Jerry Rothman, Ph.D., offers an overview of key concepts in understanding the value of guided imagery as a tool for enhancing relaxation efforts in a concise workbook. Dr. Rothman provides some detail of his personal experience with the techniques he describes. He provides enough theoretical and background material to indicate his professional credibility for producing such a manual. The value and beauty of this book is in the different scripts of guided imagery exercises.
Dr. Rothman offers 5 scripts. The first is a “Progressive Relaxation Through Breathing.” The second is a “Journey Into Nature.” The third is called, “Ancient Tree Imagery.” The fourth is, “Light of the Sun.” Finally, there is one called, “Brain Focusing.” Dr. Rothman provides a rationale for use of the specific scripts he includes. He includes a brief technical discussion of the scripts following each one.
Dr. Rothman introduces the workbook with an acknowledgment both of the necessity in his life for the techniques described and of his teachers. They influenced his acquisition of the knowledge base, personal experience, and helped him develop the practical skill to offer the scripts in the volume. Dr. Rothman states a fourfold purpose for his book. One purpose is that he wants to make imagery techniques more available to others, he indicates his view that there is a need for detailed scripts, he seems to indicate a sense that individuals will need a good set of relaxation skills to manage the pressures of the next century, and finally Dr. Rothman notes a wish to provide a gateway to the Vajrayana Buddhism of Tibet.
The bibliography indicates that Dr. Rothman is well grounded in the subject he addresses. One drawback of this book seems to be the degree of detail included about hypnotic techniques in a section called, “Deepening the State of Consciousness.” This writer had a concern in reading the section that included details connected with: suggestion, repetition, linking, mirroring, pacing, measuring, and, confusion. The concern was that these techniques could be used improperly by an inexperienced practitioner. The caution that seems appropriate is that unless you really know what you are doing it would be wise to stick to the scripts as described. A more general comment is that the powerful techniques described in this text might best be learned from an experienced clinician. Discussion of the impact of these exercises on an individual could be a useful, “safety net” for clients who approach this material in distress.
