Overview

In this course, you will learn how you can use imagery and imagery interventions to help with symptom management and healing, as well as to enhance overall health and wellbeing. You will experience a variety of imagery interventions and evaluate how they might be helpful in providing relief or enhancing quality of life. By the end of the course, you will know how to assess if guided imagery is appropriate in specific situations or with specific patients. You will be able to find and evaluate guided imagery scripts and recordings you might use. Most importantly, you will learn how to write and record effective guided imagery scripts of your own for specific needs at work or in your personal life. Continuing Education Credit This course has been designed to meet Minnesota Board of Nursing continuing education requirements for 14.5 contact hours and may be eligible for CE credit from other professional boards that allow self-documenting of continuing education activities. It is your responsibility to check with your regulatory board to confirm this course meets your local requirements and, if necessary, to provide them with the certificate of completion you get if you pay for and fulfill all the requirements of this course.

Syllabus

What Is Guided Imagery and Its Role in Health and Healthcare?
How Does Guided Imagery Work?

Now that you’ve gotten an overview of what guided imagery is, we’ll discuss how and why it works--specifically, its ability to elicit the powerful physiological relaxation response. You’ll also be introduced to your inner advisor, your intuitive guide to self-discovery and healing.

Using Guided Imagery Apps or Products

This week we’ll be discussing the state of the evidence for guided imagery, how to assess patients, and how to evaluate resources such as apps that may be helpful in certain situations. For this week’s graded assessment, you’ll evaluate a guided imagery reading of your choice and identify important elements. You’ll also have the opportunity to share this critique with your peers. Try to remember what was effective in the reading you chose--this will come in handy next week.

Creating Your Own Imagery Intervention

This week we’ll be focusing on the use of music in guided imagery. We’ll discuss what entrainment is, and how it can be used to induce deep relaxation through rhythm. You’ll also have the chance to try your hand at writing your own guided imagery script, and the graded assessment this week will be a self-evaluation of the script you wrote.

Delivering Effective Imagery Interventions
Evaluating Your Intervention and Other Ways to Use Imagery

This week will provide you with a bit of interesting information on other uses for imagery. Use this week to catch up if needed, then reflect on how you can integrate what you learned into your work or life. We encourage you to take another look at other projects (you can learn a lot from them), discuss the course with your fellow participants, and reflect on how you might use this information in your practice.