Therapeutic alliance, pain and body-mediated practices

The therapeutic alliance is defined by the quality of the affective relationship that unites patient and practitioner, and an agreement on the tasks to be carried out to achieve one or more objectives. It is a factor common to all forms of treatment, and a good predictor of success. Pain, because it can be objectified in the patient's own words, immediately defines a particular type of alliance. This article presents an analysis of scientific contributions that review the notion of alliance and its application to the field of pain management. A specific contribution is proposed concerning corded meditation practices, which are widespread in pain clinics, because they are part of a specific methodology and present particular alliance contexts.