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 The Journey Into Self
How to Use Guided Imagery to Empower Your
Life and Heal Physically and Emotionally
By Charles D. Leviton, EDD and Patti Leviton
Reviewed by Angela Barrios-Lucero,
LMFT, ATR
Certified hypnotherapists Leviton and Leviton invite readers on a
journey that promotes quicker healing of emotional and physical health
through Guided Imagery. This book explores visual scripts that may be an
additional tool to encourage healing of the mind and body. The authors
point out three important elements (awareness, belief, and remembered
wellness) that are fundamental to this therapeutically holistic process.
What readers will find helpful are the end of chapter exercises, the
directory of metaphoric symptoms/symbols, and a reminder for the client
that there is no right or wrong.
For physical issues, scripts induce relaxation levels that accelerate
the immune to fight infections, increase blood flow to wounds, aid in
skin cells regeneration, and reduce pain. Hospitals find great benefit
from this alternative practice (pre/post surgery, relaxation through
medical procedures, and medication side effects control). Therapists
will appreciate a brief medical case presented in the book that
describes how guided imagery and classic conditioning (Pavlov) produced
necessary chemicals to restore a patient’s health. The authors
also address how guided imagery addresses psychological issues such as
trauma. I can see how a session that includes relaxing visualizations
can result in reports of uninterrupted sleep, decreased depression and
anxiety. In both group and individual sessions, clients are walked
through a story where they can identify where they are holding pain in
the body, work toward finding peace and are given a chance to heal
simultaneously, emotionally and/or psychologically. A deeply relaxed
person who sees pictures and symbols in their mind sees options for
change. Their mind and body creates the self fulfilling prophecy,
healing.
Each chapter will discuss the elements of a visual session from start
to end. You will learn about the foundations of a guided imagery
experience: voice, music, psychical cues, rapport, assessing unsafe
places (sights, smells or tastes), and exploring their negative sources
(presenting problem). A non-threatening and non-judgmental environment
opens the door to a relaxed state. Trust between facilitator and client
is essential. This book offers open-ended scripts for individuals and
structured scripts for group sessions. The reader is given guidance on
how to follow clients, verbal interactions, the sharing process, and
ending on a positive/ encouraging note. I appreciate Leviton and Leviton
reminding the reader to be mindful of important times frames such as the
brains inability to sustain relaxation for more than 20 minutes, time
allotted for client to open their eyes, and suggesting 10 minutes before
a client leaves the office and driving their car home.
Through Guided Imagery, you empower your mind to have a positive and
confident attitude, therefore giving your body permission to heal,
emotionally and/or physically. By visualizing symbols or stories in your
mind while in a relaxed state, your current body can then secrete
hormones and chemicals that replicate the same healthy past, when you
were the strongest, most balanced emotionally, mentally or
physically
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California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists |
7901 Raytheon Road, San Diego, CA 92111-1606
Phone: (858) 292-2638 | Fax: (858) 292-2666
©Copyright 2012 California Association
of Marriage and Family Therapists
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