Creative Problem Solving through Guided Visualization

Constant Hine, in her CD, "Engaging Adult Learners Using Multiple Intelligences: The Toolkit of Adult Education Instructional Strategies" offers a technique that can be used by trainers, college professors or program directors. She describes the following guided visualization as a tool to help people solve problems or develop creative new solutions to challenges:

"I ask participants to imagine walking in the woods, very relaxed and with clarity of mind, contemplating a specific current challenge they are experiencing...

They come across a threshold or gateway of some kind. It is clear that crossing through this gateway is the next step in finding solutions to the current challenge...They notice there is a box next to the gateway. They open this box to find a significant and helpful item that represents what they need to know before going through the gate. Next, I suggest they discover something in their pocket that will unlock the gate -- to visualize taking it out; to clearly understand what this item represents in terms of finding a solution or deeper insight regarding this situation. Imagine they are able to now walk through the threshold successfully.

After participants have finished their visualization, I ask them to write about their experience and share it with another person. It is surprising how often people are able to tap into a deep ‘insight’ and come up with remarkable solutions."

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