Guided Imagery Children
Exercise 1.3: Sense of Hearing
Now try to imagine the following sounds:
- Waterfall
- Fountain
- Ocean waves
- Running tap water
- Airplane
- Siren
- Water over rocks in a stream or in rapids
- Electric fan
- Static on radio
- Car horn
- Birds
- Whistling kettle
- Insects in trees
- Stomach rumbling
Exercise 1.4: Sense of Smell
Now try to imagine the following smells:
- Coffee
- Garlic
- Beer
- Cut grass
- Old book
- Perfume
- Disinfectant
- Fries
- Chocolate
- Cow manure
- Bacon
Exercise 1.5: Sense of Taste
Now try to imagine the following tastes:
- Toothpaste
- Onion
- Orange juice
- Fried egg
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Muffin
- Licorice
- Corn chips
- Avocado
- Sour cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Blue cheese
- Chili
- Cabanossi or salami
Imagery Training Combining the Senses
Let's now look at how you might use imagery techniques that begin to combine the various sensory modalities. In the next exercise we will combine a number of senses: sight, touch, smell, and taste. To complete the exercise you will need a lemon.
Exercise 2: Lemons and Oranges
Place a lemon on the table and read the following text:
Imagine a fresh, ripe lemon. You can clearly see the shiny yellow of its skin. See the texture, the bumps on the skin. You are holding the lemon with one hand, and in the other hand you are holding a knife. Cut the lemon in half. As you slice the lemon you can see and feel the juice running onto your fingers and hands. Smell the strong citrus lemon juice. Now taste the lemon, the sharp lemon juice – your mouth puckers up – taste the lemon …. And now, let the image fade away …. It fades away completely. And slowly open your eyes.
Now close your eyes while holding the lemon, and imagine the scene that you have just read. You may wish to read it again in order to remember what you need to do (in your imagination) with the lemon. Read the text again now.
Next, imagine the same scene with an orange (or some other fruit that is not actually present). Imagine the bright orange color, feel the juice of the orange running down your hand, smell it, and taste it. Now you might like to eat the orange!
Exercise 3: Combining the Senses Using Singular Objects
Listed here are some objects that allow for a combination of various senses to be explored. Try to imagine each object. Once again, many of these will probably be located somewhere in your home. Should you have any difficulty imagining any of the objects, try to locate the object and practice the exercise with the object present. For example, if you find it difficult to imagine the sight, touch, taste, and smell of toothpaste, then get your tube of toothpaste and explore how it looks, smells, tastes, and feels. Then close your eyes and practice imagining all of this in your mind.
Exercise 3.1: Sight and Hearing
Imagine the following:
- A bird chirping – What can you see? What can you hear? What kind of bird is it?
- Leaves rustling in the wind – What can you see? What can you hear?
- Fireworks – What colors or patterns can you see? What can you hear?
Exercise 3.2: Sight, Touch, and Hearing
Imagine the following objects: What can you see? What can you feel? What can you hear?
- Watch or clock
- Small bag of coins
- Two die
- Electric fan
Exercise 3.3: Sight, Touch, and Smell
Imagine a cake of perfumed soap – what can you see? What can you feel? What can you smell?
Exercise 3. 4: Sight, Hearing, and Smell
Imagine a wood fire – What can you see? What can you hear? What sensations can you feel? What can you smell?
Exercise 3.5: Sight, Hearing, Taste, and Smell
Imagine the following and try to capture what you can see, hear, taste, and smell:
- Coke in a glass
- Coffee percolating
- Champagne
Exercise 3.6: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, and Touch
Imagine the following and try to identify what you can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch:
- Roasting chestnuts
- Blowing bubbles through a straw in a can of your favorite soda
- Munching into a hamburger (with everything!)
Next post, we'll continue with more complex training which will help you to overcome your tinnitus. Before that, you can check out Guided Imagery Children for more details.
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