Imagining the other: The influence of imagined conversations on the treatment process

Abstract

The Constructivist Grounded Theory Study reported in this paper is based on the narrative experiences of psychotherapists who used the intersession experience of having an imagined conversation with a client. The therapists reported that they use imagined conversations with clients between sessions when they have reached an impasse in the therapeutic process, and they noted the experience helps them solve the difficulty by helping to provide greater insight into their clients' perspectives. The participants' experiences suggest a theory that explains how imagination can help one understand another: motor memory may surface implicit relational knowing.