kɹiːˈeɪɾɪv vˌɪʒuːəlᵻzˈeɪʃən ɪz ðə kˈɑːɡnᵻtˌɪv pɹˈɑːsɛs ʌv pˈɜːpəsfəli dʒˈɛnɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ vˈɪʒuːəl mˈɛntəl ˈɪmɪdʒɹi, wɪð ˈaɪz ˈoʊpən ɔːɹ klˈoʊzd, sˈɪmjʊlˌeɪɾɪŋ ɔːɹ ɹˌiːkɹiːˈeɪɾɪŋ vˈɪʒuːəl pɚsˈɛpʃən, ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tə meɪntˈeɪn, ɪnspˈɛkt, ænd tɹænsfˈɔːɹm ðoʊz ˈɪmɪdʒᵻz, kˈɑːnsɪkwəntli mˈɑːdᵻfˌaɪɪŋ ðɛɹ ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪɾᵻd ɪmˈoʊʃənz ɔːɹ fˈiːlɪŋz, wɪð ɪntˈɛnt tʊ ɛkspˈiəɹɪəns ɐ sˈʌbsᵻkwənt bˌɛnɪfˈɪʃəl fˌɪzɪəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl, saɪkəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl, ɔːɹ sˈoʊʃəl ɪfˈɛkt, sˈʌtʃ ɐz ˈɛkspədˌaɪɾɪŋ ðə hˈiːlɪŋ ʌv wˈuːndz tə ðə bˈɑːdi, mˈɪnɪmˌaɪzɪŋ fˈɪzɪkəl pˈeɪn, ɐlˈiːvɪˌeɪɾɪŋ saɪkəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl pˈeɪn ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ æŋzˈaɪəɾi, sˈædnəs, ænd lˈoʊ mˈuːd, ɪmpɹˈuːvɪŋ sˈɛlfɛstˈiːm ɔːɹ sˈɛlfkˈɑːnfɪdəns, ænd ɛnhˈænsɪŋ ðə kəpˈæsᵻɾi tə kˈoʊp wɛn ˌɪntɚɹˈæktɪŋ wɪð ˈʌðɚz.
Creative visualization is the cognitive process of purposefully generating visual mental imagery, with eyes open or closed, simulating or recreating visual perception, in order to maintain, inspect, and transform those images, consequently modifying their associated emotions or feelings, with intent to experience a subsequent beneficial physiological, psychological, or social effect, such as expediting the healing of wounds to the body, minimizing physical pain, alleviating psychological pain including anxiety, sadness, and low mood, improving self-esteem or self-confidence, and enhancing the capacity to cope when interacting with others.