How To Write A Script for A Guided Meditation or Guided Imagery Program

If you’re planning to write a guided imagery or guided meditation program, there are a few things you might want to consider. There are many different kinds of scripts you can write for such programs, although the object is always to give your listener the most positive experience possible. If you follow the suggestions offered here, you’ll be well on your way.

Comfort and deep relaxation always comes first, so begin by suggesting that your listener settle into their chair, begin to tune into their body, and notice that they’re beginning to relax. By asking them to notice that they are relaxing, you are getting them to relax without giving them a command. Without giving a command, there is nothing for them to resist. You can do a gradual full body relaxation from their feet all the way up to their head, or use a count-down technique, suggest they go down an elevator, or up in a balloon. All of those examples help people to wind down, and give them time to change gears as your guided meditation progresses.

Make a suggestion that your listener is ready for new suggestions. In other words, help them open to being open. Do this early in the meditation, to help them become more receptive to what you’ll be leading them through a bit further on.

Your wording is very important, and in general, you’ll always want to avoid saying anything that would bring up a negative response, cause the listener to question what you’re saying, or trigger any uncomfortable feelings. So, keep your suggestions positive, and don’t even mention negatives. For example, if the purpose of your program is to relieve stress, you might want to avoid the word “stress” all together. So instead of saying “You’re releasing stress”, say, “You’re feeling more and more relaxed”.

By the same token, if your purpose is to help solve problems, have them envision things working perfectly, as opposed to envisioning problems. Or, have them take a look at the problem area very briefly, but quickly shift to having them see things working out.

Don’t talk over the whole guided meditation, but incorporate periods of silence where the listener has time to experience, envision, release, etc. without you. Give them time to “process” the suggestions and instructions you’ve already set forth, and then pick it up again to go to the next part. Anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute is good, depending on the part they’re working on.

After the main body of your guided imagery program is complete, take time to summarize what the experience has been about, and seed the idea that the listener can come back and learn more again soon. Word it so that in case they feel they didn’t quite “get” the meditation or succeed with it, they know that it’s OK, and they will get more out of it each time.