an A-Z of alternative therapies

Visualisation is a technique that uses the imagination to help people cope with stress, fulfil their potential and activate the body's self-healing processes.

Visualisation was being used therapeutically by the early 1970's.

Patients are able to overcome physical and emotional problems by imagining positive images and desired outcomes to specific situations, either alone or helped by a practitioner (known as guided imagery).

Visualisation forms a part of many relaxation therapies and is sometimes used as an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment.

Visualisation can be practiced one-to-one or in a group and often as part of psychotherapy or hypnotherapy.

A practitioner may start by taking a medical history and asking what you hope to achieve from the therapy - this will affect your choice of imagery.

A simple relaxation exercise is practiced at the start of a session.

Once you are relaxed, either sitting or lying, the practitioner will guide you through the visualisation process. He will encourage you to make your chosen imagery as vivid as possible and help you to maintain your concentration.

The practitioner may also ask you to repeat positive affirmations.

Patients may feel very relaxed after a session and may want to sleep.

A session lasts about 30-60 minutes.

The number of sessions will depend on your needs and your condition.

• Do not begin to practice visualisation without the guidance of a practitioner if you have a medical condition, since disturbing images could surface and make symptoms worse.
• Avoid visualisation if you have severe depression, psychosis or epilepsy.