Techniques of Imagery.
Techniques of Imagery.
Guided Imagery
Author
Aron Beck
Therapy
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
Principal
Mind-body connection
Guided imagery is based on the concept that your body and mind are connected. Using all
your senses, your body seems to respond as though what you are imagining is real. Just as body
can become tense and stressed in response to thoughts that make us angry or anxious, it can also
become more calm and relaxed in response to calming, peaceful, and pleasant thoughts Guided
imagery is not just a mental activity. It involves the whole body, the emotions and all the senses.
Rationale
Stress management
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
In guided imagery, the experimenter describes a situation with all the details and
participants should imagine themselves there as vividly as possible. During this procedure,
participants should imagine situations and memories related to the desired mood. They can either
imagine hypothetical situations or real events from their past. In some cases, participants listen to
an audio recording to relax, to make them comfortable, and to listen for further instruction.
Guided imagery can be practiced at home whenever feeling stressed, anxious, depressed
Author
Aron Beck
Therapy
Rationale
PTSD
Social Phobia
Phobia
OCD
Depression
Bulimia Nervosa
Nightmares
Personality Disorders
Method
It is possible to change the memory - rescript the image by coming up with a more
future), and therefore reduce the distress and beliefs associated with the image.
The imagery must be discussed in detail prior to the imagery rescripting, usually by
imaginal reliving of the image, so that the scenario can subsequently be worked through
with an awareness of how to respond at each stage, and as anything unexpected comes
up.
o What does it say about you, what does it say about others? (Rate belief 0 –
100%)
o What needs to happen in order to change the way you feel about it now? o How
o If you could go back and speak to yourself at that time, what would you say?
o Who could you bring in to help you at that time? What could they say or do that
Use SUDs scale to assess levels of distress at any stage of the imagery.
Use (and encourage the client to use) present tense during the imagery.
After the imaginal reliving stage is complete, rescripting the memory can start at the
memory’s ‘hotspots’ (most distressing parts) rather than having to complete the whole
memory again.
o Client can enter image as a healthy adult (particularly in childhood trauma) to help
respected friend, an imaginary super-hero, who can bring in their particular strengths.
o Manipulating the characters (see earlier section) to make some appear smaller /
bigger, stronger/ weaker, make the perpetrator look different / ridiculous in some
way.
o Client can enter image as a bystander (observer perspective). Therapist can ask
bystander about their perspective, which can often help direct the rescripting.
o Bring in other objects that might change the outcome – e.g. mobile phone, personal
o What’s happening?
o Who / what can you bring in to help you or the situation right now?
o What needs to happen in the image for you to feel less distressed?
o Okay, now can you see your adult-self coming into the room now?
o What do you need to happen now?
Homework assignment
Work sheets
Rational Emotive Imagery
Author
Albert Ellis
Therapy
Rationale
REI is used to change unhealthy negative emotions into healthy negative emotions.
Method
Let the client feel emotions what she/he has felt at that time
Ask about how he/she end up feeling? What was the thoughts that help to change the
feelings? Etc.
Homework Assignments
Ellis, A., & MacLaren, C. (1998). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy . California: Impact
Publishers .