Imagery-Based Therapy Reduces Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adults

Study on Psychotherapy Using Imagination Techniques

According to НВ — Техно: June 30, 3:00 PM

A new study by researchers from SWPS University and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology has found that psychotherapy involving imagination can weaken the impact of negative childhood memories on adult life. The randomized controlled trial included 180 participants aged 18 to 35, all of whom suffered from a fear of failure. The research spanned two weeks, during which each participant underwent four therapy sessions.

Methods and Findings

Participants were split into three groups, each employing a different approach:

• The first group focused on recalling situations that triggered fear or anxiety.
• The second group used a memory rescripting technique where a protector, such as a therapist, appeared in the recalled scenario.
• The third group also used memory rescripting, but with a ten-minute delay before applying the change.

After the sessions, the team conducted surveys, interviews, and physiological measurements. Follow-up assessments were carried out at three and six months.

The results were encouraging: participants reported a decrease in their fear of failure, along with less frequent feelings of sadness and guilt. Physiological responses to memories of criticism also weakened, and these improvements persisted at both the three- and six-month checkpoints. The memory rescripting technique yielded the best outcomes in cases where participants experienced a sense of surprise.

“Emotions tied to childhood criticism can be diminished.” – Julia Bonczek

The researchers emphasized that “the gap between a person's expectations and the new course of events in the altered memory may be the foundation for lasting positive changes,” noted Stanisław Karkosz. This suggests that painful memories do not have to remain fixed forever; working with them can help individuals respond differently to challenges and reduce the emotional weight of the past.

This study opens new avenues for psychotherapeutic practice by showing how reshaping one's perception of the past can influence emotional well-being. The use of imagination in therapy could become a powerful tool for those dealing with the aftermath of negative childhood experiences. The findings may also inform future research in psychotherapy and psychology, particularly in developing new methods for treating fears and anxieties.