Decentration and cognitive restructuring are used in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with patients suffering from chronic pain and are reinforced by group work. They can also be useful to the general practitioner. Clinical vignettes summarize the role of group CBT in identifying realistic and meaningful activities. They stress decentration and cognitive restructuring as key therapeutic tools in group CBT. Using them with patients suffering from chronic pain is complex and challenging when it comes to allow the patients to overcome the impossibility to function 'as before' while figuring out how to cope 'as for now'.