ABSTRACT
Mental images have a significantly greater impact on emotion than equivalent verbal thought, both in terms of evoking affect and changing the emotional meaning of events. Indeed, research has demonstrated that cognitions in the form of images are associated with stronger negative emotion than verbal forms of the same material. Similarly, imagery also has greater potential to generate positive emotion than verbal cognitions. These findings have significant implications for the potential importance of incorporating imagery in the assessment and treatment of emotional problems, and indicates a divergence from psychotherapy models that historically focused almost solely on verbal processing of experience. This chapter describes seminal research that has led to imagery being adopted as a key mechanism for change within both cognitive-behavioural therapy and Schema Therapy models, particularly in relation to processing trauma memories and facilitating schematic change. Key principles of imagery for assessment and rescripting are described.
