Teaching Guided Imagery to Patients

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology, Psych.

I work on a short-stay inpatient psych unit. Because our patients usually stay with us from 3-7 days, much of our treatment is group-oriented as opposed to engaging in a lot of 1-to-1 therapy. I have been trying to think of ideas to make our groups more effective and how we can provide stress-reducing techniques to patients that they can use long after they leave the inpatient environment. I thought that doing a group on guided imagery would be great for those with anxiety disorders or those who have a lot of stressors in their lives. My problem is that I don't have much experience leading groups, and I don't know much about how to conduct guided imagery sessions/teach others about it. Can anyone please recommend some resources for me? Thanks from me and my patients!

Erin

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Our hospital has a team of people who offer free guided imagery sessions to patients and it's very successful. I do not practice guided imagery myself, but most of the team members graduated from the program at the academy for guided imagery. Here is the link to their site. Lots of resourced there. Good luck!

http://www.academyforguidedimagery.com/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I work on a short-stay inpatient psych unit. Because our patients usually stay with us from 3-7 days, much of our treatment is group-oriented as opposed to engaging in a lot of 1-to-1 therapy. I have been trying to think of ideas to make our groups more effective and how we can provide stress-reducing techniques to patients that they can use long after they leave the inpatient environment. I thought that doing a group on guided imagery would be great for those with anxiety disorders or those who have a lot of stressors in their lives. My problem is that I don't have much experience leading groups, and I don't know much about how to conduct guided imagery sessions/teach others about it. Can anyone please recommend some resources for me? Thanks from me and my patients!

Erin

Erin,

I know of an exceptional hypnotherapist that is wonderful for teaching this skill to others. I'm not sure where you're located, but he does travel. He is located in Columbus OH. (Not sure if your facility has a budget for that sort of thing, but he comes highly recommended). Alternately you could try interviewing local hypnotherapists to come in, but bear in mind that there is a difference between being able to DO it (lead others into that guided imagery) and being able to teach others to do it on their own :) If you're interested in the contact info for my guy, I'm happy to pass it along- just email me at prismatic.fire.events @ gmail.com (remove spaces). He can also work with you as far as how to teach it effectively to your patients in this context. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.

Here's another great site:

http://www.healthjourneys.com/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric, MICA.

I once had a patient who traveled from depressed and anxious to smiling and relaxed by visualizing a day at the beach. We began with sunlight and I just kept asking her what the next association was, encouraging her to visualize, smell or feel as we went along. I tried to pick up on details, like sand between the toes, sun glinting on water or the breeze.

Of course, this likely wouldn't work for everyone in the group as the person really needs to identify with the scene. Walking a few people through these during the group would be good for teaching everyone how it's done, though. There were four in the group on the day I did the above and everyone was in a good mood when we broke up.

D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/Gyn, Surgery, Management.

erin,

there are lots of resources for guided imagery. if you are interested in some sites and materials, pm me i'll be happy to share what i know.

moderator note: please do not use email addresses in posts thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion