“There’s a vibrant and elegant wholeness found deep within every human heart.
The practice of transformative imagery plumbs the depths of our opening heart and brings us home to our essential, wholesome nature.
Guided imagery invites symbols and impressions to rise like bubbles from beneath our conscious awareness and allows hidden aspects of ourselves to come into view. These images reveal our gifts, talents and strengths as well as the dysfunctional beliefs, patterns, and dis-ease that have formed around our unresolved pain.
As we explore these deep layers through guided imagery, we develop a clearer and more compassionate understanding of ourselves and others. We cultivate tools that will transform our lives so that we are healthier and more fulfilled.
Imagery is like a Rosetta Stone that decodes and translates the deep undercurrents at the very center of our lives. When we open to the clarity that emerges through imagery practice, there is a growing experience of well-being, a visceral wisdom that surpasses ordinary logic. We experience wholeness regardless of the circumstances of our lives, and often discover fresh ways to improve the conditions we are in.
We naturally begin to live in a qualitatively different way; more present and responsive to the moment by moment miracle of daily life.
Imaginative experiences that bring wisdom and healing are available to everyone regardless of temperament, culture, age and life experience.”
written by Leslie Davenport – Transformative Imagery
How Does Guided Imagery Work?
- Guided Imagery is effective because it bypasses rational thought and logic.
- It delivers healing messages directly to the primitive subcortical structure of the brain.
- Once received, imagery disburses gentle reminders of health, strength, meaning and hope that affect unconscious assumptions and self-defeating concepts.
- Because imagery is processed in the right brains more primitive, sensory, and motion based channels, it is an ideal intervention for PTSD (post-traumatic stress).
- Imaging works on the right brain, the home of feeling, sensing, and perceiving; rather than on the thinking, judging, and analytical functions of the left brain.
- Because imagery does not depend on the left brains logical and analytical centers, it circumvents psychological resistance, fear, hopelessness worry, and doubt – (all left brain functions). It goes directly to effect attitude and self-esteem, without interference from the ‘literal mind’ that is the domain of the left brain.
- The traumatized brain is impaired in its ability to focus on language or verbal content, and instead tends to focus on processing nonverbal danger cues such as: body movements, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
- Higher cortical functions can only be attended to once the sub-cortical brain is sufficiently calmed. Visualization is one way to access and calm the highly sensitive, right hemisphere of the sub-cortical brain.
- Using a calming tone of voice, music, and symbolic representations of safety, imagery quiets the hyper-vigilant primitive brain, creating an environment where the higher cortical brain can once again function.
- Guided imagery provides a cushion of multi sensory protective images and built-in emotional safety.
- Imagery provides a kind, gentle and effective route to tending to the wounds of the inner self.
- Imagery is a place where traumatized individuals can create some distance. Individuals can summon protection and support from allies, remembered friends, animals, powerful ancestors, guardian angels, and other helpers, and surround themselves with love and support.
- With imagery, people can create as many layers of protection that they need, in order to heal and feel good about themselves.
Can Guided Imagery Help Me?
I would be happy to discuss the numerous benefits of Multi-sensory Guided Imagery with you in person. We can decide together whether this may be a good treatment option for you.
Please contact me today to schedule a consultation appointment.