New Guided Imagery Audio Kit Released to Meet Rising Tide of Domestic Violence

    AKRON, OH, October 30, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In response to a national surge in domestic violence and an increased demand on crisis shelters, counseling centers and emergency responders, Health Journeys Inc. has released a Domestic Violence Recovery Pack, a set of five audio programs that aim to remediate the emotional impact of battering and abuse at the hands of a spouse, parent or domestic partner. Experts point to the economic downturn as the primary cause for this dramatic spike in intimate partner violence, up over 20% since 2008, and most likely much higher, due to under-reporting.

The audio pack uses a technique called guided imagery to target the emotional impacts of longstanding abuse, combining five proven titles to remediate posttraumatic stress, depression, panic attacks, heartbreak and sabotaged self-confidence. Guided imagery is a gentle form of soothing narrative and calming music, combining to evoke images, memories and fantasies in a deeply relaxed, immersive state to catalyze healing and stress reduction in the listener.

Research from three separate studies with traumatized survivors of rape and violence at Duke University and the Durham V.A. Medical Center established Health Journeys' guided imagery as significantly reducing PTSD symptoms and after-effects of violence, even in long-term sufferers.

According to Belleruth Naparstek, the social worker and guided imagery pioneer who created these programs, "Self-administered audios can complement, support and augment the work of counselors, health professionals and emergency responders, who are already hard pressed to serve the increasing demand from this growing population." Award winning composer-musician Steven Mark Kohn collaborated with Naparstek to create the digital content.

According to the Mayo Clinic, which actively distributes these audios through its website and clinical programs, "Guided imagery is more than listening to relaxing sounds. It's a learning process to listen to someone's voice, relax the breathing and consciously direct the ability to imagine. The effect sends a message to the emotional control center of the brain. From there, the message is passed along to the body's endocrine, immune and autonomic nervous systems. These systems influence a wide range of bodily functions, including heart and breathing rates and blood pressure."

The Domestic Violence Recovery Pack was created at the request of E.R. nurses, rape crisis counselors and prison personnel seeking added resources to meet this growing challenge.

Health Journeys is a Northeast Ohio company that has successfully pioneered and tested scores of CDs and downloads for over 50 health and mental health challenges. Programs are used by Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, the U.S. Army, the Department of Veterans Affairs and hundreds of hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The Domestic Violence Recovery Pack, and the entire catalog of Health Journeys products can be found at www.healthjourneys.com. For more information, contact: Elizabeth Hauser, email [email protected] or telephone 800.800.8661 ext. 100.

Health Journeys is a multi-media publishing company offering a range of outstanding holistic health tools contributed or selected by Belleruth Naparstek. For further information, please contact Elizabeth Hauser at 800.800.8661 x100.

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