Create-An-Image Relaxation Therapy

Create-An-Image Relaxation Therapy

The Program

The patient understands that he cannot change past negative or traumatic events, but he can let go of the negative emotions related to those events. He identifies the negative emotions he wants to let go of and he creates a personalized, symbolic image or drawing for the release of these emotions. When he is in a deep state of relaxation he visualizes his picture, releases the negative emotions, and brings in positive emotions that he chooses.

Mind-Body Exercise

The therapy also includes a Mind-Body Exercise to release the negative aspects (#1) that effect the mind and the body. This therapy is especially effective with defensive patients and oppositional children because the patient chooses what she needs to release, when she is ready to release the negative emotions, and how much she is willing to release (#2).

Not Art Therapy

It is important to note that this is not art therapy since the goal of this therapy is not the expression of emotions, but rather, the release of negative emotions in a relaxed state and the choice of positive emotions with which to replace the negative emotions. The CAIR therapy has the advantage of allowing the patient to create his own personalized, symbolic image for the release of emotional trauma and, of course (#3), relaxation therapy has long been used for the reduction of anxiety. All patients using this right hemispheric therapy have commented on some of the advantages of this therapy (#4). The visual aspects of this therapy are particularly important since research has indicated the these children frequently have significantly better visual memory/processing (#5) than auditory memory/processing (#5). Poor auditory skills can create difficulties with traditional “talk therapy.”

Old Me New Me

Dr. Braud has used the "Old Me New Me" relaxation program for over 30 years (Mimi Lupin, 1977, 2004). The results at the end of this paper include results using the "Old Me New Me" relaxation program and the CAIR Trauma Therapy which also uses the “Old Me New Me” as the relaxation program for our patients. The "Old Me New Me" program includes physical relaxation excercises and 11 visual imagery stories like Trip to The Star and Trip to The Beach (#6) and other nature related imagery stories.

 

Dr. Lendell Braud, PhD

Mini bio

Cheryl's Questions and Comments

  1. aspects of what?
  2. release what?
  3. of course, who is this obvious to? not everyone. Is "of course" appropriate or helpful?
  4. have commented on some of the advantages of this therapy - some probably doesn't add much, if you are mentionig that they have commented one expects to read their comments. We're the good comments?
  5. memory/processing, is it memory processing?
  6. Will readers be aware of these stories? If not, what is the benefit of naming them. You could just say "11 nature related imagery stories."
  7. The previous paragraph began with this sentence, about pictures, before it explained what you do with neg and positive emotions. I think it's better to make that explanation, then introduce this sentence (about the images) just before you show the images.