MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

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Session 8 is entitled “Pressure from self and others to deviate from pacing” and includes “Plan your time; Keep to
your limits; Set appropriate targets; Alternate activity and rest; Modify your activity”.
Session 9 is entitled “Anticipating exacerbation’s” (sic) which includes:
• “Discuss and revisit balance
• Revisit must do/want to do activities
• Revisit priorities and re‐set limits and priorities
• Discuss ‘listening to your body’
• Re‐set energy levels and weekly plan
• Practice rest/relaxation techniques as required”
Session 10 is entitled “Increasing as Able”.
“ ….As natural recovery occurs the person may find that they can increase activity …When such recovery occurs the
person may establish a new baseline…However appropriate aims and priorities can be set and then activity built up as
tolerance increases”. Homework must include “Balancing activity”; “Breaking down large tasks into small chunks”
and “Importance of monitoring….keep brief notes to work out what you can and can’t do to maintain progress (AfME
2003, 354)”.
Session 11 is entitled “Baseline Review” and is to include:
• “Review baseline
• Review balance between
‐‐ activity and rest/relaxation
‐‐ physical and mental tasks
‐‐ work and leisure
‐‐ needs and wants.
Handout:
• Baseline sheet
• Weekly schedule
• Daily schedule
• Energy grid”.
Homework must include “Planned relaxation and activity set at an achievable level, practised regularly and
consistently. Completion of homework diaries and weekly and daily schedules”.
Session 12 is entitled “Rest, relaxation and sleep pattern review. …Homework… means having a calendar & putting
all engagements on it making sure they are well spaced out then I can arrange what I have to do around house/garden/
shopping to fit in again well spaced (sic) (AfME 2003, 93)”.
Session 13 is entitled “Questions and consolidation” and states: “The rationale for treatment is reviewed and the
person’s successes and setbacks in implementing pacing discussed”. Homework is to include “A written summary
of the treatment is produced as homework. In particular, learning achieved” (sic).
Session 14 is entitled “The way forward”. The only entry states: “Review learning”. There are “Handouts”
which include “APT model diagram (if at session 14 the participant did not know what the “APT model” is
allegedly about, then the therapist has failed in the task); “Target Review” and “Baseline Sheet”.
“Paperwork to complete after session” includes “The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) is also completed by the
therapist after this session”.