Imagery Techniques for Anxiety in Social Work Counseling with a Filipino Service User

Anxiety is an inherent emotional response to perceived threats, but when intense and excessive, it can become maladaptive and impair daily functioning. Despite its prevalence in the Philippines, research on social work-specific interventions for anxiety remains wanting. Thus, this paper employs a case study approach to illustrate the use of imagery in social work counseling with a Filipino service user experiencing anxiety. The intervention involved three different imagery techniques aimed at constructing mental images that are useful in altering emotional states. Results indicate a reduction in self-reported distress and an increase in confidence and coping, highlighting the potential use of imagery as a cost-effective intervention in social work counseling. However, several limitations are acknowledged from the case. The paper concludes that imagery techniques can complement social work counseling to help manage anxiety and suggests steps for future research and practice.