Chapter 6e: Creative, Narrative, Brief Counseling, Integrative Theories & Techniques

What are the different types of creative therapies?

- Art Therapy (anyone who is artist will tell you that art is self expression, so maybe get insights about self. Also cathartic, way manage feelings/behavior, reduce stress, improve self esteem. It’s a way express nonverbally).

- Music Therapy (helps with relaxation, stress management, management of emotions. Can also be a way to express self if you play it yourself).

- Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc. Research shows if write about trauma, feel better mentally & physically than if write about something mundane).

What is art therapy?

Using artistic endeavors like paint, draw, color, sculpture in counseling to help client grow/heal.

What are the benefits of art therapy?

- A different way to express oneself

- Stress relief

- Self Insight/Therapist gain insight into client (especially with kids, learn about what's on kids mind, happening in their life).

What are the certification and licensure requirements of art therapy?

- Certification: Complete national exam; Master’s degree art therapy from accredited institution; 1,000 hours direct client contact.

- Licensure: PA requires LPC; Six states require art therapy license.

What is music therapy?

Either listening to music or playing an instrument for purposes of growth and healing in counseling.

What are the benefits of music therapy?

- A different way to express oneself

- Stress relief - heart beat mimics music

- Self Insight

- Social Skills

- Motor skills & self esteem

What are the certification and licensure requirements of music therapy?

- Certification: Complete national exam; Bachelor’s degree music therapy from accredited AMTA institution; 1,200 hours clinical training including supervised internship.

- Licensure: see individual state requirements (LPC, etc.)

What is the narrative theory by Michael White and David Epson?

- Theory - post-modern - reality is a perceptual construction.

- Person is not the problem, the problem is how the story is told. Distress comes from gap in life story - outdated, rigid, negative.

What is the process of narrative therapy?

- Creation and use of documents/writing as healing tools

- Therapist asks questions to generate new more productive stories

- Client asked view story from point view different characters (Enactment: client/client & therapist act out different characters in client’s story)

- Client asked to project their story into future

What are two criticisms of narrative therapy?

- No quantitative data to support its effectiveness

- Social constructivist view is incorrect if the client's view goes against society

What is brief counseling?

- Definition: Small # sessions (~3-15)

- Brief counseling is increasingly being used to be economic and to help serve more clients.

- Most theoretical orientations have a brief counseling model (like Psychodynamic & Cog-B)

- Both focus on one problem to decrease

What is solution-focused therapy with brief counseling and its process?

- Talk only solutions, do not analyze problem or client's past (not concerned with why it occurs)

- Problem Solving: 1. Define Problem. 2. Brainstorm Solutions 3. Evaluate Solutions (pros/cons) 4. Pick & Implement Solution

- Talk only about constructing solutions to presenting problem

- Look for client's strengths to help them

- Look for small changes & exceptions to client's problem behavior

What is a limitation of brief counseling?

Research shows some clients (severe problems, chronic mental illness, those susceptible relapse) are not helped by brief counseling.

Since the 1980s more counselors have taken an eclectic approach, what does this mean?

When a counselor practices multiple approaches. But it is limited due to being too haphazard, no rhyme or reason to the approaches.

What is an integrative theoretical orientation?

When therapists judiciously select two or more orientations for working with a client.

What is theoretical integration?

Integrate two theories into whole for one client

What is technical eclecticism?

Conceptualize using one theory, but practice techniques from different orientations (The problem may be a psychodynamic concept, but use Cognitive and Humanistic orientations to help the client).

How do you choose to integrate theories?

- Different problems

- Different personalities/cultures

- Different stages in process