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Creativity in Counseling: Fostering Effective and

Resilient Counseling Practice Collaboratively

Thelma Duffey, Ph.D.

Introduction

Thelma Duffey, Ph.D.President-Elect The American Counseling AssociationProfessor and Department ChairThe University of Texas at San Antonio

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it

on.”

-Albert Einstein

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Complications

Definition of Creativity in Counseling

“CIC is defined as a shared counseling process involving growth-promoting shifts that occur from an intentional focus on the therapeutic relationship and the inherent human creative capacity to affect change. Creativity is as fundamental to counseling practice as the therapeutic relationship. In the best sense, the therapeutic relationship ignites creative problem solving, understanding, flexibility, and adaptability. In turn, this shared creativity deepens the counseling relationship” (Duffey, Haberstroh, & Trepal, 2015).

CIC and Human Nature

Born with innate creative potential

Can be socialized out of us

Can be nurtured

Essential for human relationships and problem solving

Co-creativity inspires action

CIC Basic Tenets

CIC is relational and co-creative.

Promotes problem-solving, perspective shifting, creative imagination, and relational skill-building.

Inspires risk taking and flexibility.

Respectful of power and context (not focused on pathology).

Expressed and experienced in diverse ways.

May involve creative interventions or other media.

CIC Goals – To Help Clients:

Connect with innate resourcefulness, innovation, and creativity

Shift to more productive and realistic perspective

Become unstuck

Connect with spontaneity, sense of fun, and levity

Broaden options for relating authentically and realistically

CIC Process of Change

A focus on relationships.

Focus on context and not pathology.

Accessing and developing shared creativity.

Shifts in perspective.

Self-compassion.

Greater creativity.

CIC Interventions

Allowing for creativity of client and counselor provides opportunities to affect change and movement.

Humor

Connection

Does not require the use of media

When Media is used:

Guided by theoretical intention and counseling skill.

Purposeful and grounded in theory.

Media and creative interventions can help give voice to a situation in ways talk alone may not accomplish.

Thoughtful interventions to support client growth.

May Involve Creative And Innovative Interventions Using

Various Media

Music

Play

Poetry

Journaling

Puppets/Toys

Board Games

Theatre

Art

Sand

Books

Literature

Movies

Technology

Crafts

Creative Arts Therapies Use various forms of media (dance, play, art, poetry) to

help clients understand and communicate their concerns. Focus on specific creative media as distinct therapies Many practitioners begin as artists skilled at using media

prior to CAT training. Have their own credentialing and practice parameters

(codes of ethics, standards of practice). Requires documented training and supervised experience

in each of the regulated creative arts therapies.

Distinctions between Creative Arts Therapies

and Creativity in Counseling

Distinctions between Creative Arts Therapies

and Creativity in Counseling

Creativity in Counseling Founded for counselors. Reflects and honors the synergy of creativity within

the counseling relationship. Understand that CIC is not a simple catchall or

catalogue of activities void of theoretical and research underpinnings.

Supports the creative process within counselors and clients.

Follows the ACA Code of Ethics and state licensing boards.

ACA Code of Ethics

“Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience” (C.2.a., p. 8).

CIC Ethical Recommendations

Professional ethics are standards adopted by a professional community.

Professional counselors subscribe to the ACA Code of Ethics.

Other groups of professionals maintain their own ethical and practice codes.

Individual state licensing boards also develop and maintain ethical codes,

Ethical codes demarcate professional boundaries.

Trained professional counselors with an ethical foundation based on the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) can use their creativity and the creativity of their clients.

Counselors can use music in their sessions but may not identify as music therapists, etc.

Applying CIC with Maria

Grew up in traditional Hispanic family

Role model for younger children

First to attend college

Met a man from another culture

Family opposed to their marriage

She married and moved away

Disconnection from family

Became a teacher

Marriage was abusive

Two young children

Divorced

Separated from family

Blamed by family for breaking family rules

Disconnected from friends after divorce

Lonely, depressed, and has suicidal ideation.

CIC Conceptualization

Recognize context of Maria’s experience and conceptualize her current stressors from a relational, multicultural, and strength-based perspective.

Navigating two worlds.

Beloved and conflictual family and cultural histories.

Contemporary lifestyle of choice.

Divorce/Disenfranchised loss.

Feelings of betrayal, rejection, abandonment.

Spousal abuse --- shame.

Role model – shame.

Feeling disempowered makes sense.

Feelings of failure.

CIC Conceptualization

Suicidal thoughts.

Use the power of the relationship and creativity to:

Help her make sense of her experience.

Find compassion for herself through her connections.

Connect a more productive and realistic perspective of

herself and her situation.

Do not pathologize.

Not an issue with the “self.”

Partner with her to work through losses using their relationship and creativity.

 

A Musical Chronology

Uses songs to evoke memories and emotions

Serves as a point of connection to our experiences and to an engaged listener

Serves as a soundtrack of our lives

Helps us tell our stories and process our experiences

Specific songs can describe our current emotional state (takes emotional pulse)

Songs can help us identify a “future” song, a song we can “live into” (Counseling goals)

A Musical Chronology: The Process

Step One – consider and compile song list chronologically.

Step Two – provide context for story and process relevant experiences using music to evoke memories.

Step Three – identify song (s) that reflects current thoughts, feelings, and beliefs (Taking our emotional pulse)

Step Four – select song (s) that reflects our hopes for the future (Counseling goals)

Memory Boxes

Significant personal objects can be used to decorate, or be stored in the box

Photos

Handwritten notes

Favorite recipes

Copies of e-mails

Bibliotherapy

Use books with adults, teens, and children

Connect to the characters in the stories

Identify with characters’ emotions & dilemmas

Serve as a way to interpret a personal situation

Provides an opportunity to reconsider ones own story

Other Possibilities

Working with Maria’s Dream

Bibliotherapy

Journaling

DRC

ACC as a Resource