Guided Imagery
How to use guided imagery
Nearly anyone can do guided imagery on their own. To help you get started, there are many recordings done by experts who guide you through a session. We have a great selection of these in our suggested resources list, but you can also seek out others.
Things to ask when looking for a recording
Here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for guided imagery scripts. If you want to learn more about how to find, evaluate, and even write your own scripts please enroll in Guided Imagery on Coursera.
- Does it match your goal? (ie do you want help with pain or do you want to lose weight?)
- Is it the right length? (There is no point in buying an hour-long recording if you don't have that much time.)
- Is the voice pleasant to listen to (and do you have a preference for the gender)?
- Would you enjoy music or nature sounds, neither, both?
Cautions or Considerations?
Guided imagery is generally very safe. However, individuals with a history of psychosis or any other mental illness that prevents them from differentiating reality from imagination should not use guided imagery. In addition, those who have experienced trauma should only use guided imagery with a skilled licensed therapist. Please note that guided imagery should never be used in place of necessary medical care. These small cautions aside, guided imagery has great potential to help.
Types of guided imagery
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Feeling State Imagery
helps change your mood by imagining a favorite place or recalling a happy memory.
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Spiritual Imagery
can help you feel more at connected and at peace, with a broader perspective.
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Energetic Imagery
is based on the belief that energy needs to flow freely through the body for good health. Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions share in this philosophy.
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Cellular Imagery:
has you imagine healing happening on the cellular level. As such, it is best done under the guidance of someone with accurate technical knowledge who can guide you through the experience.
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Physiological Imagery:
works on healing the body. It differs from cellular imagery in that you focus on the entire body or large areas. For example, you could imagine your injured muscles relaxing and your blood flowing freely through the injured area.
Try Guided Imagery!
Explore options to try guided imagery yourself on our sources page.
Also, consider enrolling in Guided Imagery on Coursera. It is 100% online and it is a wonderful resource to learn more about guided imagery including how to create your own scripts and develop a practice.
Experience Wellscapes
From the people behind Taking Charge, you can tap into the healing power of nature with the Wellscapes videos. This series offers you the opportunity to watch stunning nature videos in silence or with any combination of music, nature sounds, and gentle guiding. Click the Play button in the photo above for a sample.