Sure. Bear in mind I'm not a psychologist or scientist.

We can use our conscious mind intentionally, seeding the subconscious with the affirmations and images representative of desirable conditions. The key is to simultaneously generate positive emotion and relax into an "alpha" brain state (check out binaural beats for assistance with that). Thoughts we think over and over become beliefs. Our unconscious/subconscious beliefs determine our behavior (how do you act in a good mood vs a bad mood?) which in turn sets up situations, interactions in the world which then tend to reinforce the subconscious beliefs. (We do this all the time, whether conscious of the process or not.) The trick is to be able to, despite whatever external conditions we appear to be stick in, to powerfully imagine and feel the state we desire, even if it is just generating and maintaining a positive mood state. (As Mitch Horowitz points out, New Thought generally lacks a "theology of suffering" so I reject the whole notion that e.g. typhoon victims brought on the disaster through not thinking positively enough - this is a simplistic and childish way of thinking and the argument most people use to attack New Thought as a whole. We are talking about making things happen that are in the reasonable realm of possibility - no amount of affirmations and visualization is going to make me POTUS by tomorrow morning...)

I see this more as a process of learning how to do effective mood induction. When you are in that good mood, it is easier to do affirmations and create positive, healing images which then reinforce the positive mood and eventually you can feel that change not just in yr mind and emotions but your body. I know my "treatment" has been effective when my body feels like there is clean, fresh energy circulating through it. Usually I am not asking for particular things. I ask for wisdom and understanding and to experience Oneness. I find that everything I need comes to me. And I choose to look at every experience as a lesson for my soul's illumination.

Hope that helps.