GIM Terminology

AMI:

The Association for Music and Imagery is an organisation of facilitators, trainers, students, and supporters of The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. AMI’s purpose is to advance the application and understanding of The Bonny Method and its adaptations. AMI promotes ethical training and practice, supports research and publication, guides professional development, facilitates networking for its members, and provides public education and outreach. www.ami-bonnymethod.org

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music - GIM:

Guided Imagery and Music, is a music-centered, psycho-therapeutic healing modality. It was developed by the late Helen Bonny, in the United States in the 1970’s. It is a process of exploration of consciousness, facilitated by listening to specifically sequenced music programs in a relaxed state, accompanied by a GIM fellow. Facilitators (GIM-fellows) who conduct GIM sessions have backgrounds in the helping professions and are formally trained in the Helen Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Central to the GIM process is the belief that music can be used to facilitate healing. It can be seen as a specialsed branch of music therapy. 

Guiding  a GIM journey:

In GIM, the music is seen as an auditory co-therapist and partner of the guide. It acts upon the body, mind, and spirit of the traveler. The guide is cooperating with the music. When the music becomes louder, the guide becomes silent, and when the music is giving space, the guide is asking questions. The questions help the traveler to focus on the emerging imagery. At the beginning of a session, frequently asked questions are such as:

• "Where are you right now?"
• "What are you drawn to?"
• "What do you feel?"

Additional interventions can follow, which support the traveler to deepen the inner experience. A GIM guide is also using music interventions such as:

• "Allow the music to be with you."
• "Does the music bring you anything?"
• "Let the music help you letting go of ..."
• "What is the music telling you?"

GIM fellow:

A GIM fellow uses the modality of Guided Imagery and Music to facilitate the process of healing and personal growth of their clients. A GIM fellow would have completed the full GIM training through an institution recognized by the AMI Association of Music and Imagery. The training takes place in 3 levels. GIM fellows who have completed the GIM training are registered with the AMI.

GIM session:

Most often this broad framework is followed during an individual GIM session:

1. Introduction, choosing a theme and setting an intention

2. Relaxation

3. Music: Listening to recorded music in a relaxed state, traveling to the GIM music program

4. Art expression of the journey - Mandala drawing

5. Post-talk

GIM Music programs:

GIM therapy uses mainly classical music. The late Helen L. Bonny Ph.D and her team designed more than 40 music programs for particular purposes and types of exploration. The Music selections are carefully chosen. The chosen music relates very individually to the emotional situation of the client. The first piece of music needs to match the mood and energy of the traveler. The Music is seen as a projective screen and co-therapist. It gives structure and holds, evokes sensations and feelings and may become an object for transference. GIM facilitators receive training on how to use the appropriate music programs. The music selection is an important part of the process. The programs are designed for all situations of life for instance:

• diagnostic programs for first time travelers;
• sadness, losses;
• anxiety and fears;
• the hero's journey in life where you are challenged to follow your vision;
• compulsions and addictions;
• trauma and the abandoned child;
• spiritual and transpersonal journeys.

Mandala drawing:

A physical representation of the  images, colours and emotions which the traveler experienced during the GIM journey. When the journey to the music is complete, the clients is given a large sheet of white paper, with a large circle on it. The circle is drawn with pencil and is representative of the Whole, as seen by the famous psychoanalyst  C.J. Jung. To him the human psyche can be represented by the symbol of a circle. The clients draw their images with pastels or chalk pastels, inside or outside of the circle, or both. The expression of the journey through a creative medium such as a Mandala drawing, enables the images to deepen in meaning and for the experience to be integrated.

Traveler/GIM travel:

The client who is experiencing a GIM session, is the traveler. Because of the feeling of going on a journey, while listening to the music in a relaxed state – we call it a travel.

Pre-talk:

This takes place at the beginning of a GIM session. The GIM fellow and client will establish the core of the issues at hand, and incorporate the language of symbol to set the intention for the GIM session.

Post talk:

After the client has traveled to the music, and has drawn the Mandala, the GIM fellow will bring all of the elements of the GIM journey to a conclusion. As the circle draws to a close the insights gained are deepened. The gifts of the journey can lead to practical steps which the client now needs to take. Some journeys are of such a deep nature, that not much needs to be said in the post talk.