This session is built on the premise that the brain likes novelty. Presenters will discuss and demonstrate more than 15 creative techniques that make counseling more engaging. The use of simple props, chairs, movement and a whiteboard will be presented. Much of the session will be short demonstrations of creative techniques to use with various populations. Attendees will walk away with ideas they can use the next time they conduct counseling.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will identify ways to be creative in individual counseling sessions.
Participants will list four specific ways to make counseling more engaging.
Participants will discuss specific creative techniques that work with difficult, mandated clients
Description: In the midst of global crises, feelings of humiliation are intensified (Lindner, 2008; Moïsi, 2009). Counselors are often on the front lines of suffering during turbulent times. This paper explores how the dynamics of humiliation are coming to the forefront of concern around the globe. Applying a relational framework, the authors examine the impact of humiliation, offering a case example that illustrates how counselors can lead their clients out of destructive reactions into creative action.
Objectives:
Examine the dynamics and impact of humiliation on counseling clients
Explore how counselors can lead clients who have experienced humiliation away from destructive reactions and into creative action
Natalie Rogers, daughter of the late Carl Rogers, wrote, “What is creative is frequently therapeutic. What is therapeutic is frequently a creative process.” Expressive arts foster emotional healing, resolve inner conflict, and awaken individual creativity. Come learn creative techniques that foster stronger helping relationships, expedite the counseling process, and deepen the level of the therapeutic work. Leave with 25 ideas to use immediately.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will witness how to clarify broad or abstract client problems and articulate the concerns more concretely and quickly using a creative expression approach
Using the phrases “show me,” “tell me,” and “help me understand” attendees will learn a framework for problem conceptualization
Participants will leave with 25 techniques for assisting clients in therapeutic expression
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
In this session, attendees will learn about evidence-based counseling approaches counselors can use with those who self-injure. The session will provide creative, engaging, interactive, and experiential counseling interventions that can be used in applying evidence-based counseling approaches across counseling settings. Attendees will receive detailed directions for applying the activities.
Learning Objectives:
Learn the functions self-injury serves and the counseling interventions that can be used to address this behavior and its functions.
Identify ways counselors can enhance students’/clients’ motivation to cease self-injuring via the use of creative interventions.
Learn 10 creative counseling interventions (which are rooted in evidence-based treatment approaches) that can be used -when counseling those who self-injure- to aid in the development of emotion regulation skills and an enhanced interest and ability to stop injuring.
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
Source:The Creative Arts in Counseling, Fifth Edition, by Samuel T. Gladding
Description: In this chapter, I explore the multidimensional premises behind the power of play and humor as well as the practical use of play and humor in counseling. I treat each of these modalities separately and show how each may be used in counseling. In addition, I explain and illustrate how play and humor can be used with a variety of populations (e.g., from children to older adults) and in various settings (e.g., from groups to families). The use of play and humor with other creative arts (e.g., drama and the visual arts) is also discussed.
Objectives:
Explore multidimensional premises behind play and humor as well as the practical use of play and humor in counseling
Examine various forms of play and humor and strategies for how these can be used in counseling with a wide variety of client populations
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
Source: Duffey, T., Haberstroh, S., & Trepal, H. (2016). Creative approaches in counseling and psychotherapy. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (6th ed., pp. 445–468). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Description: This chapter (a) addresses creativity as a theoretical construct used by counselors and other mental health professionals, (b) provides a historical context for the use of expressive therapies and the creative arts in counseling, (c) distinguishes creativity in counseling (CIC) as an approach within the profession of counseling, (d) discusses the ethical parameters around using creative approaches in counseling practice, and (e) applies CIC as an approach in the case study of Maria.
Objectives:
Explore the historical context of expressive therapies and the creative arts in counseling
Apply creativity as a theoretical construct used by counselors
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
Source:The Creative Arts in Counseling, Fifth Edition, by Samuel T. Gladding
Description: In this chapter, I explore the multidimensional premise behind the power of music as well as the practical use of music in counseling. I distinguish between music therapy and the use of music in counseling. In addition, I explain and illustrate how music can be used with a variety of populations (e.g., from children to older adults) and in various settings (e.g., from clinics to educational environments). The use of music with other creative arts is also discussed.
Objectives:
Explore how counselors can utilize music as a bridge for client's to develop new insights and behaviors
Examine the multidimensional premise behind the power of music as well as the practical use of music in counseling
The use of humor is like other counseling techniques: it can hurt or it can heal. This session will examine when and how humor can be used in counseling across the life span, considering multicultural factors and other variables, such as age, sexuality and ability. The focus will be on how humor can help clients in multiple circumstances broaden their perspectives, become more positive and lighthearted and find meaningfulness, balance and levity in their lives. Evidence-based research will be discussed as well as case studies.
Learning Objectives:
Professional counselors will see through case examples how humor can help change the perspective of clients and thus make problems and difficulties more manageable and/or solvable.
Professional counselors will hear and see illustrations of how levity as a tool in counseling can keep clinical sessions from becoming unhealthy, depressing, or predominantly negative.
Professional counselors will learn how to assist clients in finding brighter and lighter moments in their lives and that of society, especially when they face difficulties. Part of this strategy is through teaching clients how to humor themselves in situations where they might otherwise give up or give in to circumstance they face
