[sittingatwatersedge]

T2 said she could help me with some guided imagery exercises. This would be a really new thing for me, & I have a lot of questions I didn't get a chance to ask at the time.

Has anyone done this?

Over what time period is it used (days/weeks/months), do you think it helped?

If done one on one, "in the room", what is the process?

If done at home, what is the process? who records, how is it played back? does the client write something afterwards?

Your comments will help me a lot. I know one PC member mentioned some CDs given by T, but those were prerecorded I think, and these would have to be my own T, I think, or done one on one.

many thanks
SAWE

[carla.cdt]

it is guided, so you would listen to your therapist during session, or a CD at home.
It took me some time to like guided imagery. I practices it a few time with my therapist in session, then I bought a few CD and did it at home every day for about a month. Now I can use it when I feel overwhelm by anxiety or fear. It doesn't help me with other emotions.
I was used to do more of mindfulness type meditation (focus on breathing, sounds, thoughts,..) I found this type more helful for sadness and anger.

I found it is one more tool I have in my tool box.

Give it a try for a few weeks and see how it goes.

[stopdog]

I like guided imagery. It can help me with anxiety and with insomnia. I have not done it with a therapist, but I have done it with a person in the room doing it. They basically just talk and you follow along in your head. I have never written anything after it. There are some on itunes or on the internet if you wanted to listen to one first. I just sit in a chair or lie down and listen and follow along. The biggest obstacle for me with the therapist is I usually close my eyes for the guided imagery and I do not close my eyes with the therapist. I would not like a tape of the therapist doing it. She jacks me up, I do not find her soothing. But if you do find the therapist you see soothing, it might be very nice.

[rainbow8]

I'm not sure if what my T does with me is guided imagery or just meditation. Sometimes she has me visualize a healing light when we meditate. I think a true guided meditation that I recorded is when she had me visualize a walk on the beach. It was very peaceful. We only did it once in the session but I listen to it periodically at home. My yoga class gives me a kind of guided imagery sometimes.

I think you'll find guided imagery soothing and peaceful. At least I hope so. Are you able to close your eyes in your session? I never thought I could but I've been doing it now for 2 years and it helps me when we do breathing and meditation.

Good luck with it and keep us posted on how it goes.

[sittingatwatersedge]

>> Are you able to close your eyes in your session?

when I am crying my eyes out, yes; otherwise it's rare that i RAISE my eyes in session

[carla.cdt]

have you tried it yet? How did it go?

[ECHOES]

I did gi with a T in the first few sessions with her. I enjoyed it and thought it was very relaxing. I did not think there was other therapeutic value besides anxiety reduction, but I didn't continue with that T. But now that I said that, I think the relaxing the mind opens it up to memories or maybe more organized thinking.. something like that. I just know that I like it and I'm glad I learned about it. I'd never heard of it before.

You can also do it in private, using CD's. Some like Bella Ruth's CDs. I bought a few from www.wholeperson.com.