The Integrative GIM Training Programme
UK Based Training in The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and Music and Imagery (MI)
Training and CPD Programme 2025
Level 1 Training (online):
Certificate in Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI)
Dates: January 17 (evening) 2025, January 18 & 19 (full days), January 24 (evening), 25 & 26 (full days).
The training will be delivered online.
Training seminar fee*: EARLY BIRD £580 before December 1, 2024. Thereafter £640.
Bookings: integrativegim@protonmail.com
*additional fees are due for the personal therapy and supervision required
Information about SMI and the course
Testimonials by those who have completed the training
Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI) was originally developed by Lisa Summer as part of her continuum model of MI and GIM (2015). SMI is a music-centred psychotherapy method used to help clients develop and deepen the connection to their inner strengths and resources. The therapy is intended is to improve general wellbeing and support clients to cope with the challenges of everyday living and become more resilient. SMI is suitable for short-term therapy that can be effectively delivered online as well as in person.
SMI is both a systematic and a flexible, client-centred approach. It has a wide range of clinical application and can be used with individuals and groups, and with young people and adults. The music used, which is chosen by the client with the therapist's support, can potentially be of diverse traditions and genres. There is a strong emphasis on collaboration and on the empowerment of the client (anti-oppressive practice).
SMI therapists work with clients to help them develop existing inner resources which they may be little aware of, or that may be undeveloped:
• the therapist helps the client identify an everyday supportive experience to work on
• the therapist helps the client to select suitable music, whether from the client's or therapist’s music collection
• breathing awareness reduces tension and helps to establish an internal focus
• the client engages in mark/art-making (or in other expressive arts such as dancing or creative writing) whilst listening to the music so as to deepen and integrate their chosen supportive experience and the associated feelings.
• the client is encouraged to access their newly developed inner resources in daily living, making use of their music collection to support this. Where possible, clients learn to carry out SMI at home as a complement to meditation or journaling practices, for example.
SMI can be helpful for clients with a wide range of mental health issues. It can be especially useful for clients who have experienced trauma. The internalised supportive resources developed through SMI can help clients find the emotional regulation and safety needed to begin the process of addressing trauma without feeling overwhelmed or becoming disassociated. Indeed, for all clients work on inner resources comes first and forms the foundation for work focused more directly on psychological and emotional issues (Re-educative Music and Imagery - RMI).
Whilst SMI training is complete in itself, and SMI can be an effective mental health intervention without additional re-educative level work taking place (focused directly on issues), for those who have completed SMI training and wish to undertake further training, Level 2 is a similar length diploma course in Re-educative Music and Imagery (RMI)**.
**the terminology used here to describe levels of practice in MI draws on Wolberg’s (1977) classification of levels of psychotherapy - supportive, re-educative and reconstructive.
Prerequisites for training
The competency-based SMI certificate course is open to those qualified in music therapy, art therapy, counselling, psychotherapy, psychology or similar, who have a minimum of 1 year's post-qualification clinical experience and are registered with a professional therapy organisation or regulating body. For those who are not music therapists, it is required to have a sufficiently well-developed relationship with music, though a formal music education is not required.
The course is also open to Level 3 GIM trainees from other training programmes (subject to their Primary Trainer's approval) and to GIM Fellows wishing to train in SMI and integrate the method with their existing GIM practice.
Training and requirements
The training, taking place over two weekends online, will cover all aspects of the delivery of SMI through didactic and experiential learning. Case presentation of work with children, adults and groups will be included along with an integration of psychodynamic, music-centred, music sociology, art therapy, neurobiology-oriented (polyvagal) and trauma-informed theory. The training seminar will be followed by a period of supervised client work, after which training group members will present their clinical work to one another before qualifying. The requirements to complete the course are to:
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Develop and categorise a pool of SMI music of diverse genres and cultures.
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Receive a minimum of 3 SMI sessions from a qualified Music and Imagery Therapist (MIT).
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Give and receive 3 SMI sessions with a training colleague.
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Undertake personal SMI as self-care.
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Deliver SMI to 2 clients, 7 sessions each.
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Receive 1 small group supervision, 4 individual supervisions and 2 peer review sessions.
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Complete required reading responses.
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Complete case summaries and self-reflective learning reports.
Completion of training
Those who satisfactorily complete the course and its requirements will be awarded a Certificate in SMI and be entitled to practice the method independently. Subject to the Primary Trainer’s recommendation, they will also be eligible to undertake the similar length training in Re-educative Music and Imagery (RMI) offered by the Integrative GIM Training Programme.
Further information
For further information about SMI training and to apply please contact: integrativegim@protonmail.com
Article about SMI with case examples by Sumi Paik-Maier
Short case study focusing on SMI as part of the Continuum Model of GIM by Carine Ries
Short article providing an overview of Music and Imagery (MI) Therapy by Ian Grundy
2025 Music and Imagery (MI) Symposium (online)
Date: Saturday May 10, 2025, online.
This CPD event is intended both for those trained in MI and for those interested in training in it and GIM.
Further details available in due course.
Foundation Certificate in Music Listening, Breathing, Mindfulness, Relaxation, Art and Visualization-Based Techniques (online)
Dates: Spring/Summer 2025 to be confirmed. The training will be delivered online.
Further details available in due course.
Level 2 Training (online):
Diploma in Re-educative Music and Imagery (RMI)
Dates: September, 2025 to be confirmed.
This training is only open to those who have satisfactorily completed the Level 1 Certificate in SMI.
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