Reimagining Mental Health: Aphantasia and the Future of Therapy

This live-streamed presentation explores the intersection of aphantasia and mental healthcare, challenging our understanding of therapeutic approaches and paving the way for more adaptive and personalized mental health practices.

Researchers Reshanne Reeder and Bridget Mawtus will unveil findings from a large-scale study conducted in partnership with Aphantasia Network. Their work investigates the implications of aphantasia on mental healthcare, addressing a critical gap in our understanding of diverse cognitive experiences.

**Event Highlights:**

Rethinking Visualization in Therapy: Discover how traditional visualization-based techniques in cognitive behavioral therapy and other talk therapies may need to evolve to accommodate individuals with aphantasia.

Personalized Mental Healthcare: Learn about the importance of adapting therapeutic approaches to individual cognitive differences, ensuring that mental health support is truly effective for everyone.

Challenging Assumptions: Explore how aphantasia may influence the experience and diagnosis of conditions like PTSD and eating disorders, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of mental health symptoms.


Mawtus, B., Renwick, F., Thomas, B. R., & Reeder, R. R. (preprint). The impact of aphantasia on mental healthcare experiences: Stage 2 Registered Report. PsyArXiv.


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**Exciting Announcement: Aphantasia Specialist Directory**

We're thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our new Aphantasia Specialist Directory. This innovative service is designed to connect individuals with aphantasia to professionals who understand their unique experiences. Our directory will feature trained professionals including therapists, coaches, counselors, and healthcare providers who offer services tailored specifically to aphantasic clients.

The Aphantasia Specialist Directory aims to bridge the gap between aphants seeking support and qualified professionals who truly understand their needs. Stay tuned for the official launch of our Aphantasia Specialist Directory, where finding tailored support will be just a click away.

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[gabriellalaplace]

I am multisensory aphantasic and i had ptsd and flashbacks tons and tons of years ago. Ive seen my memories about 5 times under 6 years old, and 3 times were ptsd flashbacks. However, people without aphantasia probably have flashbacks all day, for weeks or months. Ive not seen any other memories, like watching a movie in my brain. So, not over 6 years old. Ive never been able to willing create stuff in my minds eye; like seeing, hearing, tasting, smell and other stuff. I read the detailed multisensory aphantasia article where someones wife ranked their hyperphantasia. By her standards (comparing to how she ranked herself) i got 0 on everything except 3/10 for emotional memory. I remember somewhat emotions of memories. I would have given myself 5/10 for that, but compared to all the things she said she could do in her minds eye. I got 3/10.

[floragueda]

I usually end up having to explain to the health professionals what aphantasia is. I have CPTSD, ADHD, anxiety, and depressions. It's very complicated. Now I'm about to start with a new therapist. Hope this time I have more luck. 😅😅

[christinegreywolf]

As a aphant child who grew up late 60's and 70's during a strong accepted hippie drug culture, I never had any visions, hallucinations or flashbacks on any common drugs used back then. I never visualized anything. I still find it unbelievable that people can visualize anything! Oh and I also cannot be hypnotized. I had experts while in the military as part of a training and it never happened. It seems to require visualization.

[Eclipto]

I have to assume I'm on the low end of the aphantasia spectrum. There is no apple or horse in my mind's eye, and the rolling ball task is what convinced me fully lol

I have a robust internal monologue. I also dream less than once a year; and, if I do, I'd describe it an audiobook.

I also scored a perfect "super recognizer" score on the Harvard facial recognition test. When I was in grade 2 or 3, my school made me take "gifted child test", which I assume was some kind of IQ test. I scored a perfect 10/10 on the non-verbal part of the test (mental rotation tasks and one-hole punch puzzles).

No mental health issues other than what I'd describe as a functional schizoid personality (flat affect, introverted, maybe a dash of autism).

So, what, I fall into multiple "1% of the population" categories simultaneously?

Ya'll better study me or some shit lol

[ralfschreiner]

61 yo male, German. Max level aphant, knew it since I was a teen. Learned about Adam Zemans research some ten years ago and finally could give it a name and perspective, which in itself helped me a lot. Suffered from a stress-related depression recently and was recommended psychodynamic psychotherapy. Found a therapist I had a good rapport with but they/we couldn't think of ways to get around my inability to actually /recall/ any kind of sensual perception or emotion, so they figured they couldn't help me. Very interesting presentation, thanks a lot. Looking forward to hearing input and recommendations for therapists.

[deedeehathaway]

I missed the live presentation but have watched the video two or three times now and my question is do you think aphantasia can be caused from trauma? I tend to block hurtful/painful things so is my mind blocking out images? I "see" absolutely no images, is from early childhood trauma?

[altnarrative]

I do wonder if my aphantasia helps sometimes because I was in an abusive relationship from 2014 to 2016 and he did and said some awful things to me. I can’t replay any of it in my mind, I just remember details and they certainly never came back unbidden.

I am also not an emotionally unstable female whatsoever, even though I see so many women around me that are like that. I don’t have emotional outbursts but I am quite caring and in touch with my emotions and that of others.

I do wonder if there’s a link.

[amusic]

I would have thought that memory issues are related to SDAM and not aphantasia?

You can have vivid memories but no visual imagination and vice versa.

I have both sdam and aphantasia but I have a friend with aphantasia but they can recall memories visually.

I think it's an important distinction so i think the data is significantly flawed as there's no way of knowing if these apahants with no imagery flashbacks normally have visual memories or not.

[katedickman]

I want to acknowledge how funny this title is, especially for Aphantasiacs like myself