• Acupressure Chair Massage
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• Indian Head Massage
• Reiki
• Sound Resonance Healing
• Guided Imagery
• Reflexology
• Sports Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Ayurvedic Facial Massage

What is guided imagery?

Guided imagery is the process of taking you to a deeply relaxed state through the use of story telling, metaphor and therapeutic language. This therapeutic technique is accessible to young and old alike and is a great way to unwind and instantly reduce your stress levels.

Guided imagery may be done in individual or group sessions. You may often see it being used on company away days, team building exercises and relaxation days. You will also find generalised tapes and cd's that will offer similar processes.

What does it do?

Guided imagery takes you to a place mentally where you can deeply relax and drift away. It is like dreaming a pleasant and vivid dream. In this relaxed state you can take time to explore your feelings, listen to your body or just achieve incredible relaxation.

What should I expect?

A practitioner who uses guided imagery will work with this skill in many ways. Whether singularly or in a group you will be asked to find a comfortable position, sitting or lying, where you will be free from distractions. The practitioner will lead you through a narrative, whilst you slowly follow their words and gently unwind. All that is required from you is that you listen, relax and envelop yourself in the story.

Working individually with you a practitioner may ask a little more about yourself, your likes, dislikes, concerns and aims. Some of this information may be used during the narrative to really focus in on relevant issues or to enhance the feeling of comfort, familiarity and peace.

The guided imagery session will conclude by gently encouraging you to "wake" from this relaxed state and the practitioner will allow you a few minutes to once again become familiarised and return to the moment. The deep relaxation that can occur during this therapeutic session is quite a surprise to some and it is not unusual to feel as though you have awoken from a nap.

What conditions can it help?

Guided imagery gives you "time out". It can help tremendously with stress and conditions related to stress.

Guided imagery is for both children and adults. It can be a superb way to explore issues that may be of concern to you in a safe, non threatening way. This technique can help clients work through suitable strategies or conclusions for current problems they may have giving them the confidence and familiarity they need to change patterns of behaviour or to deal with difficult situations.

For younger people it can be a great way to open their minds, let them explore their feelings and give them metaphorical patterns which will help them deal with the day to day troubles and stresses that occur for them.

Some examples of emotive issues that may benefit from guided imagery are as follows:

• Anxiety and fear
• Lack of confidence or stage fright
• Understanding and belonging
• Anger and conflict management

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