Psychotherapy and visualization

Psychotherapy and visualization

abstract:

In this article, I would like to describe the technology of visualization in the process of psychotherapy as it is applied to clients in a consulting environment. There are two purposes for visualization: the first is a technique of relaxation in a therapy session, a guided imagination and the ability to project thoughts and feelings onto the scene. The second for home use, in which images can help to project and relax the client (patient) in a controlled environment. In the first part I will show the verbal images in therapy and in the second the ability to use the technology for self -growth and cognitive insight.

Introduction:

visualization has been discussed and used arbitrarily for many years, mainly in art therapy as a form of self -expression. This type of use is particularly helpful in children in order not to verbalize feelings and thoughts, even in adults who have difficulty communicating emotions verbally, and needing support of art or image to enable them. In psychotherapy and mainly in adults, my (1,2017 SFM) visualization form is revealing both expressive and for the therapist and patient in the form of a projection. Projection means that you transfer your feelings to an object - in this case a verbalized visual picture or a selected painting. In psychotherapy, projection is often viewed as a transmission of feelings, emotions or identification with the therapist or object. This was mainly used for thematic assessment tests (2nd 1930 Murray) or Rorschach Ink Blots (3rd 1921 Rorschach). Both require an analysis by an experienced psychotherapist based on the patient's historical data. The psychiatric application was mainly a failure regarding the medicalized nature of the interpretation, which led to the wrong results and confusion of the patients.

script example: technology one;

therapist: I will guide you through a short journey and try to imagine the scene I describe in your head.

You walk along a street that seems familiar to them

The house on both sides of the road is normal and with small gardens to the front

while you go, feel a cool breeze over your face - it's a very sunny day - warm and fresh

You feel relaxed and satisfied - no special worries or thoughts

If you continue down the street, notice a gap between the houses and a small railing in front of you

If you get closer, you notice that the railing has a small goal that leads to a park

they decide to enter the park and go through the gate

The park is small and rises to a small hill and dives
out of sight
The park mainly consists of grass and is lined with
on each side of trees
When entering you see a winding path that is occasionally lined by wooden benches

In the distance they see a man who goes for a walk with his dog, and a small child who follows him with a red balloon

You cannot hear them because they are at some distance

they decide to sit on one of the benches

You look up and feel the warm sun on your face and the cool of the light breeze

birds fly with light tweets

You take off your shoes and let your bare feet gently touch the grass - it is still wet from the morning

due and feels pleasant and relaxing

After a while they decide to go, the man and the boy have been gone for a long time

When you reach the climb, you can see the other side of the park

You notice a goal and a railing that lead to a small lake with a beach area

It is abandoned and peaceful - they decide, go and explore

Through the gate you will find soft sand that leads to the lake bank, take off your shoes and enjoy the feeling of sand that feels warm - you can hear birds about it

You lie on the sand, the sun is now hotter and you feel relaxed and warm

In the distance you will see a shape ...

therapist: Now take over and tell me what happens?

client: aha ...

Analysis:

At this point, the customer can verbalize his own imaginary end of the visualized story. Some patients with a good imagination can talk about who they have been said for some time, others can only identify the figure or express a fear reaction to the new character in history. Everyone can be very revealing if you allow the client to open a door of the unconscious to express your projected fears and wishes, including the fulfillment of wishes. The therapist should tell the story in a quiet voice and constant transmission without emphasizing a certain point. The various suggestions enable the customer to immerse yourself in history while he imagines being there. The different modalities are put into contact, feeling, noises and seeing, which enable the client to realize a cognitive event in his mind. The touch of the grass, the smell, the sound of birds, the feeling of the sun and the cool breeze stimulate the visualization of history. Afterwards, customers are specifically asked what they have experienced, and many report that they have heard the birds, the wet grass felt, for example the soft sand. The power of the mind to invent and work out is a really amazing experience for many clients in psychotherapy.

As soon as the client has experienced this in therapy, the second option to use the visualization in a home environment is examined. Here the therapists propose certain types of classic paintings that can serve as a door for their own visualization experience. The client who has seen how it works in practice with the therapist feels more empowered to try out the technology itself.

painting: technology two:

clients can visualize themselves at home (or in the office), you need a stimulus if the therapist's verbal visualization is missing. This is best achieved by classic land scenes that are familiar to most people. Artists such as Constable (UK) or Shishkin (Russian) often painted wood, landscape distances and excretions of country houses in the background. This type of scenes can enable the customer to take a walk in the country and to imagine a story. The technology to be explained to the customer is as follows;

therapist: Find a comfortable space like a sofa on which the painting is located at a comfortable distance right in front of you. Start at the next point of the picture, e.g. B. lower right or left, depending on the scene. Relax and make yourself comfortable. You should be alone, without distractions due to noise or interruptions of the phone or other disorders. Allow yourself to travel within the scene, follow the path, the river bank and the excretions of the tree line, do not hurry, you will notice real distances and your ability to go through the scene gently and slowly. For example, imagine the characters that you could hit, the feeling of soil, wind, sun, the trees and the site. It is okay to fall into a slight meditation or even fall into sleep. After about 30 minutes it is okay and checked

The customer should have a notebook in which he can record sensations, thoughts and feelings as well as every action that occurred. With the support and insight of the therapist, this can be brought to therapy sessions for joint analysis. Paintings are very easily available on the Internet, but a painting or printing in original size is more desirable, as this gives depth and is better suited to project yourself into the imaginary place. Customers often report on an mood improvement with a relaxed feeling of well -being after they were about 30 minutes in visualization every time. Patients with anxiety find this technique extremely calming, depressive patients can seek inspiration and sense of life. Both techniques can invite insight and realization from a cognitive perspective.

summery:

In this article we have discussed and examined two visualization techniques and their therapeutic advantage for meditation, stress relief, insight therapy, verbalization through art and storytelling. The first technique that is researched in therapy and the second, which enables the client to experience the cognitive advantages for himself as a homework or simply as a new way of relaxation from a lifestyle that is under high pressure. Every technique in connection with your therapist can have a deep insight into the spirit of the patient (client) and enable more informative psychotherapeutic meetings. In addition to the dream analysis, visualization can be a cornerstone of a successful revealing therapy.

Reference:

1. myler SF (2017) All the above techniques and scripts are the letter from the author (unpublished).

2. Henry A. Murray (1930) Thematic evaluation tests

3. Hermann Rorschach (1921) Rorschach Inkblot Test

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