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Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT): An Introduction

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW

First and foremost, what is Imagination-Focused Therapy?

Before answering this question, let us first provide a quick background:

The current number of therapeutic modalities in our field of mental health totals over five hundred. Many of these treatment modalities focus on either thought[1], feeling, the body[2], belief, perception, or a combination of the same. Some of the other treatment modalities focus either on the unconscious mind, on mindfulness[3], or on behavior, on goals, or motivation; while still, some other treatment modalities focus on a sense of self, or on relationship, or on memory.

What is important to note is that of the 500+ treatment modalities that we currently have available, very few of them focus on, or, at least, include in their framework, the cognitive faculty of, imagination[4]. Examples of such therapy modalities either focus on, or, at least, include in their framework, the cognitive faculty of, imagination include and do not limit to:

  1. Exposure Therapy
  2. Guided-Therapeutic Imagery
  3. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
  4. Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT)
  5. Integrative Therapy
  6. Experiential Therapy
  7. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
  8. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI)
  9. Body-Mind Psychotherapy (BMP)
  10. Jungian Psychotherapy
  11. Imagery Rehearsal Therapy[5]

There are also therapeutic techniques that are based on the cognitive faculty of imagination. They include and do not limit to:

  1. Imagery Rescripting [6]
  2. Rewind Technique[7]
  3. Compassionate Imagery[8]
  4. Imaginal Flooding[9]

With this background in mind, let us now go ahead and address the question, “What is Imagination-Focused Therapy?” The SWEET Institute coins the term “Imagination-Focused Therapy” (IFT), to represent and categorize the above group of therapy modalities that either focus on or include in their framework, the cognitive faculty of imagination[10]. Further, Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT) is also used to describe a distinct modality that also focuses entirely on the cognitive faculty of imagination.  This means, Imagination-Focused Therapy can be operationalized in two ways, both of which complement each other. And to summarize:

The term “Imagination-Focused Therapy” (IFT) has been coined by the SWEET Institute to describe the following:

  1. Any type of therapy or its derivative that makes use of the cognitive faculty of imagination, instead of, or in addition to the other cognitive functions, as its focus.
  2. A therapy modality, developed by the SWEET Institute, that helps individuals use their imagination to help effect changes in all areas of their lives. It primarily focuses on helping individuals:
    1. Learn about their faculty function of imagination
    2. Increase their awareness of how they have been using it
    3. Learn how to reap its infinite benefits
    4. Implement its use in every single aspect of their lives

Why Coining the term?

Is it for the sake of having a new term? Or does it really help having one?

There is an abundance of scientific evidence on the benefits of the use of the cognitive faculty of imagination. Given how individuals tend to, unknowingly, make use of their imagination to their detriment, formal attention is worth giving to the clinical use of the cognitive faculty of imagination as part of our mission to do what will work to help end suffering for our patients and clients. Until now, the term, Imagination-Focused Therapy did not exist; the treatment intervention was not available; the use of the cognitive function of imagination in clinical practice requires much attention, hence the coining of the term, Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT), a much-needed step in a promoting direction.

What are the Benefits of Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT)?

The benefits of Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT) is based on the benefits of the use of the cognitive faculty of imagination.

Once anyone has at least a basic understanding of the cognitive faculty of imagination, of its role, of how it works, and of its effects, one will learn to then put it to use in a conscious way. When a therapist is helping patients or clients make proper use of the cognitive faculty of imagination, in a therapeutic milieu, or in therapy, we then can call that a therapy that is focused on the use of the cognitive function of imagination, or simply call it, Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT).

As such, Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT) is very straightforward. It revolves around one thing and one thing only-the cognitive function of imagination. Its application in clinical care is also very straightforward. All it takes are the following 7 components that clinicians will use to help their patients and clients learn and understand:

  1. What imagination is (Psychoeducation)
  2. How they have been using it all along, even when they are not aware of it (Awareness)
  3. The fact that everyone makes use of our cognitive faculty of imagination (The Science of Imagination)
  4. How individuals have been using their faculty of Imagination against themselves, all along (The Unconscious Way)
  5. How to start using the cognitive faculty of imagination to one’s benefit and that of others (Conscious based action)
  6. The infinite ability of the cognitive faculty of imagination and learn how to apply such ability (Awareness Enhancement)
  7. How to apply this new skill in every single aspect of life (Mastery)

With the application of these 7 components in clinical care, clinicians will be able to pay attention to what is working, what is not working, what seems to be working best, and for whom, and in which context; and how to best tailor this modality to a specific patient or client population, for a specific condition, challenge, or context. Clinicians will start to learn to do that during our upcoming 4-week Imagination-Focused Certificate Course, scheduled to start on Wednesday, November 9th, 7-9pm. Beyond the certificate course, clinicians will be able to continue to achieve all that through free consultations with the SWEET Institute.

With more clinicians making use of Imagination-Focused Therapy, there will present a need for formal scientific studies to help provide a universal way to apply Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT) more broadly. This will then help make the benefits of Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT) readily available for as many clinicians as possible, to then help as many patients and clients as possible. And then to provide the best way to deliver and tailor that modality in the most effective and efficient way possible

The SWEET Institute has been established with the following in mind:

  1. Provide the best possible environment for our all clinicians for their personal and professional development, learning the best possible skills to best benefit their clients, and to help their clients end their suffering and develop their fullest potential, through the process of empowerment, self-actualization, and self-transcendence
  2. Bridge the gap between the latest scientific developments and the practice of clinical care, making translational science available for clinicians and clients
  3. Disseminate tools that will make it much easier for clinicians, health administrators, agencies, and clients alike to promote preventive-based measures, recovery-oriented care, and trauma-informed care, in addition to person-centered care, and strength-based care.

As part of this mission, the SWEET Institute has been relentlessly searching, exploring, and finding what works best to then make it available to clinicians, their clients, their agencies, and healthcare leaders. This is the foundation for the introduction of Imagination-Focused Therapy, and we hope you will join us, learn with us, and make the use of this treatment modality with your patients and clients, whereby helping them end their suffering, live a life of satisfaction, of happiness, and of success.

We look forward to seeing you then. Click here to enroll, now.

[1] Clark, David A., ed. Intrusive thoughts in clinical disorders: Theory, research, and treatment. Guilford Press, 2005.

[2] Lee, Spike WS, and Lorenzo Cecutti. “Three mechanisms of mind–body influence: Feelings, concepts, and procedures.” (2022).

[3] Karl, Johannes A., and Ronald Fischer. “The Relationship Between Negative Affect, State Mindfulness, and the Role of Personality.” Mindfulness (2022): 1-9.

[4] O’Connor, Kieron P., and Frederick Aardema. “The imagination: Cognitive, pre-cognitive, and meta-cognitive aspects.” Consciousness and Cognition 14.2 (2005): 233-256.

[5] Krakow, Barry, and Antonio Zadra. “Imagery rehearsal therapy: principles and practice.” Sleep Medicine Clinics 5.2 (2010): 289-298.

[6] Holmes, Emily A., Arnoud Arntz, and Mervin R. Smucker. “Imagery rescripting in cognitive behaviour therapy: Images, treatment techniques and outcomes.” Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry 38.4 (2007): 297-305.

[7] Pudney, Lyanne. “Rewind technique for trauma in ambulance staff.” Journal of Paramedic Practice 14.4 (2022): 170-171.

[8] Hackmann, Ann. “Compassionate imagery in the treatment of early memories in Axis I anxiety disorders.” Compassion. Routledge, 2005. 364-380.

[9] Keane, Terence M., and Danny G. Kaloupek. “Imaginal flooding in the treatment of a posttraumatic stress disorder.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 50.1 (1982): 138.

[10] Murphy, Alice. “Imagination in science.” Philosophy Compass 17.6 (2022): e12836.

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