Muni's PlayImagery Rescripting (ImRs)
Source: Imagery Rescripting: A New Cognitive-Behavioral Construct
Definition
Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is a therapeutic technique that aims to reduce the distress associated with negative memories of early aversive experiences. It consists of prompting patients to rescript the autobiographical memory in line with their unmet needs.
The Classic Procedure
The classic procedure (Arntz and Weertman, 1999) consists of three phases:
Phase One: Recall The patient enters a distressing memory (ideally from childhood) with emotional content similar to current symptoms. The therapist encourages the patient to speak in the present tense from the child’s perspective.
Phase One: Needs Assessment Once factual details are clear, the therapist explores the child’s emotions and unmet needs.
Phase Two: Rescripting The patient steps into the image as an adult to take care of the child-self. This involves protecting the child, creating a safe environment, and doing whatever the adult feels is right to meet the child’s needs.
Phase Three: Closure The child-self may ask the adult for further intervention until their needs are fully met.
See also: Albert Ellis, Discomfort Anxiety