What’s New: The paper introduces a novel approach that integrates palliative care principles with hypnotic techniques to address the multifaceted suffering experienced by patients with terminal illness. It emphasizes the use of the patient’s own language and cognitive tools to create a therapeutic environment that can alleviate both physical symptoms and existential distress.

Importance: This approach is significant as it offers a comprehensive method to palliate the complex layers of suffering in terminal illness, including pain, psychological distress, and existential concerns, which are often challenging to manage with conventional medical treatments alone.

Contribution to Literature: The paper contributes to the current literature by detailing a developmental process for crafting hypnotic suggestions that are tailored to the individual patient’s experience and needs. It also highlights the importance of presence, focus, and the therapeutic relationship in fostering resilience and creating positive meanings to counteract suffering.

The approach utilizes a combination of clinical and scientific principles, artistic expression, and a thorough assessment of the patient’s needs to strategically address suffering across the physical, social, psychological, existential, and spiritual dimensions. It also emphasizes the importance of temporality, suggesting that addressing past experiences in the present moment can help build resilience for future challenges.