Mind Medicine: Can Guided Imagery Help the Brain Heal?

Is it the brain controlling the mind—or the mind shaping the brain? In this episode of Brain In Progress, Seema Mathur sits down with Belleruth Naparstek, a pioneer in guided imagery. She began her career as a clinical social worker in the late 1960s and started creating audio tapes to support her patients’ healing. Increasingly over the years, her work has been used alongside mainstream medicine. Blending science, storytelling, and Seema’s deeply personal healing journey after brain injury, this conversation explores the fascinating intersection of guided imagery, biology, and neuroplasticity. With emerging research on guided imagery and meditation—including brain imaging studies—showing activity in areas tied to emotion, pain, and cognition, guided imagery is proving to be more than relaxation—it may be a way to actively boost your own brain health. In This Episode: -Guided imagery and affirmations: how words impact the body and brain -The science: brain imaging studies reveal how guided imagery “lights up” parts of the brain involved in cognition and emotion -The powerful role of emotion—especially gratitude, safety, and love—in healing -How stress impacts disease—and whether imagery can help counter it -Making these practices accessible for real life—even for those who can’t sit still -Seema’s personal story: using guided imagery during recovery from brain injury