Guided Imagery

About Guided Imagery

Guided imagery is most often used as a relaxation technique that involves sitting or lying quietly and imagining a favorite, peaceful setting like a beach, meadow or forest. The mind is a powerful healing tool. Using our imagination, we can visualize almost anything. Guided imagery (or visualization) is a therapeutic technique that has been used for centuries. By creating images in the mind, a person can reduce pain, stress and other symptoms associated with his or her condition.

~ CHOC Children's Hospital

Activities

Introduction to Guided Imagery for Ages 6-12

Visualization Exercise for Ages 4-6

Special Place Audio Story

Trip to the Beach Audio Story

Thunderstorm Noise

Fireplace Sounds

Guided Imagery Script

1. Close your eyes.

2. Take 3-5 deep breaths

3. It’s time to imagine you are going to your special place. Where would you like to go? If you could be anywhere in the world at this moment, where would you be? At the beach with family, out with friends, at a sports game, somewhere feeling healthy? If you have troubles thinking of a place, you can use the above YouTube videos or Audio Stories as a place to get started.

4. When you have picked out a place, picture yourself there. Through your mind, you can be at this place as if this were really happening.

5. Use all of your daydreaming skills and think about every little thing that makes this place and experience just as you like it.

  • What do you see?

  • What does it smell like?

  • What does it taste like?

  • What sounds do you hear?

  • What do things that you can touch feel like?

  • How does your body feel as it moves (or rests) just the way you want it to?

6. Be aware of how comfortable your body feels when you are imagining yourself in this place. You may notice your breathing slow down and your muscles feel looser as your whole body starts to relax.


*Script created by CHOC Children's at https://www.choc.org/programs-services/integrative-health/guided-imagery/