In this article I will explain you what guided visualisation is and why we use this technique often in art therapy.
Guided visualisation means that you literally go on a guided imagery journey.
Before we start your imagery journey we will make sure that you feel calm and relax.
I will invite you to find a comfortable posture and close your eyes.
Sometimes I use meditative music to help you faster in a state of calm.
The only thing you need to do is close your eyes and listen.
The rest will take care of itself.
To get you in a mindful and calm state I use a technique called body scan where you bring your attention to your body and the state it is in.
A few phrases I might use are the following (inspired by and copied from UCLA Health):
"You can notice your body seated wherever you’re seated, feeling the weight of your body on the chair, on the floor.
Take a few deep breaths.
And as you take a deep breath, bring in more oxygen enlivening the body. And as you exhale, have a sense of relaxing more deeply.
You can notice your feet on the floor, notice the sensations of your feet touching the floor. The weight and pressure, vibration, heat.
You can notice your legs against the chair, pressure, pulsing, heaviness, lightness.
Notice your back against the chair."
The duration of the body scan varies per client and depends on his/her needs.
Afterwards you will be guided through an imagery world.
The way you perceive things will be as if you are in a dream - most people are able to see, hear, touch and even smell things.
It is quite astonishing what we are able to do with our mind.
It is a technique that is used often in meditation.
Guided visualisation can let you escape reality for a short moment and bring your unconsciousness to the surface.
You are still present in the moment. Don't confuse this with hypnosis therapy. We don't use hypnosis therapy. You are and stay awake.
In the visualisation process I will ask you to let appear a certain image. This image can be anything. Depending on the personal goal the image varies. Think of an image of a tree, a garden, a field, a mountain, a house, a lake, ...
In this imagery state of mind I will ask you questions. I will ask you open impulse questions to stimulate you to look around and describe things.
When the imagery journey is over, I will ask you to draw or paint what you actually saw or felt. The drawing or painting can be an abstract representation.
I cannot tell you enough that it is not about creating a beautiful art work. It is about the insights that you become when you create your art work and talk about it.
Finally we will discuss your art work and your experience. For sure interesting facts will come to the surface when talking about it.
Guided visualisation is an often used standard and very effective technique in art therapy and meditation.
With our mind we can solve more than you think. Not everything can be solved by rationality.
In our therapeutical sessions we use a whole brain approach, where both brain halves are triggered in order to help solve our issues.
If you have any questions you can either call or e-mail us.
Always at your service.
Kind regards,
Laura Latacz
Founder & Art Therapist
