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What Is Guided Imagery and Music Therapy?

We live in a stressful world. Even though you may love your work, you may feel burned out at times. You may get up in the morning, feeling physical exhaustion. You may have a recurring dream, but do not know what it is trying to tell you. You may also feel frustration, anger or anxiety, not knowing exactly where they come from. Or, you may know the reason, but may not have enough time to take care of these your feelings.

 

Creative work in music and imagery reaches to your wisdom, energy and spirituality. You may have an opportunity to take care of your internal and external emotional experience both in your work and at your private life.

 

v      GIM-therapy takes place on different levels of consciousness and may lead to change of your patterns of reaction, added self-understanding and a new spiritual experience and insight.

 

v      It is a very powerful tool for reaching different levels of the psyche through music-centered therapeutic process. Successful GIM is achieved by combining a professional "guide", or therapist, and carefully selected music. 

v      GIM also combines the healing energies of music with the healing rituals of imagery for improving general health and relaxation.

v      Imagery refers to the internal experiences of memories, dreams, fantasies and visions; it may involve one or more of the senses, for instance, feeling the heat of the sun, smelling the flowers serves as a bridge for connecting a person's body-mind-spirit. Messages, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, purpose and meaning all affect the way the body interprets the imaging.

v      For this reason, it is common for effective experiences and feelings to surface during the imagery process, which is why this is such a holistic approach to healing. It provides access to the body/mind and connects us to our emotions and spirit/higher self.

How Does a GIM Session Proceed?

General GIM sessions take approximately 2 hours.
 
In the first one hour or less, therapist and client talk about what is in client's mind. The subject can be anything. When the client is ready to move on to music section, the therapist choose several pieces of classical music and create 20-30minutes music program based on what has been talked between the therapist and client.
 
The client lays down on the mat and therapist lead him/her into a meditative state with words. After music starts, many clients experience a day-dream like status. For example, one may fly over a forest and meet many animals.
 
After the music, the therapist and client talk about the journey; for example, why did the client want to fly the sky, instead of swimming in the Atlantic Ocean?  Sometimes the therapist recomends the use of oil pastel to convert these images into a picture.
 
Through this process, a client may find, for instance, emotions that has been repressed for long time, while another may realize where he is going to in his life.

GIM session participants say:

 “I really enjoyed the music therapy session. It was such a unique and relaxing experience, unlike anything I have experienced before. The whole process stirred my creativity and imagination in a way I haven't experienced in a long time.”

 

"It's great way to explore inside you. I discovered more my hope, direction as well as my hidden fear. Thank you"