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Articles by Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D. "This is my beautiful body ... I make myself comfortable with the green (light) around my body. A little tube connects to my memory ... and helps me to be more loving. And there's a little tube that connects to my heart and let's all the loving things in and makes it safe for me." These words and thoughts are from a seven year old girl after two months of guided imagery sessions. A girl who had been labeled emotionally disturbed, who had been aggressive and acting-out. A girl who had been physically abused. A girl who could not, when I met her, name one good thing about herself. With the help of guided imagery techniques, including learning how to relax and breathe deeply, Jenny* was able to transform her self-image and her view of the outside world from a scary, dangerous place, to one where she could feel secure, comfortable, and good about herself. Initially Jenny could not imagine herself in a safe place - there was always a man trying to break down the door and harm her. With gentle, loving persistence, and lots of positive images, we were able to transform her imaginary world into a place where butterflies were set free and her inner desert became a magic garden with beautiful, colorful flowers. Jenny's experience, though extreme, is a powerful reminder of the effects of the stresses and demands of our complex world. How can we help our children cope with the daily, sometimes harsh realities of living in a society under the pressure of tremendous and unprecedented change? How can we help our children achieve their full capability under such circumstances? The answer is in giving children a positive way to deal with the world and themselves. The most powerful technique to achieve this goal is guided imagery. From preschoolers to adolescents, guided imagery can build confidence and self-esteem, as well as help children develop their own inner resources, and learn to express feelings they generally are not able to verbalize. Imagery has been specifically helpful in such areas as in developing positive social skills and study habits, overcoming school phobia, calming hyperactivity, coping with death in the family, healing psychosomatic complaints, developing empathy and sensitivity, increasing creative expression, and much more. A third grade student wrote in his evaluation of guided imagery training: "Guided imagery helps me do better at home and at school. I don't get as angry as I did. It helps me concentrate. And I do my best in class." As with adults, guided imagery with children is a process that develops and utilizes the right side of the brain - the side oriented toward creativity, emotions, intuition, art, and holistic understanding. Imagery appears to use the same symbolic or metaphoric language as the unconscious mind, so it makes communication possible between the conscious and unconscious mind, in much the same way as dreams. |
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