What is Guided Imagery? (Audio and Text)
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I’ve always loved imagining images to illustrate my thoughts and ideas. It’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words. I love music and the emotions that music can stir. And I admire all things creative. I’ve come to learn that I am a right-brained person. My name is Jeanine Jones, and I am here to talk about Guided Imagery, which is a right-brained treatment technique.
How I found Guided Imagery
About 23 years ago I attended a conference in North Carolina, where I worked at a community mental health center. This conference featured alternative forms of therapy, such as Meditation, Acupressure, and Guided Imagery. After participating in the Guided Imagery session, I was hooked! It was interesting. It was unique. It made sense to me. And it worked! At that time I was introduced to the work of Belleruth Naparstek, who is one of the foremost authorities in the field of Guided Imagery. I purchased her (then) new book called “Staying Well With Guided Imagery. How To Harness The Power Of Your Imagination For Health And Healing.” Throughout my career as a Clinical Social Worker, I often referred to her work and resources while utilizing Guided Imagery with my clients. If you’re interested, I encourage you to check her out! Rewinding to my story now…it was this conference that began my education and experience with Guided Imagery…and all things right-brained!
A few basics about right and left brain functions
In order to discuss Guided Imagery, it’s helpful to start with a few basics about right and left-brain functions. Located in the right-brain, imagery encompasses all of our senses – sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touch. This is the area where perception, emotion, senses, and movement live. The right brain contains no words. It is the home of memory, creativity, music, feelings, and imagination. The right-brain is also the place where we experience those “a-ha” moments in our lives. The left-brain is where the functions of thinking, verbalizing, analyzing, and synthesizing occur. The left-brain is seen predominantly at work in the areas of speech, math, and science. More traditional “talk therapy” is done with the left-brain, while Guided Imagery utilizes the right-brain.
But what is Guided Imagery?
Now that I’ve laid down a few right-brain basics, let me tell you more about Guided Imagery specifically. Guided Imagery uses your imagination to help your mind and body deal with difficulties or trauma, gain understanding about perplexing issues, develop new habits, and achieve your goals. It is done while in a state of relaxed but very focused concentration, much like what is seen in meditation practices. Guided Imagery then utilizes all of your senses for your imagery experience. There have been some differences of opinion as to whether or not Guided Imagery is a form of hypnosis. I believe that Guided Imagery and hypnosis are different. Hypnosis involves the use of suggestions made by the therapist. The person experiencing Guided Imagery, in contrast, is always in control and utilizes images from their own imagination, not the suggestion of the therapist. Another unique aspect of Guided Imagery is that it can be done with a therapist or guide – or it can also be done alone.
Ways Guided Imagery can be used
You may wonder what kind of problems can Guided Imagery help with? Well, let me tell you! Guided Imagery, as Complementary or Adjunct Therapy, can help with physical, emotional, and behavioral issues. Perhaps it is most widely known in the area of trauma, specifically with PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Guided Imagery can help with issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, and anger. It can help with medical issues, such as preparation for surgery, emotional aspects of cancer treatment, and relief from pain. It has been used to deal with relationship issues and childhood traumas. Guided Imagery can be used to improve sleep, decrease fatigue, break old habits, create new habits, develop personal motivation, and set healthy boundaries.
Interactive Guided Imagery(sm) – a specialty area of Guided Imagery
Over the years I became more and more intrigued with Guided Imagery as a treatment intervention in my clinical practice. I decided that I wanted to learn more, so several years ago I became certified in Interactive Guided Imagery(sm) through the Academy for Guided Imagery. This year-long course provided me with the education and hands-on training needed to utilize Interactive Guided Imagery(sm). Interactive Guided Imagery(sm) is a bit different from traditional Guided Imagery in that it is done in a clinical setting and the clinician and client are able to interact with each other during the imagery experience. This way, the client is able to discuss their thoughts and feelings about what they are imagining so that the clinician (or guide) is able to assist the client where needed. An example of this would be the clinician asking questions about what the client is seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting, etc….to enrich the imagery experience for the client.
One of my personal experiences with Interactive Guided Imagery(sm)
In my first preceptorship (group experience) with this training, I was chosen to be the client while the group looked on. I chose to explore my issues with pain. I have had chronic pain issues for years. I can remember being able to vividly see an image of my pain as a fiery, dense, glowing ball about the size of a bowling ball. I was able to intuit from this image that it did not like to give me pain; that it was friend and not foe. Through this experience I was able to glean two distinct methods of pain relief that I could try that would be unique to me – being in the water and bicycling. Those methods resonate with me to this day. I love being in the water. That is where I exercise. And I am looking forward to riding my bicycle again in the future!
My hope and plan
My hope and plan are to offer you opportunities to learn more about Guided Imagery. I’d also love to share this technique with you through Guided Imagery audios, available both on the site and for download. Please keep a look-out for more to come! I hope you will enjoy Guided Imagery as much as I do!