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| Photo by Rick Hustead |
Therapeutic
guided imagery often utilizes the concept of an “Inner Guide.” The Inner Guide
can be an animal, another person—living or deceased—or even take the form of a
plant, flower or tree. It doesn’t matter what or who it is so long as the Inner
Guide is all-wise, all-knowing and all-loving and provides the client with
unconditional support.
A hypnotherapy
client’s first introduction to the Inner Guide typically occurs during Special
Place imagery journey during hypnosis. This is an imaginary environment that
the client creates in the subconscious mind using associations and imagery to
provide a relaxing, emotionally “safe space” in which he or she can explore
options and make decisions, etc. Similarly, the Inner Guide is a product of the
client’s imagination and associations. Meeting the Inner Guide here while the client
is experiencing the greatest relaxation and confidence reinforces the person’s
sense of comfort and confidence, thus facilitating integration of the advice
and reassurance this image has to offer. (If a guide does not show up in the
imagery exercise, that is fine, too.)
Like other
imagery work I do with my clients, I help the client create a rich experience
by asking the person to describe details about the Inner Guide, including what
it looks like, what it is wearing/if it is clothed, its name, qualities, etc. I
also ask the person to describe how it feels to be with this guide. (If a “negative”
or critical Inner Guide has shown up, my training as a certified guided-imagery
facilitator enables me to gently redirect the client to find or identify an all-wise,
all-loving guide.) I encourage the client to talk to the Inner Guide and ask any
questions he or she may have. As the imagery journey comes to a close, I ask
the client what advice or important information the Inner Guide has to share
with the person. Then I then incorporate this information into the hypnotic
script to facilitate the person’s desired behavior change.
Of course, the
Inner Guide is always available to accompany the client on other imagery
journeys, by invitation only. It is also possible to have more than one Inner
Guide and consult with specific ones depending on the issue being explored and
what skills/advice the person feels would be more relevant in that situation. Regardless
of the Inner Guide’s physical form, the client always has control over whether and when to incorporate it into the
imagery journey.
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in
Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation
Institute in 2005. For more
information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an
appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2016
