11. What are Guided Visualizations and what is their purpose at the Self-Awareness Weekend?

Guided Visualizations are form of guided meditations - in that one person guides another through a journey of the mind. The answers you receive can help you overcome issues or resolve situations in your life. They are a tool like hypnosis that can be used in the process of opening a cognitive communication between the conscious and subconscious minds. They are a physically and mentally relaxed state of awareness in which your subconscious mind is actively involved with your conscious mind in developing solutions to unresolved problems.

In guided visualizations as well as hypnosis, you are in an alert state of deep relaxation. In fact in some ways you are more alert, more awake, and more "conscious" and more in charge than when you are in your conscious mind. They help you achieve a focused, state of mind though encouraging the rational, critical mind to temporarily relax. In summary, they are a technique of communication that bypasses the 'analytical/critical mind' to reach and work with the subconscious mind.

Your conscious mind where we spend most of our waking hours is attentive and uses logic to reason, evaluate, assess, judge, and make decisions, Unfortunately, when making life changes, the conscious mind is in the way. In the relaxed state of guided visualizations, the doorway between the conscious and the subconscious is opened, memories become easily accessible. In this state, you are not really "thinking" in the traditional sense. You are "experiencing" without questioning, without critical judgment or analysis.

The subconscious function of the mind begins to operate long before the conscious mind, in early childhood. Strategies for self-preservation and survival are irrevocably etched in the subconscious. Since our subconscious stores our life experiences from birth to present time, guided visualizations can guide you backward in time to prior events that were hurtful, traumatic, and painful and at your present level of maturity you can re-experience them, release them and heal them from the associated feelings, i.e. anger, sadness, fear. And, self-defeating decisions that were made at a very young age i.e. I'm not good enough, I can't trust anyone, I'll never get close again; can be accessed and changed to self-fulfilling beliefs and behaviors.

The major concern that people have about this process is: "I don't like the idea of being under someone else's control." The truth is you are in control the entire time. You cannot be made to do anything you don't want to do, and you will remember everything that happens. Your subconscious would NOT allow anything to happen to your physical or emotional safety.

More FAQ's about the Self-Awareness Weekend (SAW)

1. Tell me about couples/marriages attending Self Awareness Weekend and how it works.
2. How do you get results so easily and quickly? — How can the results be achieved in 2 ½ days? — How can SAW be equivalent to 1-5 years of counseling/therapy? — How does SAW work?
3. Being in a group: I don't feel comfortable revealing or exposing myself in front of strangers. I am a private person.
4. I'm a strong introvert. Will SAW's program work for me?
5. How much does SAW cost and what does it include?
6. Where is SAW held?
7. Will the professional counselors give me the time I need? — I'm afraid there won't be enough time for me. — I don't want to spend the whole weekend listening to other's stories and problems. — Since the SAW program happens in a group, I do not understand how you help each individual. Please explain.
8. Will I be left in a worse place at the end of SAW than when I started?
9. How safe is the SAW? — I am scared to attend. It sounds scary and intense.
10. Are there SAW graduates I can talk to?
11. What are Guided Visualizations and what is their purpose at the Self-Awareness Weekend?

If after reading these answers you still have questions, concerns, or doubts, please call us at 1-866-204-6384 or email us at

Self Awareness Weekend | Dates of the Weekend | Registration Form
Testimonials | 12 Outcomes | Common Concerns & FAQ's
More Programs & Services | About Andrea Lambert | Articles of Interest | Home