Trusting What Comes: A Beginner’s Guide to Visualization
One of the biggest questions new hypnotherapists ask me is:
“But what if my client says they can’t visualize?”
It’s a fair concern. After all, so much of hypnosis and guided imagery seems to rely on that word: visualization. But let me reassure you—you don’t need a movie screen in your mind to benefit from this work. In fact, your clients are probably already better at it than they think.
What Is Visualization Really?
When people hear "visualize," they often assume it means seeing clear, vivid pictures in their mind—like watching a high-definition movie. And while that can be part of it, visualization is actually much broader.
Visualization is simply mental imagery or sensory recall. It’s how your brain recreates an experience using any of the senses:
Sight (seeing a color, shape, or scene)
Sound (hearing a song in your head or someone’s voice)
Touch (remembering how something felt in your hands)
Smell (recalling the scent of fresh coffee or your favorite candle)
Taste (thinking of a lemon and your mouth watering)
Emotion (feeling the joy of a memory or the excitement of a goal)
So if you’ve ever had a song stuck in your head, flinched thinking of something painful, or smiled remembering the smell of a childhood home—you’ve already “visualized.” You just didn’t know it.
Why This Matters in Hypnosis or Dreamwork
In guided imagery, dreams, or self-hypnosis, there’s no right way to experience the journey. Some people see vivid scenes. Others feel body sensations, emotions, or a general sense of “being there.” Some only hear words or know what’s happening without any image at all.
It’s all valid. Your subconscious will speak to you in the language that’s most natural for you.
A Visualization Warm-Up Exercise
Introducing Imagery: Trusting What Comes
Welcome. Today, we’re going to practice a gentle visualization. You don’t need to “see” anything like a movie in your mind
Before we begin, I want to remind you of something gentle but powerful:
You already know how to do this.
This isn’t about getting it “right” or forcing your mind to perform.
It’s about allowing.
Trusting what comes.
Even if it feels random… or quiet… or strange.
Even if it feels like nothing.
In Interactive Dream Therapy, we don’t chase meaning—we walk into it.
We enter a dream the same way we enter a memory:
by letting it rise.
And the truth is—your mind doesn’t always distinguish between dreams and memories.
Think about a moment from childhood.
The hallway in your first home…
The sound of your name being called…
The feeling of grass under your feet…
You’re not watching it—you’re in it.
That’s what we’ll do here.
Not with your past—but with your inner world.
We’ll walk into it.
Gently. Curiously.
As if we’re remembering something your soul already knows.
You don’t have to see perfectly.
You don’t have to explain it.
Just trust the flickers, the feelings, the fragments.
Your subconscious speaks in symbols, not sentences.
And today—we’re learning how to listen.
Visualization isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about noticing what you already know.
You might sense it, feel it, hear it, remember it.
There’s no right or wrong way to imagine.
Your subconscious already knows how—you do this every day when you remember where you left your keys or think about your favorite food.
Let’s try this:
✨ Guided Visualization: Getting a Glass of Water
Take a deep breath in...
And let it out slowly.
Let your body settle.
Just listen—and follow along in your own way.
Now imagine…
You're walking toward the front door of your home.
Can you get a sense of what that door looks like?
Notice the color of it.
Maybe you remember the way the light hits it…
Is there a doormat? A porch?
How do you open the door—what kind of handle or knob is there?
Whats does it feel like to touch the handle?
And How do you know?
Take your time.
You don't have to see it… just remember it.
That’s visualization.
Now open the door and step inside.
Notice how it feels to return to a familiar space.
What’s the temperature like? The smell?
Are there sounds around you? Windows? Switches to turn on?
Now, start making your way to the kitchen.
Notice the path.
Are you walking on carpet? Hardwood?
Turn any corners you need to.
Take your time. You know the way.
You arrive in the kitchen.
Take a moment to notice your surroundings.
Where is the sink?
Where are the glasses kept?
Go ahead and get yourself a glass of water.
Feel yourself reaching for the cupboard or shelf.
Grabbing a glass.
Turning on the tap or reaching for a bottle.
Hear the water flowing…
Feel the weight of the full glass in your hand.
Bring it to your lips.
Take a sip.
Cool. Refreshing.
Simple. Familiar. Real.
Now just pause here.
And notice how your mind created that experience.
You didn’t have to force it.
You just allowed it.
This is the power of your imagination.
This is visualization.
And it’s already inside you.
🌬️ Closing
Take a deep breath in...
And as you exhale, gently return to the space you're in.
Wiggle your fingers and toes.
When you're ready, open your eyes.
Welcome back.
You just visualized—and you did it beautifully.
Final Thoughts
So the next time a client says “I can’t visualize,” you can smile and remind them:
“You don’t have to see it. You just have to notice it.”
Because the subconscious doesn’t need perfect images—it just needs your attention.
Ready to Go Deeper?
If you find yourself drawn to this work and want to understand how to guide others through powerful, transformational sessions—explore our Practitioner Training Program. Whether you're just starting or looking to expand your skill set, this training is designed to support you in becoming a confident, intuitive facilitator.
Your journey starts here.