through mental imagery.

Shaping reinforces specific responses that successfully approximate the desired outcome.

Modeling is the overt or covert demonstration of effective behaviors designed to be replicated by the patient.

Time-outs are short periods in which the patient is deprived of social interaction because of maladaptive reactions.

Stress inoculation techniques are aimed at fostering more adaptive responses in anticipation of stressful situations.

Relaxation exercises employs physical relaxation techniques, therapeutic stories, metaphors and audio tapes.