Transpersonal-spiritual BMGIM experiences and the process of surrender

Development and evaluation of the Transpersonal Depth-Guided Imagery and Music (TD-GIM) inventory

“…For example, the more strongly correlated TD-GIM items describing unity and aspects of transcending the usual scope of self align with Blom's (2011) construct of surrender via the Bonny Method as giving oneself over to something beyond and/or greater than oneself. Likewise, the more strongly correlated TD-GIM items involving expansion and unity align with Shaw's (1995) Bonny Method experience categories involving consciousness expansion and sense of unity.…”

“…Blom (2011) analyzed two different Bonny Method transcripts (of one client) from an intersubjective, phenomenological perspective, and found that the relational mode of surrender (in which a client lets go of, or works through, the separation between self and something beyond and greater than self, as part of experiencing a more unitive way of being) was a key component of transpersonal experience in the Bonny Method, and that it held numerous clinical benefits. Blom's findings support Abrams's (2001) speculations that "The sense of universality and unity inherent in transpersonal GIM experiences requires giving self up to something beyond self" (p. 339) and that 6 B. Abrams surrender "sets the stage for the negotiability of personal boundaries required for the emergence of transpersonal GIM experiences" (p. 339).…”

“…At the same time, their elusiveness and ineffability render them challenging to identify and articulate. Qualitative research has provided insight into certain constructs that define and qualify these experiences (Abrams, 2001(Abrams, , 2002a(Abrams, , 2002bBlom, 2011;Hintz, 1995;Kasayka, 1991;Lewis, 1998Lewis, -1999Rugenstein, 1996;Shaw, 1995), yet a systematic process for identifying these experiences, based upon the perspectives of those who have actually experienced them, has not yet been developed. As a first step in developing such a process, an instrument based directly upon categories from prior research findings (Abrams, 2002a) was developed and examined according to how well it aligns with tacit, expert knowledge on what constitutes transpersonal Bonny Method experience, from a first-person perspective (i.e., based upon the experts' own experiences, as Bonny Method clients).…”

“Telling me not to worry…” Hyperscanning and Neural Dynamics of Emotion Processing During Guided Imagery and Music

“…In therapy, therapists and clients are immersed through the senses, interaction, embodiment and narrative experience in real-time contextually performed interpersonal action. Clinical experience and qualitative research suggests that spontaneously emerging imagery in the client is recognized by the therapist, but also from both as a mutual spontaneously occurring feeling (Blom, 2011, 2014). Such events may be accompanied with an unspecific emotion, recognizing a spontaneous occurring thought, making the therapist sense that “something” in the client has happened (Blom, 2014; Trondalen, 2016, 2019).…”

“…Of interest for this research is engaging in the client-therapist dialogue during the spontaneously occurring imagery during music listening in an ASC. The client is not just reporting on what he or she “sees” during the imagery process, it is surrendering to an intense process (Blom, 2011, 2014), it is a “lived experience during the imagery … that occurs as the client interacts with the images” (Heinschel, 2002, p. 332) facilitated by the therapist as a “personalized response” (ibid. p. 326) during the therapy process.…”