Can
Guided Imagery Help Me?
Since guided imagery has
powerful physiological consequences and also conveys
important and otherwise inaccessible information from the
unconscious mind, there are virtually no limits to the
number of situations where it can be used in health care
settings.
For simplicity, however, it may be helpful to consider
three major categories of use:
• Relaxation and stress reduction, which is easy to teach,
easy to learn, and almost universally helpful to
patients/clients.
• Active visualization, or directed imagery, where the
patient is encouraged to imagine desired therapeutic
outcomes while in a relaxed, open state of mind. This
affords clients/patients 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 behaviors, and provide
effective motivation for making positive life changes.
• Receptive, or insight oriented imagery, where images are
invited to enter conscious awareness where they are
interactively explored to gather more information about a
symptom, illness, mood, treatment, situation, or possible
solution.
What
Evidence-Based Conditions Can Guided Imagery Help?
For
a summary of some of the clinical research on various
conditions that guided imagery has helped,
click
here.
As you will see, the clinical applications of guided
imagery are tremendously broad, and include, but are not
limited to:
• Acute and chronic pain relief
• Addictions
• Anxiety, phobias, and panic disorders
• Cancer treatment and life-threatening illness
• Chronic pain control and management
• Couples and relationship counseling
• Depression
• Family and parenting issues
• Fertility, birthing, and delivery
• Fitness training
• Grief therapy
• Headache management
• Immune augmentation
• Issues of aging
• Managing chronic illness and preventing acute
exacerbations
• Meaning and purpose
• Medication compliance and adherence issues
• Mind/body issues
• Post-traumatic stress disorders
• Preparation for surgery and medical procedures
• Relaxation training
• Sleep disorders
• Smoking cessation
• Spirituality
• Stress reduction and management
• Survivors of abuse and trauma
• Teaching self-care
• Terminal illness and end of life care
• Weight control