What is Guided Imagery?

The term "guided imagery" is used to describe a range of techniques from simple visualization and direct imagery-based suggestions, to metaphor and story-telling.  

Rather than simply giving clients "better" images to imagine, "Interactive Guided Imagery℠ " encourages clients to draw upon their own inner resources to support healing; to make appropriate adaptations to changes in their health; and to find creative solutions to challenges that they previously thought were insoluble.

Imagery is useful in an unlimited number of situations in healthcare settings:

(1)  Relaxation and stress reduction;

(2)  Active visualization, or directed imagery, where the client is encouraged to imagine desired outcomes while in a relaxed, open state of mind.  This affords clients a sense of participation and control in their own healing, which is of significant value by itself.  In addition, visualization can be used to alleviate symptoms, stimulate healing responses in the body, modify health endangering behaviours, and provide effective motivation for making positive life changes;

(3)  Interactively explore images to gather information about a symptom, illness, mood, treatment situation, or possible solution.

Imagery is the natural language of the emotions and the unconscious mind.  It also has a profound controlling influence on our nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.