What is the most important component of any pain intervention? Contextual factors in pain management – often described as “non-specific factors” or the “meaning response” – have unique neurobiological substrates and, on their own, can produce powerful pain-relieving effects. The presenters will highlight scientific advances in our understanding of the “meaning response” for pain, including updates from the placebo/nocebo literature. This interactive interdisciplinary session will explain the psychology and neuropharmacology of contextual care, dispel common myths/misconceptions, and will provide pain clinicians with new ways to ethically enhance patient-centered care.