Imagery and the Threatened Self: Perspectives on Mental Imagery and the Self in Cognitive Therapy

Imagery is important in cognitive therapy because images often trigger strong emotions, and imagery techniques such as imaginal reliving and imaginal rescripting are increasingly used in therapeutic treatments. This book considers the role that images of the self play in a number of common mental health problems and how these images can be used to help people to recover from mental health problems. Stopa and her contributors focus specifically on images of the self which are often negative and distorted and can contribute to both the cause and to the progression of clinical disorders. The book includes chapters on current theories of the self and on imagery techniques used in therapy, alongside chapters that examine the role of self-images and how images can be used in the treatment of disorders including: social phobia; post traumatic stress disorder; eating disorders; depression; and, bipolar disorder. It is an original and innovative book that will appeal to both clinicians and students who are studying and practising cognitive therapy.