Nightmare Relief: Implementing Imagery Rehearsal Therapy in Counseling
Alwin E. Wagener, J. Scott Young
Journal of Mental Health Counseling April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.17744/mehc.47.2.01 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Imagery rehearsal therapy |
| Topics | Anxiety Dreaming |
| Keywords | Guided imagery Psychotherapist Counselor education Higher education |
| Key findings | Imagery rehearsal therapy reduces the frequency and severity of nightmares and associated negative mental health symptoms, especially those related to posttraumatic stress disorder. |
Abstract
Abstract Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) is a research-supported behavioral intervention shown to reduce the frequency and severity of nightmares. Research also shows IRT reduces negative mental health symptoms, especially those associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. IRT is straightforward for mental health counselors to facilitate, and the steps for implementing it are described along with strategies to ensure cultural competence and effectiveness in the delivery. The knowledge of how to implement an IRT intervention gives mental health counselors the ability to directly support clients in addressing the disturbing experience of nightmares.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming | 2019 | Review | |
| Sleep and dreaming are for important matters | 2013 | Review | |
| Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis | 2020 | Review | |
| My Dream, My Rules: Can Lucid Dreaming Treat Nightmares? | 2019 | Review | |
| Dream Recall: State or Trait Variable? Part I: Model, Theories, Methodology and Trait Factors | 1996 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 26
- Long-term treatment effects of imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares in a population with diverse psychiatric disorders UvA-DARE 2016
- Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for trauma-affected refugees – A case series Research at the University of Copenhagen January 7, 2021
- The long wave of COVID-19: a case report using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for COVID-19-related nightmares after admission to intensive care unit. Frontiers in Psychology May 18, 2023
- Conquering nightmares on the phone: one-session counseling using imagery rehearsal therapy Somnologie: Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin September 1, 2021
- Telephone-guided imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares: Efficacy and mediator of change. Journal of Sleep Research June 1, 2021
and 21 more in the library