Colour, Mind and Body:
VISUAL GUIDED IMAGERY

 

Visualization

Visualization is also known as “visual guided imagery.” This technique uses the imagination to slow down the chatter of the mind and help release negative thoughts, worries and even distract from physical pain. One of the reasons why visualization as a tool for stress and anxiety reduction is so powerful is due to the developmental fact that children are naturally imaginative and thus, can easily access this specific kind of healing process.   

I have learnt, as an expert in psychosical health, that children are able to create pictures/images from their mind’s eye to cope with stressors. It is often my work to help children hone or learning and practicing visualization, to develop self-care/coping tools that help them deal with, adjust to or reduce stress, pain and difficult feelings in a variety of situations. Visualization becomes a wonderful way to connect with a child as they learn to listen to their inner wisdom and access their own power of healing.

 
 
[BEST] Colours for Relaxation
 
Colours are perhaps one of the simplest visualization focus points used with children to facilitate guided relaxation and meditation and certain colours have been showed to invoke emotional and physical responses.

Colour Chart - Most Relaxing Colours

 
Warm colors are usually stimulating and not the best for a calm and relaxing environment. Blues, greens, and purples are the most relaxing colors and have proven to have a soothing effect on both the mind and the body. That makes these the best colors for stress-relieving environments, and the best choice for peaceful and quiet room décor and clothing.

 

 

 



Visual Guided Imagery

 

Visual guided imagery can be beneficial for a variety of issues and the process can be tailored to suit a particular child’s specific needs. It can help reduce stress but it can also help with specific issues like sleep problems, test anxiety, back-to-school jitters or illness. It can enhance coping skills, encourage self-esteem and increase creativity.

 

** [[Simple Guided Colour Visualization Script]]

 

Color visualization is very simple technique to teach a child. Start by asking your child to find a comfortable position.

 

1. Ask your child to imagine a favourite color that makes him/her feel peaceful, relaxed and safe.
2. With his/her eyes closed, have him/her imagine taking in that color with each breath and sending it throughout his/her entire body as he/she exhales (i.e., breathing in that color and "sending" it throughout the body).
3. Guide him/her to visualize the colour going down his/her throat, into the neck and chest, down to the stomach, and so on until he/she is filled with the beautiful, peaceful, special colour . . . and is relaxed and in control.
4. Have him/her continue until she visualizes being filled with her special and relaxing colour.

 
 
Thanks for taking the time to read.
 
 
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My own experience tells me that when colour visualization is done purposeful, the healing effects of color are sure to lighten a child’s mood, energize or relax their body, and uplift their spirit. It is my hope colour will do the same for you!

 

Visualizing a blue and purple rainbow!

Image Source
Image 1
Image 2: Relaxing Colour Chart: Copyright © 2015 childsplayccls. (This is an original image, please clearly reference image to http://childsplayccls.blogspot.ca if you would like to use it.)
Image 4

Biodots - Kid-Friendly Stress and Tension Monitors

Biofeedback

As a Child Life Specialist, I am familiar with biofeedback as a therapy or a way to gain “feedback” from your body in response to stress and learn how to actively induce a more relaxed state. There are a variety of biofeedback devices that function to monitor the various involuntary systems in the body (i.e., heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, skin temperature, muscle tension ect.), and because information from these devices are ‘fed back’ immediately, you can measure how tense your body is and importantly, learn how to lower your stress response in that instance.

[?] How is information from our bodies useful?

Oftentimes, we are unaware of how stress affects our physiology. However, once someone becomes aware of how stress affects their body and what stress “feels” like, they can actively implement simple techniques to positive affect their body systems…. or combat the effects of stress to help restore the body systems to a state of relaxation. The ultimate goal of biofeedback being, to learn how to control physical responses that are normally automatic.



Biodots

As a Child Life Specialist, I use Biodots as a more kid-friendly alternative to what can be very costly and complex biofeedback device. These little dots are not only fun to use but are a super effective visual tool to help children (a) become aware of experiences that cause them to become stressed (b) learn about their own stress response (c) keep track of their stress levels and, (d)* learn what relaxation techniques are most effective in lower their stress responses.

Biodots are small self-adhesive, temperature sensitive discs that are intended to be placed on the skin to monitor changes in temperature. The ideal placement is on the back of the hand, in the little spot between the thumb and index finger. Biodots change in colour to reflect changes in skin temperature to alert a child (in this example) to when his or her body is reacting to stress or is in a state of relaxation. They remind me of the ever so popular…. Mood ring! True to a mood ring, they also come with a colour interpretation chart which is used to relate the colour of the Biodot to the body’s level of relaxation or tension.






**Child Life Ideas for Use:

[NOTE:] This is one suggested example of how I was able to use Biodots successfully. Please alter in accordance to your assessment of the child or teen you are working with.

1. Introduce the Biodot as a way to learn about “what’s going on inside your body,” and explain how it works.
2. Ask the child to “track” colour changes in a journal for a few days - Keep a log entry of (a) colour of the dot (b) what they were doing/what was happening during that time and, (c) reflect on how they were feeling. (TIP: I find it useful to allow the child to personalize the journal, attach a colour interpretation chart, and help them fill out their first entry.)
3. Evaluate the journal logs, noting times of stress and relaxation - Focus on times of relaxation, discussing what activities they were engaged in. Continue this conversation to a discussion of NEW* ways to help your body relax (i.e., deep breathing, thought stopping, meditation, listening to music ect.). (TIP: I always enjoy creating a visual tool or chart listing their most effective relaxation strategies which they can decorate and attach to their journal.)
4. Ask the child to continue to keep logs of color changes but NOW, implement a relaxation technique each time their Biodot colour signifies that they are stressed. Direct them to observe the colour change in the dot after the use of a relaxation technique.

Keeping a log of colour changes observed in the Biodot allows children to gain a deeper understand of their body’s response to stress and the benefits of active relaxation as they become conscious of the physiological sensations that are happening as they feel stressed or tense. This also aids in enhancing body and mind awareness and the idea that we can learn to control our physical response to stress to bring about a more relaxed body state.

For more information or to purchase Biodots, please visit: http://www.stressstop.com/microsites/freebiodots.com where you can receive 25 biodots for free (with no shipping cost to U.S. customers).



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Thanks for reading!


Forever aiming for a Purple Biodot kinda mood!

References:

Images
Biodot Upclose
Biodot Chart
Biology in a Box Graphic: Copyright © 2013 childsplayccls. (This is an original image, please clearly reference image to http://childsplayccls.blogspot.ca if you would like to use it.)