ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 introduces the idea of the ‘mental image’ as a form of visual representation that is held in mind in the absence of any material manifestation, be that a person, object, place, event, relationship (for example, of objects) or experience. It can be focused or blurred, vague or distinct, static or fluid, appear in colour or monochrome, experienced as silent or with sense of accompanying sound. Further, the images with which I am concerned here are more likely to be those that appear obliquely rather than in direct response to description. With regard to the clinical session, although both are significant, I am more concerned with the imagery that comes to the mind of the therapist than the patient, as the object of this enquiry is to consider the use that the therapist might make of such imagery towards richer clinical understanding. A clinical example helps to illustrate the use of imagery in the session.
