Imagery Techniques/Push-Button

According to Jon Carlson and Matt Englar-Carlson, “this imagery technique is used to highlight the control that clients can have over their emotions. It is based on the notion that behind each feeling there is an underlying cognition. Simply stated, if a client can change the cognition and what one is thinking about then the client can change the emotional reaction. Clients are asked to remember a pleasant experience and then an unpleasant one. The therapist helps clients to realize that they act and think one way in one situation and a different way in another. It goes like this: “I’d like you to imagine that you have two buttons on your chest.  One button is for each of two different responses. Now picture that however you might respond in any situation, that you actually have a choice to push another button and respond in a very different way. These buttons belong to you. Only you can push them. Only you can choose how you want to respond.”