Home > Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders > Guided imagery therapy

Definition

Guided imagery therapy is a cognitive-behavioral technique in which a client is guided in imagining a relaxing scene or series of experiences.

Purpose

Numerous clinical observations suggest that an individual visualizing an imagined scene reacts as though it were actually occurring; therefore, "induced" images can have a profound effect on behavior. The usefulness of guided imagery techniques have been shown to be effective in helping individuals learn or modify behaviors such as:

• learning to relax
• changing or controlling their negative emotions in response to a particular situation, event (loss of a job), or belief
• preparing themselves for changes they are likely to have to deal with in the future (children leaving home, parent moving)
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