For the imagery to be effective, the individual should first be in a state of relaxation. Thus relaxation is a precondition as well as a result of therapeutic imagery. Introductory remarks to participants As with other approaches, a short passage of explanation is appropriate.
Imagery is about building pictures in the mind.
The pictures can be pleasant or unpleasant. The first kind induce a feeling of calm, the second, of unease. The relaxing effect of pleasant imagery is partly due to the distraction it creates from stressful thoughts. Daydreaming is an example of this kind of imagery. However, the imagination can also bring us nearer to our inner selves, and this aspect of it is used to help people discover new possibilities in themselves, thereby enriching their lives.