GIM history – where did it all begin?

GIM was developed by the late musician, psychotherapist and mystic Dr. Helen L. Bonny (USA) in the 1970’s. The 70’s were turbulent and exciting times, where human beings started to explore outer space, and society experienced many technical and social changes. During that time psychotherapy also embarked on new paths, exploring new modalities, which could give new insights into the human psyche and unknown soul spaces.

Helen L. Bonny had a mystical experience, which awakened her awareness to the unique healing potential of music. She was playing "The Swan" from Saint Saëns on the violin, when she had the experience that her and her instrument became one – she felt united with a divine Source beyond herself.  The well-known author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls this "flow". During a flow experience, we merge completely with our current activity, time and space get dissolved and we feel completely united with the divine flow of the universe. One remains feeling deeply enriched and happy for a long time after the experience .

Helen L. Bonny was working at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA. Because of her mystical ‘flow’ experience and training as a music therapist, Helen Bonny was convinced  music, rather than drugs, had the power to heal disturbed patients. When drugs were no longer used as part of the therapeutic process, Helen pioneered the development of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and music (GIM) as a form of therapy. She used her unique understanding of music at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center in the early 1970s where she combined relaxation techniques and classical music selections to elicit responses from patients. This proved very successful. Her work was influenced by great minds such as Hans Karl Leuner, C.J. Jung and Joan Kellogg.

Many medical professionals, psychotherapists and persons from secular and religious helping professions have now been trained in the Bonny Method of GIM. Helen Bonny did the initial training. She was accompanied by many dedicated professionals who continued to develop the GIM method of healing and eventually took GIM all over the globe. The Association for Music and Imagery (AMI) was established in 1986 as a non-profit organisation to maintain and uphold the integrity of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music through implementation of training standards, endorsement of training programs, and support of trainees and practitioners. Nowadays GIM practitioners are working globally in 25 countries, such as the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, South Korea, Australia, Norway, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Germany. Helen Bonny passed away in September 2010, leaving behind her a beautiful legacy. GIM as a healing modality has enriched and healed the lives of thousands of people globally.

The GIM method of healing was brought to South Africa in March 2007, when Prof. Dr. Gina Kaestele from the “Imago Institute” offered the first course – “Introduction to Guided Imagery and healing” in Cape Town. A group of enthusiastic students enrolled to do the training with Dr. Kaestele. She visited South Africa on many occasions over the past 3 years to offer the training to the group of 11 students. The majority of the group completed their training in September 2010. Some of the students had the privilege to attend the European GIM conference in Spain in September 2010. 

GIM practitioners are called fellows. The 10 South African GIM fellows are now practicing in a variety of settings in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Gauteng. The South African network of Guided imagery and music was formed in August 2010. This network aims to support the SA GIM fellows in their work. It also aims to promote GIM in South – Africa and to organise further training possibilities.