Three Times a Lady: A GIM Case Report
Beth Kingsley Hawkins - Volume: 21
ABSTRACT: This case study explores the profound effects of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) therapy on Sally, a 30-year-old woman with a lifelong heart condition, as she prepared for a heart-lung transplant. GIM sessions addressed Sally’s fear that a new heart might alter her capacity to love. Through imagery, she connected with her deceased mother, feeling a transcendent love that resolved her emotional concerns. Following a successful transplant, Sally exhibited an extraordinary recovery, notably without requiring anti-rejection drugs, suggesting a potential link between her imagery experience and physical acceptance of the new heart. This case highlights GIM’s efficacy in addressing deep emotional and psychological needs, potentially influencing physical health outcomes. It advocates for holistic healthcare approaches that integrate emotional and spiritual support with medical treatment, contributing to the evidence base for music and imagery therapy as a valuable tool in patient care, especially in complex medical contexts like transplantation.
Keywords: Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, heart transplant, love beyond death, music and medicine, transpersonal experience, healing stories
Hawkins, B. K. (2024). Three Times a Lady: A GIM case report. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 21, 25–28. https://doi.org/10.59451/jami.66321
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