Headache therapy session 6: relax!
Useful material
Introduction to relaxation & relaxation practice worksheets Headache message (see therapy session 5)
Meaning of headache (see therapy session 5)
Modifying headache context (see therapy session 4)
Relaxation induction script:
Focused body relaxation Release-only relaxation (or equivalent)
Relaxation therapy scripts:
Deepening breathing Deepening relaxation
Headache relief imagery - healing paradigm Headache relief imagery - hat anaesthesia Headache relief imagery - happy moments Headache relief imagery - water and bubbles
Headache relief imagery - time travel Reducing stress and tension Resources and perspectives
Relaxation practice worksheet Steps to my possibility goal worksheet
Objective
- • Focused relaxation practice
- • Application of pain relief imagery within relaxation
- • Deepening of individual relaxation experience
Welcome
“By now you have realised the importance of deep relaxation practice for helping your body restore its balance in response to your headaches and many other demands. You have begun to make adjustments to improve your lifestyle. You have already noticed how such changes can gradually move you towards the things you really want in your life.
“Today, we are going to practise relaxation in the session. Rather than using a general relaxation script as in the health management group, we are going to use pain relief images that you have used in the previous sessions.”
Main therapy section
Notes for therapist: relaxation induction, deepening and therapy scripts can be combined and varied according to the recorded headache descriptions and according to what works best for the patient.
Pre- and post-relaxation scores can be obtained as in the health management module.
It is advisable to practise relaxation a number of times during the session. This is important to increase the patient’s self-confidence and their ability to memorise as much as possible from each exercise. Each relaxation module can be practised separately.
Relaxation: practice modifying the headache perception
Relaxation induction scripts:
Focused body relaxation Release-only relaxation (or equivalent)
Relaxation therapy scripts:
Deepening breathing
Deepening relaxation or
Reducing stress and tension
Headache relief imagery - healing paradigm
Headache relief imagery - hat anaesthesia
Anchor and future pace Ending the relaxation practice
Relaxation: practice modifying the context and use imagery incompatible with headache
Induction, deepening and ending scripts as above. Relaxation therapy scripts:
Modifying headache context
Headache relief imagery - happy moments
Headache relief imagery - water and bubbles
Anchor and future pace Ending the relaxation practice
Relaxation: practice modifying the meaning of headache
Induction, deepening and ending scripts as above. Relaxation therapy scripts:
Meaning of headache Message of headache Headache relief imagery - time travel Relaxation: resources and perspectives
Anchor and future pacing (see headache therapy session 4) Ending the relaxation practice
Relaxation practice: possibility goals
Induction, deepening and ending scripts as above. Relaxation therapy script:
Steps to my possibility goal worksheet
Anchor and future pacing (see headache therapy session 4) Ending the relaxation practice
Ending
Use the introduction to relaxation & relaxation practice worksheets “You can include the one relaxation exercise that works best for you into your daily routine. Be mindful about what you have started to notice during your relaxation practice. Observe your progress using the relaxation practice worksheet.
“The introduction to relaxation worksheet reminds you of the key points.”
