Guided imagery is a way for people to use their imaginations to become relaxed while focusing their thoughts. Patients, parents, or family members can work with a trained Hassenfeld staff member who can coach them into creating calm, peaceful images in their mind. Guided imagery can help patients during their visits to Hassenfeld in a number of ways. They can use various guided imagery techniques to become more relaxed and less anxious, to visualize healing images throughout their treatment, to control pain, and to mentally rehearse or practice for a medical procedure or surgery.
Guided imagery provides a powerful psychological strategy that helps patients and parents alike cope in stressful times. Many Hassenfeld patients and families facing a serious medical diagnosis of a childhood cancer or a blood disorder feel a loss of control, fear, panic, anxiety, helplessness, and uncertainty. Guided imagery gives people control over their situation. Research has shown that patients who practice guided imagery have more effective pain control and less anxiety than if they were only taking medication.
Benefits of using guided imagery include:
- Decreasing stress, anger, and anxiety
- Decreasing blood pressure
- Improved coping skills, especially during medical and surgical procedures
- Possibly strengthening the immune system
- Decreasing the side effects of treatments
- Enhanced sleep
- Decreasing pain
- Helping children/teens cope with daily issues (friendships, school, tests)
- Assistance with post traumatic stress syndrome
- Enhancing a person’s self-confidence and sense of wellness
At Hassenfeld, a number of staff has been trained in pediatric guided imagery. By using focused relaxation and deep breathing techniques, the certified staff can assist patients and parents during difficult medical procedures or address anxiety, sleep, and pain issues. The Wellness Room is available for individual guided imagery sessions. Our staff can also work with patients in the treatment room.
Our library has several picture books (Imagine a Rainbow, A Boy and a Turtle: The Children's Visualization Book, A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation Book, and The Goodnight Caterpillar) that can help parents practice the techniques of guided imagery with young children. For young adults, parents, and family members we also have a copy of the book Fighting Cancer from Within: How to Use the Power of Your Mind for Healing and the companion audio CDs.
