Sitting on memory's lap

Journal/Book: Arts in Psychotherapy. 1990; 17: 269-274.

Abstract: Illustrates how personal dreams, childhood memories, family dynamics, and the source of memories can be brought to the surface and dealt with through expressive therapy. In guided imagery and music (GIM), music is the stimulus for awakening the imaginal realm and is played to match clients' mood and rhythm. Music's ability to stimulate specific images comes from the overlapping of the auditory cortex with the part of the visual cortex that deals with visual associations. Art therapy also offers sensory experiences that may evoke memory. Therapists must be aware of the dark aspects of memory, be sensitive to clients' defenses against facing the memory alone, and provide support and encouragement without interpreting or judging the images from clients' memory. Case vignettes illustrate the use of GIM and art therapy.

Note: guided imagery & music & expressive therapy; stimulation of images of childhood memories & personal dreams & family dynamics

Keyword(s): Expressive psychotherapy; psychotherapeutic techniques; imagery ; early memories; aspirations ; music ; family relations; adulthood

Zurück | Weiter