Voice Massage: Scripts for Guided Imagery

Edited by Denise Murray Edwards. Pittsburgh, Pa: Oncology Nurses Society. Members: $30, nonmembers: $42. ISBN: 0-7432-3521-5. 99 pages.

Both consumers and healthcare providers nationwide are becoming increasingly aware of the array of complementary and alternative treatment modalities available to manage health conditions in several patient populations. This text is designed to teach the creative use of therapeutic imagery to facilitate healing and coping with symptom management. Author and editor Denise Murray successfully weaves the work of numerous clinicians to provide interesting case studies and detailed scripts that can be used as guides for learning imagery. Based on the use of holistic awareness, techniques are explained to create visual, auditory, and/or kinesthetic images. Well-written scripts describe how to combine these sensory modalities with relaxation, rhythmic breathing, reflection, cleansing, and energizing techniques. Specific scripts are included to displace nausea, insomnia, pain, and anxiety, along with centering techniques to implement before initiating healing work.

In addition to using these skills to support their patients in symptom management, practitioners are encouraged to incorporate these skills into their personal self-care toolbox for relaxation and stress relief. The audio CD included as a supplement to the book provides a soothing script and relaxing music to facilitate implementation of the discussed techniques. The advanced practice nurse will find this text a straightforward and easy-to-read resource on this subject area. The extensive reference lists and final chapter on guided imagery resources will be particularly helpful for exploring this treatment modality and other complementary techniques.