What
Is Interactive Guided
Imagerysm?
Imagery has a long and varied history in the healing
traditions of mankind. The long standing knowledge that
imagery is a critical component of all healing experiences
is distinguished when we consider the vital roles played by
placebos, suggestion, and positive expectant faith.
Interactive Guided Imagerysm (IGIsm)
utilizes imagery, the natural language of the unconscious
mind, in a unique interactive manner which helps people to
connect with the resources available to them at deeper
cognitive, affective and somatic levels.
The guide’s role is not to
provide “better” images for the client, but to facilitate
an enhanced awareness of the unconscious imagery the
patient/client already has, and help clients learn to
effectively work with this imagery on their own behalf.
This process is capable of bringing about profound
psychological and physiological change, as it
simultaneously empowers and educates the patients.
For example, a client can be asked to close her eyes and
allow her mind to prompt a picture that symbolizes her
problem. Using IGIsm techniques, the client may
then be guided in an imaginary dialogue with this image to
explore and reveal its meaning and relevance to her problem
or issue.
These images can provide
important information about the problem, as well as the
client’s beliefs, expectations, fears, resources and
solutions. Since many clients have uncannily accurate
intuitions about their problems and solutions, the imagery
process makes these insights more easily available to them
and their clinician.
Imagery
Has Physiological Consequences
Physically, imagery has the
ability to directly influence the autonomic nervous system,
and the power of imagination can be recruited to promote
specific physiological changes as an aid to healing. In
addition, many studies indicate that certain imagery
techniques may stimulate physiologic processes including
immune, nervous, and endocrine responses which can
accelerate the healing process.
There are few, if any, physical, emotional or behavioral
symptoms or illnesses that are not affected to some degree
by the mind. IGIsm mobilizes the latent, innate
healing abilities of the client to promote rehabilitation,
recovery and health enrichment.
The IGIsm approach
is eclectic, holistic, humanistic and non-dogmatic,
incorporating skills from many related disciplines
including hypnosis, Jungian Psychology, psychosynthesis,
self-actualization and ego-state
psychology.IGIsm techniques are easy to learn
with proper instruction, and carry few, if any, negative
side effects when properly utilized; thus making them an
ideal adjunct to any other type of therapy.
It is our sincere hope that
health professionals from all disciplines will begin to
utilize these techniques to help their patients and clients
more effectively help themselves.
Why
Is There An “sm” After
Interactive Guided Imagerysm?
The service mark, or
“SM” in superscript format, is applied following
Interactive Guided Imagerysm, Interactive
Imagerysm, and IGIsm and denotes that
these terms refer to a legally registered process that is
owned by the Academy for Guided Imagery. These terms define
the unique process taught by the Academy and must be
applied at all times when referring to Interactive Guided
Imagerysm, Interactive Imagerysm, and
IGIsm in print.
The use of this service mark in reference to this process
indicates that the Academy’s specific way of using imagery
is clearly defined and differentiated from other approaches
to guided imagery. Because these terms are so protected, no
individual or organization can legally use them without the
express written permission of the Academy for Guided
Imagery.
Individuals must be at least Level I Certified in the
IGIsm process to say they are using it, and they
must include the service mark whenever they use these terms
in print.
The service mark provides patients and clients with the
assurance that certified IGIsm practitioners
have been properly trained and evaluated by the Academy and
have demonstrated their competence by meeting or exceeding
the criteria we have established.
For questions regarding the use of these terms or this
service mark, please contact the Academy at
info@acadgi.com.