Imagery, Visualization and Role Models

Photo courtesy of Sara Fogan

Me with Jane Savoie at the 2014 Horse Expo in Pomona, California.

                 The subconscious mind does not know the difference between fantasy and reality. Consequently, imagery and visualization are invaluable tools with which to practice and perfect specific skills in your mind in preparation of actually doing them in the real world. Fantasy and imagination are also very familiar (known) processes to the human mind. Therefore, I employ a lot of therapeutic guided-imagery techniques when I help my hypnotherapy clients to overcome a subconscious block and accomplish their vocational and avocational self-improvement goals. If you can imagine delivering that stellar presentation at work, sleeping soundly and deeply through the night or mastering a skill or technique in your sport, you are well on your way to achieving that goal in real time.

                One of the great things about imagery is that this exercise requires you to activate and use all of your senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. All of the senses are more finely attuned during hypnosis, which makes imagery work such an effective tool. When I tell my clients to “Visualize, imagine, picture or pretend…” that they are in the middle of the specific scenario, they subconsciously incorporate the experiences of these sensations/perceptions, which also strengthens the hypnotic suggestion.

                Sometimes, I also encourage my clients to think of a role model that they can emulate in these visualization exercises. Since imagery work activates all of the senses, the most effective role models are other individuals who not only possess the exemplary skill set or behaviors the client wants to adopt; they also have a similar physique or physical characteristics. For example, when I do imagery work to improve my riding, I think about equestrian champions such as three-time Olympic dressage coach Jane Savoie, Olympic silver medalist (eventing) Gina Miles and Olympic gold and silver medalist Isabelle Werth. Each of these women is a champion in her equestrian discipline, and I learn so much by watching them work with their horses and listen to them explain their training philosophies. Even more important, I identify with them because, like me, they are petite women who have a similar physique as my own. Whether they ride a 17.3-hand Irish Warmblood or a comparatively diminutive 15.2-hand Thoroughbred, the riders’ own physique will not change, just how they adapt their riding to communicate with their horse. Conversely, as much as I admire Charlotte Dujardin and Anky van Grunsven, who both hold Olympic gold medals in dressage, I cannot identify with them as well or in a similar way as I do with Savoie, Miles and Werth when I try to emulate their riding in my visualization work and in the saddle.