Anodyne Imagery is a set of techniques drawn from the fields of hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), intuitive awareness, guided imagery, and conscious breathing. Nurses, physicians, technologists and other healthcare professionals use Anodyne techniques to help patients relax and relieve acute pain and/or anxiety. These skills are useful in any clinical setting where patient comfort is an issue, and serve especially well as complementary alternatives to pharmacological conscious sedation for relief of pain and anxiety.

A significant value of Anodyne is that it provides an intellectual bridge between traditional medicine and other complementary therapies. Anodyne skills recognize and capitalize on the unconscious mind's ability to effect the physical body, and can be generalized to create new mind/body interventions. Anodyne is grounded in clinical experience of what works quickly and effectively in the acute, time-conscious domain of modern medical practice. There are more than 1,000 Anodyne patient interactions each week at Duke University Medical Center.

This workshop covered all the tools and techniques of Anodyne and had immediate benefits for participants for management of pain and anxiety in clinical situations and for personal stress management. The two fundamental skills conveyed were achieving instant rapport with patients and effectively using language to communicate with both the conscious and unconscious minds. Other tools include: the "Relaxation Breath" for general relaxation and relief of pain and anxiety; "Preferred Place" imagery which allows the patient's mind to be anywhere they choose during a procedure; and "Shifting Submodalities" imagery which dissolves any resistance the patient may have to relaxation and/or cooperation. Techniques for pain relief and control physiological processes such as bleeding, heart rate and blood pressure were also covered. The workshop was experiential and included practice exercises with peers.