Working with clients who can’t see internal images - Aphantasia

When asked to visualize an apple, what do you see?

Being able to internally visualize is on a spectrum: People with Hyperphantasia can see vivid images and people with Aphantasia cannot see internal images - they have no computer "monitor". Between this spectrum are flat looking images in color, black and white images, outline of images, dim, vague, fleeting or fuzzy images, and some struggle with specific types of imagery like objects or scenes. Some people may be unable to voluntarily create images yet may be able to involuntarily see images, for example, when dreaming. Or, sometimes they can create an image but it is not spontaneous - they have to purposely create an image. 

Before conducting a session involving having the client close their eyes such as in hypnosis or the Mace Energy Method, it is important as a facilitator to understand if they can or cannot create images. Once this is known, the session can be conducted in a way that is tailored to the client.

Take a look and see for yourself how language is changed for those relying on internal sight and those relying on sensations and impressions. I asked Google AI to produce two scripts leading a person through a forest to a bridge in order to meet a special person. These are the results: 

Here are two versions of the "Bridge to a Special Someone" journey. For the aphantasia script, we lean into spatial facts and non-visual senses. For the hyperphantasia script, we lean into atmospheric light and cinematic movement.

Aphantasia Script: 

1. The Forest Entrance: "Acknowledge the fact that you are standing at the edge of a forest. Notice the immediate drop in temperature—the air is cooler and holds the scent of damp earth and pine. Don't try to see the trees; simply feel the spatial volume of the tall canopy above you."

2. The Path and Bridge: "Walk forward. Feel the ground change from solid dirt to the hollow resonance of wooden planks. You are on a bridge. Listen to the sound of moving water below—a low, constant hum. Notice the stability of the handrail under your palm."

3. The Arrival: "As you reach the end of the bridge, you become aware of a presence. You don’t need to see a face. Instead, tune into the familiar energy of this special person. Recall the specific feeling of their kindness or the way the air seems to shift when they are near. Sit in the quiet knowledge of being in their company."

Hyperphantasia Script: 

1. The Forest Entrance: "Step into a forest where the light filters through the leaves in shifting shafts of gold. See the intricate patterns of moss on the bark and the way the emerald-green ferns sway as you pass. Watch a single leaf drift down in slow motion."

2. The Path and Bridge: "Ahead, a stone bridge arches over a crystal-clear stream. See the sparkle of sunlight on the ripples and the turquoise pebbles at the bottom. Watch the way your own shadow stretches across the weathered grey stone as you cross."

3. The Arrival: "On the other side, your special person is waiting. Visualize the exact color of their eyes and the specific way their clothes fold as they move. See the light catching their hair and the subtle micro-expressions on their face as they smile at you. Immerse yourself in the high-definition beauty of this moment."