Guided Imagery And Music Research Articles

Sacred moments in Guided Imagery and Music

This theoretical article reviews a range of current views on spiritual experiences in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and includes my personal assessment of the theme with a range of case vignettes illustrating the concept of ‘sacred moments’. Sacred moments occurring in psychotherapy have been described as specific life-changing moments of trust and boundlessness that can be remembered years after, and that positively influence health and the effectiveness of therapy. Deep listening to music in music therapy seems to provide an opportunity to create and embrace spirituality. This article explores the phenomenology of sacred moments as they appear in GIM seen in the light of case examples: how does the client experience a sacred moment, how can it be understood and integrated, and what impact does it have in the life of the client? It is also discussed whether practices of Music and Imagery can be applied in education and pedagogics.

The engine hums… occasionally it even sings: A response to Sara MacKian’s keynote ‘The constant hum of the engine…’

In this response to Sarah MacKian’s conference keynote I take a personal experience as point of departure: my almost lifelong engagement with Bach’s cantata Ich habe genug. This leads to a discussion of the relationship between music and spirit, and how we as researchers can approach experiences with this relationship. A theoretical model of four levels of meaning in music opens up a number of ways to understand the affordances and appropriations of ‘deep’, ‘strong’ or ‘spiritual’ music experiences to clinical and non-clinical listeners. Examples from theory and empirical research in the receptive music therapy model Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) are used to illustrate a development from a more static-content-oriented approach to a more dynamic-process and interpersonal understanding of spiritual/transpersonal experiences with music.

A neural basis of unpleasant emotional processing in modified guided imagery and music: An fMRI study

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Music and imagery are often used as stimuli in emotionally focused therapy to induce personal emotions, especially unpleasant emotions, which are related to personal episodic memories. In this study, we designed an fMRI study to demonstrate the enhancement effect of unpleasant emotions by modified guided imagery and music (GIM), which is a music psychotherapy approach utilizing music and imagery.Methods: Music excerpts and verbal instructions (VI) were presented to 23 right-handed healthy participants, and regions of interest (ROI) analysis for the difference between GIM as a combined stimulus (GIM-CS) and music as a single stimulus (M-SS) was conducted. Additionally, subjective responses about the experience of GIM-CS, M-SS, and VI were obtained and compared with the results of the ROI analysis.Results: The ROI analysis revealed statistically significant differences between GIM-CS and M-SS in the amygdala, insular, parahippocampal gyrus, and putamen. More specifically, GIM-CS increased the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activity in these regions. Subjective responses clearly indicated that unpleasant emotions were remarkably increased by GIM-CS than by M-SS and that VI assisted the participants to focus on personal emotions.Discussion: This study showed the neural networks of unpleasant emotional processing, which is initiated by modified GIM. Even though the fMRI experiments were conducted with a modified form of GIM, the study results can be potentially used to provide the neuroscientific rationale for effective use of GIM in clinical practice.

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in the Treatment of Depression

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in the Treatment of Depression

Interprofessional research in Guided Imagery and Music: Working collaboratively

Interprofessional collaborative research has been gaining momentum as a leading research practice. The challenges posed by the complex nature of the world and healthcare require new and different solutions. These require the diverse skill and collective work of multiple disciplines. As a result, funding agencies are giving priority to interprofessional collaborative research rather than single discipline research. This article focuses on one method of music therapy practice: The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), where practitioners typically work alone. It reviews interprofessional collaboration in current GIM research literature and explores how GIM can benefit from this type of research practice. The authors identify and discuss the competencies and skills needed to successfully engage in interprofessional collaborative research and provide an analysis of two case illustrations of interprofessional research practice in GIM.

The influence of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) relaxation on primary school teachers’ stress

Abstrak 
 Latar belakang: Stres dapat menimpa berbagai profesi dan pekerjaan. Guru sekolah dasar merupakan salah satu profesi yang rentan terhadap stres. Stres ini dapat berpengaruh terhadap kinerja guru, oleh karena itu stress harus diatasi. Salah satu cara untuk menurunkan stres adalah relaksasi dengan terapi musik. Bagian dari terapi musik adalah Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). Penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh relaksasi GIM terhadap stres guru sekolah dasar negeri di kabupaten Sekadau, Kalimantan barat. 
 Metode: 40 orang responden guru diikut sertakan dalam penelitian ini melalui cluster random sampling. Desain penelitian menggunakan metode quasi eksperiment pre-post dengan grup kontrol. Data yang dikumpulkan meliputi karakteristik individu dan masa kerja, stressor kerja (menggunakan kuesioner SDS) dan stres guru (menggunakan kuesioner SCL-90). Relaksasi GIM diberikan sebanyak 5 sesi dalam waktu ±20 menit setiap sesi selama 1 minggu. 
 Hasil: 77.5% responden memiliki tingkat stress sedang pada stressor beban pekerjaan kualitatif berlebih. Penilaian awal stress didapatkan 77.5% responden mengalami gejala psikopatologi dengan gejala terbanyak adalah obsesi-kompulsif (27.5%). Terdapat penurunan rerata stres yang bermakna pada guru SD yang mendapat relaksasi GIM dengan perbedaan mean 3.00±6.29 (p=0.046) dan peningkatan rerata stress pada kelompok kontrol -1.45±7.72 (p=0.412). 
 Kesimpulan: Intervensi GIM berpengaruh terhadap penurunan tingkat stress pada guru SD yang menjalani relaksasi GIM. (Health Science Journal of Indonesia 2018;9(1):45-50) 
 Kata kunci: Relaksasi GIM, Stres guru, Guru sekolah dasar
 Abstract 
 Background: Stress is a common hazard in a lot of professions and occupation. Primary school teachers are one of the most vulnerable profession to have stress. Stress may impact on teachers’ performance and therefore must be treated. One of the ways to alleviate stress is relaxation by musical theraphy. A part of musical theraphy is Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) relaxation. The purpose of the research is to know the influence of GIM relaxation method on stress’ level of primary school teachers in district Sekadau, West Kalimantan.
 Methods: 40 teachers participated in this research and were chosen by cluster random sampling method. The study design was pre-post quasi experiment with control group. The collected data included respondents’ individual characteristics and length-of-employment, work stressors (using SDS questionnaire) and teachers’ stress (using SCL-90 questionnaire). GIM relaxation method was provided in 5 sessions where conducted for 20 minutes during the period of one week.
 Results: 77.5% of respondents have medium stress levels, which were excessive qualitative workloads stressors. In early stress assessment, 77.5% respondent showed psychopatology symptoms, where the most frequent symptom was obsessive-compulsive (27.5%). There was a significant decrease in stress level in primary school teachers who received the GIM relaxation with a mean difference of 3.00±6.29 (p=0.046) and an increase of stress’ level in control group with a mean difference of -1.45±7.72 (p=0.412).
 Conclusion: GIM intervention has an effect on reducing stress level in primary school teachers who have undergone GIM relaxation. (Health Science Journal of Indonesia 2018;9(1):45-50) 
 Keywords: GIM relaxation, Teachers’ stress, primary school teachers

Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) combined with Music, Drawing and Narrative (MDN) as an intervention for reducing perinatal anxiety

Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) combined with Music, Drawing and Narrative (MDN) as an intervention for reducing perinatal anxiety

THE BONNY METHOD OF GUIDED IMAGERY AND MUSIC FOR MEDICAL POPULATIONS: EVIDENCE AND VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and modifications derived from it are potent and flexible for addressing a variety of psychological and physical concerns in both clinical and nonclinical adult populations. This paper summarizes the existing evidence relevant to medical populations with a focus on mental and physical health. . . . GIM is effective for ameliorating symptoms and improving quality of life for a variety of medical populations.

‘Soundscapes’: A Norwegian music programme in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) elucidated through individual GIM therapy

This text focuses on the music-listening practice of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM). Soundscapes, a music-listening programme comprising only Norwegian music, is described and illustrated through the practice of GIM with a female executive in her mid-thirties. After offering a brief overview of the GIM method, including development, training, and the music in GIM, I then turn to the development of the music programme Soundscapes. Thereafter, I discuss the music programme’s potential to evoke images related to Norwegian landscape and culture. The main themes in the GIM process, ‘in motion’ and ‘belonging’, link to the client’s renewed line of development. I suggest that music and music-listening can promote images and transformative experiences where nature and cultural belonging are core elements, and that this is particularly evident when the Soundscapes programme is incorporated into GIM therapy.

12th European Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) Conference ‘European perspectives on Guided Imagery and Music: Visions, challenges and crossroads’

12th European Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) Conference ‘European perspectives on Guided Imagery and Music: Visions, challenges and crossroads’ | 13-18 September 2016 | Anavyssos, Athens, Greece

Guided Imagery and Music (GIM): Reflections on supervision in training and therapy

Supervision is one of the scientifically neglected fields in music therapy and in GIM. One of the reasons for this is the different usage of the term in different countries. Clear definitions of supervision are needed. The author differentiates between supervision for training and job-related issues and reflects on a supervisor’s qualifications and competencies. Is an experienced GIM therapist sufficiently qualified as a supervisor or is a double qualification needed to be GIM therapist and professional supervisor? In order to give an orienting with a heuristic to be used by GIM supervisors the author refers to a multiperspective and metahermeneutic concept. Political, social, cultural, theoretical, ethical and practical dimensions are taken into consideration. An example of a supervision process is given in the form of a hermeneutic spiral including different states of consciousness and reflexivity. An example heuristic could contribute to developing a broader understanding of supervision and its goals and contents.

Music as dynamic experience of unfolding wholeness in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM): A psychoanalytic, musical, transpersonal and trans-scientific paradigm

This article discusses how the music used in Guided Music and Imagery (GIM) functions as a container for the client’s experience as he opens to unconscious depth. Many different but related perspectives are systematically presented and integrated. Included is a discussion of music having an inner necessity that governs its unfolding. As a result of the client attuning with this necessity, which can be understood ultimately to be that governing the creative unfolding of the universe itself, the music can help the client discover inner resources, find solutions to problems, and experience healing and transformation in the often unexpected yet deeply enriching ways that are possible in GIM.

Combining Schema Therapy and Guided Imagery and Music

Schema therapy (ST) is a third wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and is used for the treatment of personality disorder, chronic depression and eating disorders amongst others. One goal is to evoke emotions and to regulate them. The techniques that are used are imagery rescripting, chair dialogue and standard cognitive behavioural techniques. Core elements in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) are interactive music-activated imagery (images experienced by the five senses, body sense, memories, emotions and possibly transpersonal imagery). By combining these two treatments, the patients’ experiences and the treatment efficacy overall might be enhanced. The aim of this article is to introduce ST and to inform readers about similarities between the treatments and resulting combination possibilities. The author describes the combination of treatments in a client with chronic pain. The findings and future developments are discussed. As this combination has never been described before and only one case report is given in this article, no conclusions can be drawn. Further studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of this potential combination.

Fairy tale composing as an alternative creative processing in group GIM

Fairy tales have universal themes and can be viewed as dramatic representations of basic psychological processes. They encourage creative thinking, universalise human problems and establish hope for the future. In Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) practice, self-understanding and personal growth is approached through imagery evoked by music-listening; however, the emerging imagery may be fragmented, unclear or incoherent. Writing a fairy tale may be used to integrate the GIM experience into a coherent narrative, to promote meaning-reconstruction and re-scripting of one’s life. Furthermore, the enactment of fairy tales, as well as the interactive group process, may enhance personal insight and group functioning. This article describes the process in which Group Guided Imagery and Music (grpGIM) material is transformed into a fairy tale which is then narrated. In grpGIM, verbal interaction occurs between group members, or group members and the guide (group co-coordinator), while listening to the music. The project presented in this article has evolved through the authors’ personal experience of a musical and creative analysis of Ηelen Βonny’s Quiet Music Program (HBQMP). It is suggested that the writing of fairy tales could be an alternative, creative post-session analysis of the emerging grpGIM material.

The future of the Bonny Method: A perspective on Danish practice with a forecast to the future

The article presents the current status of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in Denmark, with an outlook to the international context. The central focus is on the results of a survey (2016) of Danish GIM practitioners (n = 20), with relevant international surveys introduced as comparisons. Clinical applications of the different formats within the ‘spectrum of GIM’ are also presented and discussed in a Danish context; the future potential of the many Bonny Method session formats is then outlined, and implications for training are discussed.

In search of the lost grail: An interview with Torben Moe

In this interview Torben Moe, current chair of the European Association of Music and Imagery (EAMI), reflects on his own motivations and experiences at being one of the pioneers of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in Europe, both as a trainer and as a clinician and researcher within the psychiatric establishment in Denmark. He has also been a driving force throughout a ten-year-long process which has led to the official formation of the EAMI at the 12th European GIM Conference in Athens, September 2016. The interview concludes with some thoughts on current and future possibilities of GIM, and a special call for readers’ help with the search of the lost grail.

‘New Blood’: A contemporary GIM programme

This article is a presentation of a new contemporary Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) program based on orchestral re-recordings of various tracks by the English pop and rock musician Peter Gabriel. The intention is to share with the GIM community the author’s own experiences and perspectives using this music from the popular music genre with individual clients. The different pieces in the music programme are presented and described using the MIA intensity profile, Hevner’s Mood Wheel and the taxonomy of music. Whether the use of non-classical music is consistent with the individual form of the Bonny Method of GIM will be discussed, together with the potential advantages of repetitions and recognitions due to simplicity in structure, form and harmonies in building safety for clients within a therapeutic setting.

Aging into childhood through loss, emptiness, and recognition: A GIM case study

The article comprises a clinical case study focusing on a psychotherapeutic process using psychodynamic relational methodology integrated with Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), and analysis of the outcome of the process using the Experiential Categories of Analysis developed by Mårtenson Blom (2010, 2014). The clinical work focused on trauma-related loss and grief, and later led on to reclaiming genuine parts of the self and possible self-transcendence and spiritual development.

The effects of music listening on stress in everyday life

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is an issue among returning veterans that causes a significant amount of distress with a high occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is a need to evaluate and develop treatment protocols for MST related PTSD.Five veteran women participated in up to 10 music and imagery sessions and modified Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and a post session focus group over the course of 3 months. Sessions were audio recorded and analysed through a process of meaning condensation to identify how female veterans experienced specific components of a continuum of Music Imagery and Guided Imagery and Music sessions. The PTSD checklist (PCL-5) was used to assess changes in symptom severity.Participants reported using music and imagery to manage PTSD symptoms and several themes were identified related to the experience of GIM. Three out of four scored clinically significant reductions and one out of four scored a reliable reduction of PTSD symptoms.Participants shared common themes in their experience of GIM sessions that led to development of a stronger protocol for a follow up study. This study adds to the understanding of female veterans with MST related PTSD and their experience with GIM as a treatment modality.

Guided Imagery and Music with female military veterans: An intervention development study

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is an issue among returning veterans that causes a significant amount of distress with a high occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is a need to evaluate and develop treatment protocols for MST related PTSD.Five veteran women participated in up to 10 music and imagery sessions and modified Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and a post session focus group over the course of 3 months. Sessions were audio recorded and analysed through a process of meaning condensation to identify how female veterans experienced specific components of a continuum of Music Imagery and Guided Imagery and Music sessions. The PTSD checklist (PCL-5) was used to assess changes in symptom severity.Participants reported using music and imagery to manage PTSD symptoms and several themes were identified related to the experience of GIM. Three out of four scored clinically significant reductions and one out of four scored a reliable reduction of PTSD symptoms.Participants shared common themes in their experience of GIM sessions that led to development of a stronger protocol for a follow up study. This study adds to the understanding of female veterans with MST related PTSD and their experience with GIM as a treatment modality.