
Outside the realm of intentional therapy, music forms a mainstay in the lives of most people.

However, at the same time, our parasympathetic nervous system is shown to be heightened under such conditions (sexual arousal, etc.), which sheds light on late night freaky times benefiting from the addition of music, right?Įven without intentionally guiding our thoughts to therapeutic states, merely hearing music can make us feel better, like melodious medicine. When we listen to music, especially songs with soft, easy rhythms and classical structures, it’s relatively normal for the sympathetic nervous system to be suppressed (lower heart rate, etc.). There’s a good body of research in existence that demonstrates music’s ability to induce heightened states of relaxation.

Just how present is music in our minds’ daily processes? Does music color our thoughts and actions or does it merely enhance them? Could the effect of such a method extend beyond, to average listeners enjoying their favorite songs? Maybe.Īnyone who’s listened to music in a particularly emotive state knows just how impactful it can be. The Bonny method has been proven effective in taming problem behavior in autistic children and even prompting improvements in communication overall. Musical choices in this form of therapy tend to be classical and very carefully suited to age range, among other things. Little did Cicero know, our minds might also benefit from the guidance of music in this process as well.īonny’s musical method makes use of factors such as the client’s personal music preferences and their goals. “The eyes of the mind are more easily directed to those objects which we have seen, than to those which we have only heard.” “Mentis Oculi” as the philosopher himself described it was best utilized through clear direction his quote on the matter being: The “mind’s eye” itself was mentioned by name at least as far back as Cicero’s usage of the term. Chasing down the labyrinthine corridors of the mind becomes a fair bit easier with closed eyes and an open mind. Guided imagery as a powerful psychotherapeutic tool is as old as psychotherapy itself. Like lucidity in a dream state, the Bonny method makes you the center of your own imagined scenario, but the scenario is borne of sound and your reactions to it. …developing her own unique blend of psychotherapy techniques, the interlaced dominions of therapy and music education influenced her deeply. By combining these, she arrived at the idea of combining the visual with the musical as well, using songs as the directional force in Guided Imagery Therapy. When Helen Lindquist Bonny set about developing her own unique blend of psychotherapy techniques, the interlaced dominions of therapy and music education influenced her deeply.


Music as a means among many for therapeutic purposes presents practitioners with a unique medium for monitoring and guiding individuals, but just how pivotal of a role might music actually be playing in the process? The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music Like careful hypnotism, the discipline of musical therapy takes individuals deeper into themselves than they can consciously go.
