Courses

We run different types of courses to help people living with persistent pain improve their quality of life. They aim to:

• improve your quality of life
• understand your goals
• help you engage in activities that are important to you
• help you learn skills to better respond to pain and related experiences
• improve your physical functioning
• improve your use of medicines
• allow you to be more independent and rely less on health services

The courses are based on an acceptance and commitment therapy approach. This means accepting what is out of your control, and committing to action that improves and enriches your life.

We'll support you to increase social activities, like time with friends and family, voluntary or paid work, and getting more involved with hobbies and physical activities.

The programmes include a combination of education, physical activities and psychology.

The courses do not involve any medical treatment or tests.

Types of courses

We run 2 different courses that include our:

• residential course
• outpatient course

We will talk about the different treatment options with you and recommend the most appropriate course for you.

Residential course

This 3-week course takes place in one of our hospital buildings. You will not be admitted as an 'inpatient' but you will stay on site in a self-contained flat.

Read more about our residential course.

Outpatient course

Our outpatient course is for people living locally who do not need the intensive residential course. It is not suitable for everyone.

You attend group sessions for 5 days, spread over 3 weeks. Exact dates and times will be confirmed by our team when booking your start date.

A typical session lasts from 10am to 3.15pm.

Please call us 2 weeks before your programme on 020 7188 3255 to confirm that you are attending.

While you wait to join a programme

Please let us know if you change your address as soon as possible. This is very important as it may affect your NHS funding. If you do not tell us we may have to delay your programme.

Please let us know if your circumstances change, for example if you start a new treatment, or it if becomes difficult for you to attend any of the sessions.

General information about our courses

Our programmes are designed to help you focus less on pain and more on what you want to do.

We do not give a diagnosis, medical treatments or strategies to control the pain. This is because our role is to support you to develop the tools to live with your pain, and to cope with the distress you have. This is so that you can do the things that matter to you, in the presence of pain.

Our courses do not provide a one-size-fits-all approach. Our sessions are built around your needs and the needs of other participants. We encourage you to reflect, engage in these discussions and work with us.

Philosophy of respect

The views, personal space, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability status of each person attending the INPUT programme should be respected at all times.

The same respect should be shown to hospital staff members and anyone else you meet.

Given the group nature of the programme, we ask that confidentiality is respected. Any behaviour disrupting other patients' care may result in you having to leave the programme.

Questionnaires

You'll be emailed a link to a set of questionnaires. If you're unable to do the questionnaires online, you can do them on your first day of the programme.

These questionnaires help us gain insight into how you are doing at the moment, and allows us to monitor your progress.

We may use also use this data for research purposes if you consent to this.

Observers in group sessions

We may ask if you're happy to have an observer in your group sessions.

This might be a health professional or student, who would like to observe the programme, watch the staff and learn about pain management.

If you're unhappy or concerned about having someone observe your group, please speak to a member of the INPUT team.