The Practical Use of Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT)

In a previous article, entitled, The Practice of Imagination-Focused Therapy, we elaborated on the goals and the 7 Components of Imagination-Focused Therapy (IFT). We also elaborated on the 4 Steps that you, as a clinician will take to be able to make this resource available to your clients. In the current article, we are going to talk about the practical use of IFT.

Let us start by looking at the five types of imagination based on which of our senses[1] are being used:

1. Auditory Imagination
2. Visual Imagination
3. Tactile Imagination
4. Olfactory Imagination
5. Gustatory Imagination

Looking at the 5 types of imagination based on sensory involvement has a practical reason. For, in the same way some of us may be unaware of our cognitive function of imagination, we may equally be unaware of the different ways we have been making use of our cognitive function of imagination. We may be  unaware that:

1. Our imagination is intrinsically linked to our other cognitive functions of thinking, perceiving[2], reasoning, focusing, or feeling. As a result, we do not know that our cognitive function of imagination runs our life
2. Whether we are seeing, or hearing, or touching, or moving, we are making use of our cognitive function of imagination. This is, of course, the case whenever we are smelling or tasting some cheese, chocolate, or wine, for example.
3. How we interact with any of the above senses or cognitive functions simply reinforces our use of our cognitive function of imagination. This means that an unhealthy[3] relationship with any of them mimics and reinforces an unhealthy relationship with our cognitive function of imagination.

Now let us take a look at how we can start making practical use of our cognitive function of imagination. In a previous article, entitled, How to Start Using Your Imagination, we talked about how we can make use of triggers to stimulate our cognitive function of imagination. The practical use of the cognitive function of imagination includes the use of triggers. And below are three important ones:

1. The Process of Inquiry

Our brain cannot ignore a question. This is because questions stimulate our cognitive function of imagination.[4] The type of stimulation or response is a function of the quality of the question. The higher the quality of the question the more substantial the response. And the Process of Inquiry has been shown to be the most sophisticated way to achieve this goal.

2. Free Association Journaling

Free Association Journaling belongs to the group of three types of journaling that are part of Unconscious-Based Interventions. Here are a few reasons why Free Association Journaling is such a powerful trigger:

1. It starts with the Process of Inquiry
2. It puts the individual in an unrestrained or uncensored state
3. It mimics, encourages, and parallels the intrinsic associative quality of our cognitive function of imagination, which in turn, serves as reinforcement for the stimulation process

3. The Scan System

Just like Free Association Journaling, the Scan System also belongs to a group of Unconscious-Based Interventions. Just like Free Association Journaling, the Scan System also makes use of the Process of Inquiry. Further, the Scan System allows us to become aware of the “in-the-moment state”  of several of our cognitive functions In addition, during the Scan System, we are given direct access to the unconscious mind via the use of Breath Scanning. Such direct access to our unconscious mind makes the Scan System one of the most powerful triggers in the practical use of our cognitive function of imagination.

As you can see, with the use of any of these three triggers, we can create a healthy balance between the conscious and the unconscious mind. This balance will permit us to make conscious use of our cognitive function of our imagination.

In other words, as we explained in a previous article, the practical use of our cognitive function of imagination also entails a conscious use of the same. What are some of the benefits of conscious use of our cognitive function of imagination?

Here are seven of them:

1. Enhanced creativity
2. Increased curiosity
3. Improved concentration
4. Enhanced awareness
5. Improved self-confidence
6. Enhanced cognitive flexibility
7. Improved problem-solving skills

In addition to these seven benefits, our cognitive function of imagination:

1. Assists with healing, growth, and understanding
2. Contributes to our personal and mental development[5]
3. Assists with transpersonal development, helping us understand experiences that extend beyond the personal level of our conscious mind
4. Assists us in making links between our experiences and helps us form detailed connections.
5. Allows our clients to express how they are feeling about something when the direct use of words may be too painful

In addition to the use of triggers, there are three factors that are most relevant in the practical use of our cognitive function of imagination. These three relevant factors are:

1. Environment

This relates to both the physical and the mental components of imagination. This is also more experiential than intellectual, in the sense that it does not follow a “one size fits all” pattern. As it relates to the physical component of the environmental factor, there seems to be variation between how quiet or how noisy the atmosphere may be. And in terms of the mental component, there seems to be variation between how focused versus how relaxed one is to be. The recommendation is to experience each state.

What is universal is that intention, deliberation, and attention matter regardless of whether one is focused or relaxed, or whether one is in a noisy or a quiet environment.

2. Understanding of How Things Work

This factor may be one of the most relevant yet one of the most challenging ones. For it is dependent upon both our intellectual and experiential understanding. This in turn is dependent upon our intellectual and experiential knowledge, the latter being a function of our state of awareness.

Understanding how things work is crucial in having individuals:

1. Become aware of their cognitive function of imagination
2. Understand how their cognitive function of imagination works
3. Experience how they have been unconsciously making their cognitive function of imagination work against them
4. Learn how to make conscious use of their cognitive function of imagination

3. Memory

As a cognitive function, memory works hand in hand with the cognitive function of imagination. This means the more readily available our memory is, the more readily available the substance for our imagination. This also means our relationship with our memory is a significant factor in the practical use of our cognitive function of imagination

This is a preview of the practical use of Imagination-Focused Therapy. Do you find you are ready to learn how to make this available for your clients?

If so, please click HERE to enroll and join us now.

[1] Stewart, Susan. “Remembering the senses.” Empire of the Senses. Routledge, 2021. 59-69.

[2] Nanay, Bence. “Imagination and perception.” The Routledge handbook of philosophy of imagination. Routledge, 2016. 144-154.

[3] Tisdale, C. L. “OUR WONDERFUL IMAGINATIONS.” United States Medical Investigator (1875-1887) 22.1 (1886): 28.

[4] Davies, Jim, Cristina Atance, and Gema Martin-Ordas. “A framework and open questions on imagination in adults and children.” Imagination, Cognition and Personality 31.1 (2011): 143-157.

[5] Taylor, Shelley E., et al. “Harnessing the imagination: Mental simulation, self-regulation, and coping.” American psychologist 53.4 (1998): 429.