In a Swish Pattern exercise, what is the client asked to visualize?

In a Swish Pattern exercise, the client is indeed asked to visualize the present state or behavior alongside the desired state. This technique is designed to help individuals replace undesired habits or thoughts with a more positive, preferred state of being. By bringing both the current (often negative) state and the ideal (desired) state into awareness, the client can effectively "swish" or replace the unwanted state with the preferred one.

This visualization process involves imagining the undesired behavior in detail and then transitioning to the desired behavior, which is often represented in a more appealing or empowering manner. The dynamics of seeing both states allow for recognition of what needs to change, while simultaneously allowing the client to create a vivid mental image of what they want to achieve. This contrast helps facilitate change and reinforces the motivation to adopt the desired state.