Visually transforming artwork and guided imagery as a way to reduce work related stress: A quantitative pilot study

• How do health workers who are exposed to stressful images in their work transform stress related visual images?
• Transformation of these images is conducted using changes of compositional elements such as shape, color, size and texture rather than verbalizing meaning.
• Transforming images without verbalization reduced SUDS-subjective levels of distress.
• This was true for both drawn image and guided imagery images in the mind, however, there was a difference between the compositional elements used in art and in guided imagery.
• The above has implications for using arts without verbal working through, for stress reduction and for understanding interfaces between guided imagery and art therapy.

This paper explores ways of transforming stress related visual images for health care professionals who are exposed to stressful images in their work. Transformation of these images is conducted using changes of compositional elements such as shape, color, size and texture – through harnessing the power of creativity and imagination to transform an image that is drawn or imagined. We hypothesize that subjective discomfort levels (SUDS) will be reduced by visually transforming their images. We also assume that similar elements of color, size shape and texture will be drawn and imagined. Thirty-six health professionals participated in a five hours workshop that took place in two consecutive days. SUDS levels were calculated and were found to be reduced following image transformation in both art and imagery. On a comparative level, the elements of ‘shape ‘size’ and ‘color’, were highly used in both techniques and did not differ statistically significantly.The compositional elements used to transform images are discussed as a theoretical base for reducing work related stress.