The Efficacy of Hypnotic Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain in SCI

The HYPNOCT intervention will use hypnotic strategies and suggestions for identifying adaptive cognitions and for making adaptive changes in cognitions more integrated into the participant's belief system (note that traditional CT uses purposeful argument and logic to make these changes; in this condition the investigators add a hypnotic automaticity to this process). Thus, HYPNOCT is a hybrid intervention (more than the sum of CT and hypnosis) that overlaps with both hypnosis and CT. The participant will relax in a comfortable position and listen to the clinician speak. However, unlike standard hypnosis for pain, the post-induction suggestions will focus on changes in cognitive content and processes (as opposed to changes in sensory experience).