Guided imagery is a psychotherapy technique that uses descriptive language to guide a person's imagination towards a relaxed state of being in order to provide psychological benefits. It aims to connect the body and mind through the senses to allow the mind to influence the body. Research shows that guided imagery can relieve pain, speed healing, and help suppress conditions like depression, allergies, and asthma. There are three principles that make guided imagery effective - the mind-body connection, achieving an altered state of focus, and developing a sense of control over the process. Common benefits include reducing stress-related conditions, developing intuition, and allowing deep relaxation.

1. GUIDED IMAGERY
Guided Imagery is a powerful technique which uses descriptive language in-
tended for psychological benefit of mental imagery. This technique involves
several or all human senses in order to guide an individual’s imagination to-
ward a relaxed and focused state of being. It is another method of psy-
chotherapy or personal counseling which aims to develop an individual’s
sense of well being which is based on the concept of the connection of both
body and mind with the use of all the senses.
As the body and mind connects through human senses, the body responds as
if what the individual’s imagining is real allowing the mind to influence the
body the most. This technique advocates the assertion of imagination as a
potent healer as it relieves pain, speeds the healing process as well as helps
the body suppress the ailments such as depression, allergies and asthma.
The Guided Imagery technique was first developed by Hanscarl Leuner, a
German psychiatrist, wherein he based this psychotherapy method on his re-
search about Mental Imagery, Catathymic influences or the interaction of
mental contents and emotional processes, as well as in dreams and day-
dreams. Since there are plenty of psychotherapy methods, some individuals
think that the concept of Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization are just
the same, however, this idea is misleading.
According to some health experts, Guided Imagery is the process of making
the individual feel relaxed and restores its health by being guided through a
calming process which includes the description of peaceful or calming
sceneries, healing process and other guided images and it can be directed ei-
ther by written, video, script or audio. As for Visualization, it is the process
of envisioning something for relaxation of making positive changes which
includes visualization of a relaxing scene or the process of healing or the
stages of breath as well as other mental images.
This process can be guided or unguided for it can be done alone, with or
without a script, audios or videos. Basically there are three principles of
Guided Imagery which makes the process more effective and favorable to
people. The first principle is the Mind – Body Connection wherein the im-
ages created in the mind can be almost as vivid as the actual, external events
as the mind signals the body to evoke sensory memory and fantasy sights.
These sensory images are then said to be the true language of the body, the

2. only language that can be understood immediately without questions in-
volved. The second principle is the Altered State which states that individu-
als are capable of achieving a more rapid and intense healing, growth, learn-
ing and performance.
It is the power cell of guided imagery for images are consciously applied to
come up with awesome interventions which is the prodigious source of in-
ternal strength and skill. Lastly, the third principle is the Locus of Control
which is often referred to in the medical literature for it believes that when
individuals have the sense of being in control, that, in and of itself, can help
them to feel better and do better in life for feelings of being in control are
connected with self-esteem, higher optimism and the capacity to tolerate
pain, stress and uncertainty. In totality, when all these three principles put to-
gether, the technique will generate an altered state in which the mind is fo-
cused towards a multi-sensory image where the body perceives it as a real
and vivid presentation. Since Guided Imagery is a total internally driven ac-
tivity, the user has the freedom to decide on how, where and when it will be
applied for it has the salutary effect of helping the individual feel that they
have some control which makes the technique so effective and approving to
a lot of people.
Since Guided Imagery is said to be effective, common benefits include de-
veloping the inner resources within the individual’s intuition to find new and
creative solutions in order to solve problems. It is also said to be effective to
physical and emotional issues especially to conditions that are aggravated by
stress such as hypertension, headache, pain, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal
disorders, anxiety and depression. Guided Imagery can also teach individu-
als to connect with their inner wisdom, allowing them to explore themselves
in order to come up with answers.
It also allows the person to deeply relax, especially during upcoming events
such as public speaking or performing athletic events. Since a lot of individ-
uals respond to this process differently, there are many kinds of effective
healing imagery to choose from and people should be aware of the different
range of possibilities. The eight categories of Guided Imagery content in-
clude Feeling State Imagery which involves changing of moods, End State
Imagery which uses motivation to achieve any desired outcome or goal, En-
ergetic Imagery taken form Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as well as
quantum physics which adopts the notion of plentiful, coherent, free-flow-
ing, unblocked energy as the foundation of good and Cellular Imagery which

3. focuses on the healthy interaction of human cells and requires specific tech-
nical knowledge.
This imagery isn’t for everyone to experience. Another set also includes
Physiological Imagery which focuses on superior healing processes in the
body, Metamorphic Imagery that works with symbols instead of existing re-
ality, Psychological Imagery which specifically deals with an individual’s
psychological issues by giving corrective emotional interventions and lastly,
Spiritual Imagery which evokes a wider point of view and a peaceful tran-
scendent feeling provided by a mystical state of consciousness and prayer.
Provided that this technique can be helpful to individuals in achieving a bet-
ter and fruitful life, it is best to practice imagery when devotion and full con-
centration is set to it. Living a relaxing and calming life is achievable that
adults, children and teens can all benefit from. Guided Imagery is consid-
ered to be safe and there are no known risks associated with it. Psychiatrists
usually offer Guided Imagery to their clients for it will not only promote a
calming and tranquil environment but as well as developing a full potential
well being.
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