This book will help you to both understand your pain and learn techniques so that you can live well with it. Written in a friendly, engaging (and jargon-free!) style, this self-help guide encourages interactive reading through tables, illustrations and worksheets. It also has some handy top tips on how to deal with any setbacks along the way. Case studies illustrate the use of the therapy and demonstrate how you can cope with persistent or chronic pain.

The How to Beat series of books has emerged from recent, revolutionary healthcare service innovations which have made effective psychological treatments available to more people than ever before. The books are designed to allow those who experience common mental health problems to either help themselves to recover or get the best possible benefit out of their contact with health professionals. They contain easy to understand treatments drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is recommended by the scientific evidence. They are written by authors with considerable experience in the field of CBT training, research and clinical practice.

Chris Penlington is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at Newcastle University and has significant experience in clinical delivery, research and professional education of CBT and supported self-management for persistent pain. Previous publications by the author include three book chapters, including a chapter about low-intensity CBT for long-term conditions in the second edition of Low Intensity CBT: A practitioner's guide.