Fostering Imagination in Clinical Work with Children and Adolescents
with Craig Haen, PhDResearch in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology have highlighted important connections between imagination and the acquisition of emotion regulation and executive functioning skills for young people. At the same time, meta-analyses show that we still have a long way to go in enhancing the effectiveness of child/adolescent treatment, where non-improvement and treatment dropout are common. This presentation will highlight the potential for imagination as a transtheoretical mechanism of change and consider the “why and how” of incorporating techniques that foster imagination into clinical practice.
Presenter: Craig Haen, PhD
Presentation Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Learning objectives:
- Name two reasons why the use of imagination can enhance treatment with children and adolescents.
- Identify at least three techniques for fostering imagination in clinical work with young people.
- Describe the benefits of imaginative therapy for children and adolescents with problem sexual behavior.