Integrating The Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice 6wm6o

Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice

Theory-Based Interventions

Suzanne Degges-White, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC, is an associate professor in the Counseling and Development program in the Department of Graduate Studies in Education at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, IN. She received her master’s degree in Community Counseling and her PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she also earned a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies. She is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice, and she has been actively integrating the expressive arts into her clinical practice for more than a decade with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. She has developed and taught graduate courses addressing the use of expressive arts into counseling for both mental health and school counselors. She also teaches courses related to play therapy, spirituality and creativity, and mindfulness-based counseling and education. Suzanne’s research interests also include counselor supervision and women’s development across the life span and she has received multiple grants and research awards for her work. She has published numerous articles and book chapters addressing women’s well-being and healthy psychological development. Suzanne is also on the editorial boards of multiple counseling journals and she recently completed a book exploring the role of friendships in the lives of girls and women as they grow, develop, and change over the years.

Nancy L. Davis, PhD, LPC, LSC, is an assistant professor and assessment coordinator in the School of Education at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, IN. Nancy earned her master’s degree in Counseling Education at Long Island University, postlicensure and certificate in School Counseling from Purdue University, and PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from Union Institute. She has used the creative arts in her clinical work with children, adolescents, and adults in schools, clinical practice, and numerous hospice settings. Nancy’s research interests also include multicultural communication and collaboration, institutional spirituality delivery, and older adult life review.

Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice

Theory-Based Interventions

Suzanne Degges-White, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC Nancy L. Davis, PhD, LPC, LSC Editors

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Integrating the expressive arts into counseling practice : theory-based interventions / Suzanne Degges-White, Nancy L. Davis, editors. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8261-0606-3 — ISBN 978-0-8261-0607-0 (e-book ISBN)

1. Arts—Therapeutic use. 2. Mind and body therapies. I. Degges-White, Suzanne. II. Davis, Nancy L. [DNLM: 1. Sensory Art Therapies—methods. 2. Bibliotherapy—methods. 3. Psychodrama—methods. WM 450] RC489.A72I58 2011 616.89’1656—dc22 2010032765

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This book is dedicated to my three children, Georgia, Andrew, and David, who not only allow, but demand, that I exercise and develop my own creativity as I seek balance in family and career. They are by far the most precious and shining examples of my own personal creativity! —SED

I dedicate this book to my inspiration, my creative and expressive daughters, who integrate expressive arts into their own various practices and who inspire me daily with their many skills. —NLD

Contents

Contributing Authors Foreword Preface Acknowledgment

1. Introduction to the Use of Expressive Arts in Counseling

Suzanne Degges-White

Overview of the Expressive Arts

Key Expressive Arts Modalities

Visual Arts

Music Therapy

Drama Therapy

Expressive Writing/Poetry Therapy

Dance/Movement Therapy

Applicability of Expressive Arts Across Diversities

Summary

2. Adlerian Theory

Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

History of Adlerian Theory

Individual Psychology

Goals and Process of Adlerian Counseling

Theory Summary

Adlerian Practice and the Creative Arts

Play Therapy

Bibliotherapy

Expressive Arts Interventions Structured Multiple-Domain Family Drawing Technique Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson Show Me Your Family in the Dollhouse Activity Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson A Structured Discovery Bibliotherapy Technique Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson Life Map Accordion Book Katrina Cook Tissue Paper Collage Nan J. Giblin Seeing the Client’s World Through Images and Collage Teah L. Moore

3. Solution-Focused Therapy

Mark Gillen

Historical Context of Solution-Focused Therapy

Basic Assumptions

The Counseling Process

Efficacy of Solution-Focused Therapy

Implications for Counseling and the Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts Interventions Drawing a Solution Elsa Soto Leggett and Kathy Ybañez New Chapter Pamphlet Stitch Book Katrina Cook Race Car Identification Sheri Pickover Discovering Solutions in the Sand Charles E. Myers

4. Cognitive–Behavioral Theory

Dixie Meyer

Foundations of Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy

Basic Tenets

Cognitions Composition

The Counseling Process

Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy Techniques and Integration of Expressive Arts

Empirical for Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy

Expressive Arts Interventions Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy Drama in Two Acts Dixie Meyer Acting Out: Paradoxical Intention Dixie Meyer Felting with Family Cheryl L. Shiflett and HoiLam Tang The Teapot Transition Nancy L. Davis Reversal Moves for Problematic Thinking Suzanne Degges-White

5. Choice Theory

Torey L. Portrie-Bethke

History of Choice Theory

Core ideas and Concepts of Theory

Human Nature

Quality Worlds

Mental Health

Concerns Addressed by Choice Theory

Total Behavior

WDEP System

Therapeutic Goals

Multicultural Perspective

Choice Theory and the Creative Arts

Expressive Arts Interventions Floral Arrangements Depicting Quality World Torey L. Portrie-Bethke Choice-Mobile Activity Rachel Payne, Chloe Lancaster, Laura Heil, and Melina Pineda The Peer Pressure Cooker (“Taking a Stand”) Beth McCabe “Fashion Statements Are a Fashion Choice” Activity Samantha Grzesik and Katie Vena

6. Existential Theory

Michele P. Mannion

History of Existential Theory

Core Concepts of Existential Psychotherapy

Freedom

Death

Isolation

Meaninglessness

The Link to Anxiety, Authenticity, and Guilt

Concerns Addressed by Existential Theory

Existential Theory and the Creative Arts

Overview of Art Therapy

Identification of Existential Themes

Expressive Arts Interventions Collecting Meaning: The Shadow Box as Existential Reflection Michele P. Mannion Feelings Landscape Mardie Howe Rossi and Karen L. Mackie Bridging the Gap of Self-Awareness Imelda N. Bratton and Christopher P. Roseman Musical Dialogues Anna Warzecha and Katarzyna Uzar Reframing With Mat Boards Kristin I. Douglas

7. Feminist Theory

Heather Trepal and Thelma Duffey

Historical Developments or Foundations of Feminist Theory

Development of Feminism

Development of Feminist Theory in Counseling

Differences Between Feminist Theory and Traditional Theories of Counseling

Core Concepts of Feminist Theory

Gender Roles

Power

Issues of Oppression and Marginalization (Intersections of Multiple Identities)

Working With Hierarchies in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Advocacy

Concerns Addressed by Feminist Theory

Philosophy, Rather Than Techniques or Tools

Research Base and Efficacy

Expressive Arts and Feminist Theory

Flexibility as a Core Concept of Both Expressive Arts and Feminist Theory

Exploration of Multiple Identities via the Expressive Arts

Summary

Expressive Arts Interventions A Musical Chronology and the Emerging Life Song Thelma Duffey and Heather Trepal Therapeutic Community Drum Circle Flossie Ierardi Woman Craft Embroidery Hoop Rachel Payne Altered Books and Changed Lives Katrina Cook

8. Gestalt Theory

Brian J. Mistler

Historical Development

Core Concepts of Gestalt Theory

Research Base and Efficacy

Gestalt Techniques and the Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts Interventions “Empty Bear” Technique: Using Puppets With Adults Brian J. Mistler E-Motion, E-Motion Shield Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall Shadow Party Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall The Boardroom Stephanie Helsel Unpaid Bills Stephanie Helsel

9. Person-Centered Therapy

Melissa Luke

Historical Developments

Applications and Research Findings

Expressive Arts Perspective

Expressive Arts Interventions Postcard Poetry Slam Melissa Luke Feeling Sculptures Made From Garbage Rachel Payne, Chloe Lancaster, Laura Heil, and Melina Pineda Wall of Images Tina R. Paone Floratherapy: A Garden of Dreams Kristi Perryman, Paul Blisard, and Angela L. Anderson Family of Origin Bouquet Kristi Perryman, Paul Blisard, and Angela L. Anderson Client Mirror Sheri Pickover Using Metaphor in Facilitating Self-Awareness Corie Schoeneberg, Nancy Forth, and Atsuko Seto Empowerment Over Hurtful Words Beth McCabe Personality Zoo Jill Packman and Ireon Dupree Magic Wands

Jill Packman and Ireon Dupree

10. Narrative Approaches

Shawn Patrick

Core Concepts of Narrative Therapy

Concerns Addressed by Theory

Narrative Approaches and the Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts Interventions The Statement of Us John Beckenbach Coconstructed Stories Katrina Cook and Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich My Metaphor Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall Fractions of Colors Ileana Lane Yakima Time Ball (Adapted From a Traditional Native American Practice) Nan J. Giblin Cherokee Gourd Painting (As Taught by Momfeather Erickson From Marion, Kentucky) Nan J. Giblin A Multilevel Timeline Sheri Pickover Narrative Sandtray With Clients Adele Logan O’Keefe and Kathleen Levingston

11. Integrative Theory in the Expressive Arts

Sally S. Atkins, Keith M. Davis, and Lauren E. Atkins

Historical Foundations of Integrative Expressive Arts Therapy

Core Concepts

Issues Addressed by Theory

Integrative Theory and the Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts Interventions Animal Medicine/Strength Shields Keith M. Davis Music-Inspired Poetic Sharing Keith M. Davis Naming and Claiming the Body Lauren E. Atkins The Box of the Self Sally S. Atkins

12. Clinical Supervision

Montserrat Casado-Kehoe and Kathy Ybañez

Theory

Historical Developments

Core Principles

Gestalt Approach to Supervision

Expressive Arts Intervention

Expressive Arts Perspective

Limitations of Expressive Arts Interventions

Expressive Arts Interventions in Supervision

Use of Drawings

Use of Clay

Role-Play

Use of Objects

Expressive Arts Interventions Bridge of Life Montserrat Casado-Kehoe and Kathy Ybañez Creating a Found Poem Christine McNichols Collage (Case) Conceptualization Mardie Howe Rossi and Karen L. Mackie Finding My Voice Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall Using Sandtray in Supervision Kristi Perryman and Angela L. Anderson A Picture and a Thousand Words: Counseling Theory Student Mandala Collage Angela L. Anderson and Kristi Perryman

13. Additional Clinical Uses of the Expressive Arts

Adventure Therapy

Mark Gillen

Child-Centered Play Therapy

Charles E. Myers

Sandplay Therapy

Suzanne Degges-White

Appendix: Summary Chart of Expressive Arts Activities

Contributing Authors

Angela L. Anderson, PhD, LP (MO), is an associate professor of Counseling at Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.

Lauren E. Atkins, MA, MFA, is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

Sally S. Atkins, EdD, REAT, is a professor and coordinator of Expressive Arts Therapy within the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

John Beckenbach, EdD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology at Texas State University–San Marcos, San Marcos, TX.

Paul Blisard, EdD, LPC, is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education at Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.

Imelda N. Bratton, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, is an assistant professor and doctoral program coordinator at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.

Montserrat Casado-Kehoe, PhD, LMFT, RPT, is an associate professor of

Counseling Psychology and coordinator of Internship and the Play Therapy Certificate at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Orlando, FL. She is an approved LMFT/LMHC supervisor

Katrina Cook, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S, is an assistant professor of Counselor Education at Texas A&M University in San Antonio, TX.

Keith M. Davis, PhD, NCC, is a professor and director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

Kristin I. Douglas, MA, LPC, BCB, is a licensed professional counselor at Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY, and is also a doctoral student at University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.

Thelma Duffey, PhD, LPC, LMFT, is professor of counseling and counseling program director at the University of Texas, San Antonio, TX.

Nancy Forth, PhD, LPC, NCC, is an associate professor in the Counselor Education Program at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.

Nan J. Giblin, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Counselor Education at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL.

Mark Gillen, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Counseling and School Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI.

Mary Amanda Graham, PhD, is an assistant professor of Counseling at Seattle University, Seattle, WA.

Samantha Grzesik, BA, is a graduate student in Mental Health Counseling at Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN.

K. Hridaya Hall, PhD, NCC, is an assistant professor in the Counselor Education and School Psychology Program at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH.

Laura Heil, MS, is an elementary school counselor in Corpus Christi, TX.

Stephanie Helsel, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor who is active in research, counseling, and teaching in the Pittsburgh area. She has a doctorate from Duquesne University and is a graduate of the Gestalt Institute of Pittsburgh.

Flossie Ierardi, MM, MT-BC, LPC, is the director of Field Education for the Department of Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

Chloe Lancaster, PhD, is an elementary school counselor and counseling

program supervisor at a university community center.

Ileana Lane, MS, is a doctoral student at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX.

Elsa Soto Leggett, PhD, LPC-S, CSC, is an assistant professor at the University of Houston–Victoria, Sugar Land, TX.

Kathleen Levingston, PhD, LPC, RPT-S, is a human services instructor and play therapy director at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

Melissa Luke, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS, is an assistant professor and coordinator of the School Counseling program at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

Karen L. Mackie, PhD, NCC, LMHC, is a clinical assistant professor of Counseling & Human Development at the Warner School, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Michele P. Mannion, PhD, LC, ACS, is a licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Maine. She is in private practice and teaches at Capella University.

Beth McCabe, MS, is a graduate of the Purdue University Calumet School Counseling program and has been an elementary physical education instructor for twenty-four years. She teaches in Country Club Hills District

160 in Illinois and enjoys incorporating expressive arts into her curriculum where applicable during students’ movement and play interaction in order to develop and improve their interpersonal relationships enhancing their communication and understanding of one another.

Christine McNichols, PhD, LPC-I, NCC, is an assistant professor at Delta State University, Cleveland, MS.

Dixie Meyer, PhD, NCC, PLPC, is an assistant professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.

Brian J. Mistler, PhD, is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy and a psychologist at Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ Center for Counseling and Student Wellness, Geneva, NY.

Teah L. Moore, PhD, is an assistant professor of Counseling at Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA.

Charles E. Myers, PhD, LC, NCC, NCSC, ACS, RPT-S, is an assistant professor of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.

Adele Logan O’Keefe, PhD, NCC, LPC, LMFT, is a therapist at Finney Psychotherapy Associates and an adjunct assistant professor of counseling at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

Jill Packman, PhD, RPT-S, NCC, is the coordinator of the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV.

Tina R. Paone, PhD, NCC, NCSC, LPC, RPT-S is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, School Counseling, and Special Education at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ.

Shawn Patrick, EdD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology at Texas State University–San Marcos, San Marcos, TX.

Rachel Payne, MS, is a counselor at the Women’s Shelter of South Texas and has worked in the expressive and healing arts field for the past 20 years as an arts educator and massage therapist.

Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, EdD, CLPC-S, NCC, ACS, DCC, RPT-S, is associate dean and professor of the Counselor Education Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV.

Kristi Perryman, PhD, LPC, RPT-S, is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education at Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.

Sheri Pickover, PhD, LPC, is an assistant professor of Counseling at the University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI.

Melina Pineda, MS, is an associate psychologist III at the Corpus Christi State ed Living Center, Corpus Christi, TX.

Torey L. Portrie-Bethke, Ph.D., NCC, is an assistant professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the Applied Psychology Department at Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.

Christopher P. Roseman, PhD, is an assistant professor of Counseling at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.

Mardie Howe Rossi, MA, EdD, LMHC, is an adjunct instructor at the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, RPT, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling at the University of Akron, Akron, OH.

Corie Schoenberg, Ed.S., LPC, is a Certified Professional School Counselor, an adjunct faculty member in the Counselor Education Program at the University of Central Missouri, and is currently in private practice in Sedalia, MO.

Atsuko Seto, PhD, LPC, NCC, is an associate professor and a clinical placement coordinator of the Counselor Education Department at the College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ.

Cheryl L. Shiflett, MS, LPC, ATR-BC, is a community faculty of the Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School and is an adaptive art educator in Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Allison L. Smith, PhD, NCC, ACS, is an assistant professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the Applied Psychology Department at Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.

HoiLam Tang, MS, BFA, is a staff therapist in South Bay Mental Health Center, Brockton, MA.

Heather Trepal, PhD, LPC-S, is an associate professor of Counseling at the University of Texas, San Antonio, TX.

Katarzyna Uzar, PhD, is an educationalist and assistant lecturer in the Chair of Philosophy of Education at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland.

Katie Vena, BA, is a graduate student in Mental Health Counseling at Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN.

Anna Warzecha, MA, is a psychologist who completed postgraduate studies in art therapy at Maria Curie–Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland and works with the Polish Association for Mentally Handicapped People.

Kathy Ybañez, PhD, LPC-S, is an assistant professor at Texas State University–San Marcos, San Marcos, TX.

Foreword

Once in a while a book comes along that is both unique and invaluable. Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice: Theory-Based Interventions is such a text. Within its pages, Suzanne Degges-White and Nancy L. Davis have collected and edited a world of information that is both theoretically sound and clinically practical. The authors of each of the chapters in this work have been lucid in spelling out how the major theories of counseling and the expressive arts are connected. While there have been volumes full of creative arts exercises before, Degges-White and Davis are the first to have assembled a group of experts deeply steeped in the expressive arts and the theories behind them. Almost all of the mainline theories of counseling are covered in this text including Adlerian, solution-focused, cognitive–behavioral, existential, feminist, gestalt, person-centered, narrative, and integrative. The relationship between these theories and the expressive arts is precisely drawn. The visual arts, music, drama, expressive writing/poetry, and dance/movement therapies are seen as springing from, and not as an appendix of, these theories. Thus, theories are rightfully seen as the basis for both the science and art of helping. Each theory is explained well in regard to its potency, effectiveness, and specifically its power as an underlying base for the expressive arts. Best of all, chapters are uniformly presented and extremely well edited. The result is like a seamless piece of cloth —a strong interwoven fabric—a joy to behold and to use. An exciting part of Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice is the fact that at the end of each chapter there are proven expressive arts exercises originating from the theoretical concepts just covered. These exercises are contributed by clinicians who practice the theory and feel comfortable and knowledgeable in using these activities in their work. Degges-White, Davis, and their associates point out that the expressive arts are not a substitute for sound theoretical techniques and interventions. Instead, these innovative ways of helping clients are tools of the therapeutic process that extend the theory being employed. Thus, by reading and studying this work,

practitioners can enrich the lives of their clients and their own effectiveness. They can utilize an active means of bringing about change. In the process, perceptions as well as thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are changed. Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice not only is sure to stand out as a “must have text” for counselors now, but it is destined to become a classic. The reason is simple. It translates theory into practice and transforms mainstream counseling approaches into extremely useful devices for modifying the way clients and counselors function in therapy. Practitioners from diverse helping and cultural backgrounds will relish this book for its practicality and originality. It is as comprehensive and useful as a book can be. As a confident car company is fond of saying: “If you can find something better, buy it!”

Samuel T. Gladding, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Counseling Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Preface

Counseling has long been considered to be an art, as well as a science, of helping individuals grow and develop. Yet many of our theories and practices rely heavily on the role of “talk therapy” in the healing process. Although these traditional methods of engaging the client in the process are important, the use of nontraditional methods that include the adjunctive or primary use of the expressive and creative arts may actually deepen the healing process as well as expedite diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. As professionals search for productive and effective methods of care, it is important to also realize that approaching the psychological space in which clients wrestle with their concerns, their challenges, and their inner wounds may also require the use of complementary methods of healing. Engaging the client in the creation of art— whether it is visual, auditory, kinetic, and so forth—can provide a safe path for clients to follow as they explore and delve deeper into the places where words alone may be inadequate to fully explore, express, and process their experiences. The purpose of this book is to provide counselors and counseling students with a better understanding of the ways in which expressive arts techniques may be productively integrated into the practice of counseling within any of the chief theories that are taught and practiced. This book is unique in that it provides a collection of field-tested creative interventions contributed by practicing counselors and counselor educators. These interventions are presented to the reader in chapters organized by the leading theoretical orientations under which they best fit. The infusion of the expressive and creative arts into clinical practice is enjoying a growing popularity as practitioners face what seems to be an increasingly difficult-to-reach client population. Electronic media continue to grow and offer distracting, eye-catching variety. Our culture increasingly expects “entertainment” rather than substance. However, by integrating creative techniques that engage the client’s mind, imagination, and physical presence during session, practitioners may be able to capitalize on the client’s need for novelty. Creativity and experiential interventions can be the catalysts needed to propel clients toward lasting change. However, many counselors are unaware of

the numerous expressive arts interventions that may well suit their philosophical and clinical frameworks. By introducing expressive arts interventions framed within the theories that are most familiar to practitioners and students, it is hoped that counselors will feel more comfortable in stretching their clinical work beyond their current borders and implementing these unique techniques that may expedite client growth and development. Each chapter in this volume offers a summary of the counseling theory and an explanation of how expressive arts interventions can easily be integrated into its practice. In summation, this book will ideally demonstrate to practitioners and students the possibility of incorporating expressive arts interventions into clinical work. By framing innovative and creative intervention activities within familiar theoretical constructs, it is hoped that all readers will feel encouraged to enliven their practices with ideas that invite clients to invest more energy, creativity, and self-exploration into the therapy hour.

Key Features of the Book

Includes more than 50 expressive arts interventions for use with various clients and presenting issues. Interventions are presented within a framework of familiar counseling theories— narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, cognitive–behavioral therapy, feminist theory, and more. Interventions use art therapy, music therapy, bibliotherapy, drama, expressive writing, dance, puppetry, sandplay, and other modalities. Leading practitioners share their clinically proven interventions that encourage clients to move forward. Creative interventions are clearly described in a step-by-step fashion, allowing clinicians to easily put them into practice. A chapter on the use of expressive arts in supervision provides ideas for improving your supervision sessions. Presented ideas will help your clients, and you, as clinician, feel “unstuck” when traditional talk therapy needs a jump-start. Serves as a toolbox for practitioners ready to tune up their clinical work and an accessible introduction for students learning about expressive arts in counseling.

Acknowledgments

This book is the fruition of the work of many individuals who have been actively infusing their clinical practice with the creative arts for many years as well as those who are new to the field and just beginning to test their creative wings. We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of contributors who have eagerly shared their commitment to the helping professions, their ion for the arts, and their collective wisdom. We are also greatly appreciative of the enthusiasm shown by our editor, Jennifer Perillo, who embraced the topic from its inception and has guided us along the way.Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice

Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice

Theory-Based Interventions

Introduction to the Use of Expressive Arts in Counseling

Suzanne Degges-White

OVERVIEW OF THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

For thousands of years, healers have integrated a variety of creative arts into their therapeutic practices. In ancient Greece and Rome, drama and comedy were “prescribed” for individuals suffering from disorders such as depression or anxiety. Tribal dances have long been used for healing individuals and the planet. Music has been used to alter mood for hundreds of years. Contemporary Navajo healers still include sandpainting and music in their healing. The expressive arts have the power to help us transcend the mundane and to connect with parts of ourselves that traditional talk therapy may not so readily offer. The arts provide a medium through which we may draw on inner feelings and the unconscious to produce a tangible product, whether a sculpture, a story, a painting, or a dance. Engagement in the expressive arts allows clients to explore their deepest and often hidden feelings, to use symbols to represent their inner feelings and conflicts, and to physically express their internal issues. This process frequently leads to a more comprehensive self-exploration and selfexpression than traditional talk therapy may allow. It is the process, not the processing, of art-making that promotes client growth, which may be a novel idea for contemporary healers—that is, mental health counselors and clinicians —today. Many well-educated mental health professionals have had little exposure to the use of expressive arts interventions in their professional programs. Although very familiar with the dominant counseling theories—person-centered therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive–behavioral theory, and others—they may have yet to learn how to successfully integrate creative arts techniques into their chosen theory of practice. Yet all of these theories can be successfully married with, and enhanced by, the introduction of expressive arts interventions. Moreover, through the incorporation of more active forms of therapeutic work, clients are frequently more invested and more motivated toward personal growth and change. The interventions included in this volume are designed to be an extension—not a replacement—of a clinician’s current practical skill set. Clinicians who are

interested in energizing their work will find a collection of creative and innovative interventions in this book that fit within the theories that shape their clinical practice. And as they explore and discover the types of creative arts that best suit their styles, they are encouraged to research these specific areas more fully. Knill, Barba, and Fuchs (2004) pioneered a theory of intermodal expressive therapy that s the inclusion of multiple forms of creative arts in one’s practice. As clinicians find the best fit for their own approach to clinical work, they may find themselves merging and blending multiple modes in the way they feel is most effective for their individual clients. This is the heart of intermodal expressive therapy—using the mediums that speak to the imagination and soul.

KEY EXPRESSIVE ARTS MODALITIES

Art takes many forms and various methods and media are used in its creation. Visual art, music, dance/movement, drama, and expressive writing are the primary expressive arts modalities used in counseling. Counselors frequently offer various arts activities to create an intermodal experience to their clients. By inviting clients to participate in a selection of diverse arts activities, counselors set the stage for multilayered self-discovery experiences for their clients. Following is a brief overview of the origin of the predominant art modalities; however, it is not the purpose of this volume to explore these modalities in depth. Rather, the goal is to raise awareness of the variety of expressive arts formats that may be used adjunctively within your existing theoretical orientation. Each of the separate interventions included in this book includes clear instructions for successful implementation. To learn more about each of the modalities, please refer to the resource list in the final chapter of this book.

Visual Arts

The field of visual arts encomes many forms of art-making; a few of which are painting, drawing, sculpting, collage-making, and photography. Art therapy may also include the use of existing art pieces to stimulate self-exploration. Margaret Naumburg (1950) was an early pioneer of the use of art in therapy, bringing art to the therapeutic milieu in the 1940s. Her work with patients was very well received, and art therapy became a customary component of mental health care in treatment centers as the medical field recognized the positive effect the art-making had on patients. The earliest art therapy practitioners were often psychiatrists or art teachers who entered the mental health field. Today, there are specialized therapists who earn their degrees from art therapy graduate programs, but there are a host of means by which nonspecialized clinicians can infuse art therapy experiences into their practices. The professional association for art therapy is the American Art Therapy Association (www.arttherapy.org).

Music Therapy

Music therapy has been a component of psychotherapeutic care in this country since the first half of the 20th century (Wigram, Pedersen, & Bonde, 2002). Musicians volunteered their time to provide musical relief in the veterans’ hospitals for those who had been injured in World Wars I and II. The curative and symptom-relieving effects of music were acknowledged by the medical staff and, shortly thereafter, musicians were then hired for the hospitals. Four areas of functioning are understood to be improved through music therapy: physical functioning, cognitive functioning, psychological functioning, and social functioning. During music therapy, clients may actively compose and create their own music, or they may be led in directed music activities by the clinician. Although there is a specific training program for those interested in being recognized as a licensed music therapist, mental health counselors are all encouraged to incorporate aspects of music therapy into their clinical work with clients in private practice, agency settings, inpatient/residential treatment centers, and the schools. The professional association for music therapy is the American Music Therapy Association (www.musictherapy.org).

Drama Therapy

Although drama and enactment have been present in virtually every culture for more than 2,000 years, it was in the early 1900s that Jacob Moreno led the movement to use the healing properties of these forms of self-expression in therapeutic settings in the form of group therapy. Drama therapy is a powerful and highly experiential therapeutic device. Clinicians direct the action between clients and provide a safe space in which exploration of feelings, behaviors, and thoughts may actively take place. Clients are often encouraged to play out the parts of themselves that they typically inhibit or censor. Forms of dramatic interventions encom various activities including storytelling, improvisation, puppetry, enactment, and role-play of significant events. The professional association for drama therapy is the National Association for Drama Therapy (www.nadt.org).

Expressive Writing/Poetry Therapy

Expressive writing can take many different forms, including the composition of both prose and poetry. The purpose of expressive writing is to assist clients in healing and coping with psychological and physiological pain. Expressive writing typically involves the use of clinician-provided prompts for the clients. Expressive writing has been shown to be beneficial in highly diverse settings (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005). Clients coping with normative developmental tasks as well as those who have experienced significant trauma (including terrorist attacks such as the World Trade Center tragedy), chronic and acute health problems (including terminal illness and chronic pain) have shown marked improvement in well-being via expressive writing exercises. Poetry therapy and bibliotherapy are related forms of creative therapies and involve the use of specifically chosen works for client reading. The professional association for poetry therapy is the National Association for Poetry Therapy (www.poetrytherapy.org).

Dance/Movement Therapy

Dance/movement therapy grew into a distinct therapeutic modality in the early 1940s, as did art therapy and music therapy (Malchiodi, 2005). The modern dance movement gave birth to a more spontaneous, expressive form of movement that dancers reported as a freeing, health-promoting experience. Marian Chace, a choreographer of modern dance, was invited to introduce psychiatric patients to this form of self-expression and did so with positive results. Dance and movement therapists attribute the beneficial effects to the integration of mind and body that occurs in the movement of dance. By expressing oneself via dance and movement, it is believed that experiences that are too deep or complex for words can be communicated and processed. The professional association for dance and movement therapy is the American Dance Therapy Association (www.adta.org).

APPLICABILITY OF EXPRESSIVE ARTS ACROSS DIVERSITIES

The expressive arts are exceptional in their effectiveness for individuals who represent a wide array of diversities and differences. Art is universal and it finds expression in every contemporary culture. This universality s the implementation of the expressive arts with any client, regardless of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, language, cultural identity, physical functioning, among other forms of diversity. Visual art, music, dance, dramatic enactments, and expressive communication are found in all corners of the globe and this, in itself, s the inclusion of expressive arts with essentially any client population. By ing the unique creative capacity of every client, clinicians are ing the healthy development of the individual. The visual arts can be modified for individuals who may face physical challenges and are particularly useful with those who have limited verbal ability or when language barriers exist. Use of existing pieces of art (i.e., photographs, prints, sculptures, etc.) can be incorporated into counseling for those who lack the physical control to manipulate art materials such as paintbrushes or drawing instruments. Music therapy has been shown to be effective with many clinical populations as well as individuals and groups interested in developmental counseling experiences. According to the American Music Therapy Association (2010), music therapy is beneficial to individuals facing physical illness and age-related diseases/disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Music therapy is also indicated for those suffering from autism, physical disabilities, and individuals experiencing chronic pain. Individuals may generate music or enjoy receptive listening during a music therapy experience, thus, it is open to virtually all potential clients. Movement is a natural aspect of our physical presence in the world, and clients do not need to be able to leap through the air with grace and style to benefit from this therapeutic modality. Individuals with physical disabilities can benefit from movement therapy through the stretching and moving of their bodies (Horowitz, 2000). This modality does not require words or complicated explanation but can

exist in the purest form of client movement, thus inviting participation regardless of verbal ability or intellectual ability. Drama therapy can be used by individuals of virtually any diversity who have the cognitive capacities to respond to prompts from the clinician and who are able to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. Expressive writing is accessible to clients who have the cognitive capacity to use verbal expression and the physical ability to put words on paper or computer keyboard. This makes it accessible to widely diverse clients. If clients are unable to write or use a keyboard, they may “dictate” their thoughts, feelings, and reflections to an aide or clinician. Because the client is not required to share his or her writing with a clinician, greater participation may occur from clients who might otherwise feel less skilled in the areas of writing fluency and ability.

SUMMARY

The creative arts offer both the clinician and the client an opportunity to move beyond the expressive limits of talk therapy. Sparking the creative process often results in the discovery of innovative solutions to problems that have held clients back from achieving optimal functioning. Encouraging clients toward greater self-expression and spontaneous process can effectively break up patterns of negativistic and constricted thinking. Further, the arts can be successfully incorporated in any clinical setting, from schools to outpatient settings to residential treatment centers, and with clients of any age, from young children to older adults. Challenging yourself to incorporate expressive arts interventions into your traditional framework of practice will allow you to develop your own unique creative techniques. However, to begin a new developmental process, it is often helpful to have new ideas framed within familiar structures. To that end, this book is organized by theory with eight of the most frequently implemented counseling theories included. Within each chapter, a summary of the theory is presented as well as a clear explanation of how the theory s the integration of the expressive arts. Each accompanying creative intervention includes step-by-step instructions for ease in adding new techniques to your clinical repertoire. As you gain confidence, you are encouraged to use these techniques as merely starting points, as you discover the modalities that best suit your style and enable you to bring the expressive arts to your personal science of counseling.

REFERENCES

American Music Therapy Association. (2010). What is the profession of music therapy? Retrieved July 29, 2010, from http://www.musictherapy.org on. Baikie, K. A., & Wilhem, K. (2005). Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11, 338–346. Horowitz, S. (2000). Healing in motion: Dance therapy meets diverse needs. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 6, 72–76. Knill, P., Barba, H., & Fuchs, M. (2004). Minstrels of soul: Intermodal expressive therapy (2nd ed.). Toronto: EGS Press. Malchiodi, C. A. (2005). Expressive therapies. New York: The Guilford Press. (ISBN 1-59385-379-3). Naumburg, M. (1950). An introduction to art therapy: Studies of the free art expression of behavior problems of children and adolescents as a means of diagnosis and therapy. New York: Teachers College Press. Wigram, T., Pedersen, I. N., & Bonde, L. O. (2002). A comprehensive guide to music therapy: Theory, clinical practice, research and training. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Adlerian Theory

Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.—Alfred Adler

Alfred Adler’s individual psychology is a dynamic theory that offers counselors many opportunities to help clients find creative, socially focused, meaningmaking, and growth-oriented strategies to heal and grow. The creative and expressive nature of Adlerian psychology not only is conducive to practice with a wide client base but is also easily integrated with expressive art approaches. This chapter will discuss Adlerian theory and show how expressive arts techniques can be used in Adlerian counseling.

HISTORY OF ADLERIAN THEORY

Alfred Adler (1870–1937), an early contemporary of Sigmund Freud, developed individual psychology (also referred to as Adlerian counseling). Adler practiced as an ophthalmologist, medical doctor, and psychiatrist early in his professional career. He chose this path based on several early childhood experiences. Born into a large family, Adler grew up as one of six children and suffered several emotional and physical traumas during his childhood. At the age of 3, he experienced the death of a sibling who had shared a bed with him. He spent much of his youth battling severe illnesses. These challenging experiences influenced his concept of personality development and theory (Orgler, 1963). As an early associate of Freud, Adler was intimately involved in the Psychoanalytic Society from 1902–1911. In 1911, Adler separated himself from Freud and from the Psychoanalytic Society because of conflicting beliefs related to human development. These included disagreements regarding biological and sexual drives, the role of the libido, social issues, and the role of the unconscious. Adler marched in another theoretical direction. However, his association and studies with Freud provided him with a foundation for his own theoretical constructs, which he expanded to develop into individual psychology. Adler, unlike Freud, believed in the power of choice. He argued that people were neither innately evil nor good and he ed the notion that people were heavily influenced by relationships and social connections.

Individual Psychology

Adlerian theory, or individual psychology, emphasizes a basic premise that s the assertion that each individual is unique. The theory postulates that there are four core concepts that shape the nature of human existence; these address personality development, the notion of superiority, psychological wellbeing, and the unity of the personality. Those who base their clinical practice on individual psychology’s theory ground their interventions in social interaction, relationship, and connectedness. Adler viewed human beings as healthy individuals whose difficulties are largely based on lack of social interests, relationship connectedness, and faulty goals. He put forward the notion that the motivating force behind an individual’s behavior rests with a desire for perfection and attainment of the ideal. Striving for perfection is integrated with an individual’s social interests and connections, which can be termed his gemeinschaftsgefühl (Adler, 1927). Adler believed people always exist and function within a social context and environment. He postulated that individuals developed feelings and beliefs of inferiority, or inferiority complexes, based on their feeling of worthlessness. In relationship to inferiority complexes, Adler identified superiority complexes as a result of an individual’s attempt to overcome inferiority by ignoring true feelings (Adler, 1927; Orgler, 1963). Adler, like Freud, stressed the influence of early childhood experiences. Both theorists believed that the personality of individuals developed early in life. Adler differed from Freud, however, in that he argued a child’s personality developed based on the early experience of the child, not of the infant, as Freud purported. This early experience was influenced by the place, role, significance, and fit within the family constellation and system of the child. Other concepts underlying individual psychology include the understanding of both the conscious and unconscious, viewing the individual’s life subjectively through the individual’s own perspective, the examination of lifestyle, position in the family, family constellation, choice, and life span growth (Adler, 1959). What follows is a list of condensed definitions of core principles of individual psychology:

Individual perceptions. A person’s perceptions relate to his or her view of reality. Soft-determinism. An individual makes choices in regard to how he or she feels or interprets situations regardless of whether choices are limited to biology or circumstances. Both individual choice and individual responsibility play a critical role in one’s development. Holistic. An individual must be viewed as a whole entity, not as merely parts of a whole. Understanding each facet of a person’s life as it relates to the whole person is essential within the construct of individual psychology. Lifestyle. Each individual develops a distinctive framework for his or her life path or, as Adler identified it, a lifestyle. One’s lifestyle is foundational for successfully meeting goals and overall life management. This framework is a combination of beliefs and assumptions that is used to organize and find meaning and personal reality. Family constellations. This construct addresses the relationship an individual has within his or her own family system. Influences on these familial relationships include birth order, sibling and parental roles, societal influences on the parents, cultural norms, and family experiences. The early relationships and events within a family will directly impact the development of an individual’s lifestyle beliefs. Adler gained international recognition for his work on birth order. Social interests. Individuals are driven by social relatedness. Interconnectedness and social relationships stand as core concepts within individual psychology. Behavior is purposeful and goal oriented. Behavior is a choice and behavioral choices are made to reach goals consistent with individual lifestyle, reality, and relationships. There is no automatic cause and effect relationship between behavior, heredity, and environment. Individuals have the ability to understand, manipulate, and generate events based on lifestyle goals. Behavior is considered to be teleological in that it is not driven by internal or external force or factors.

GOALS AND PROCESS OF ADLERIAN COUNSELING

The goals associated with the implementation of Adlerian therapy include relationship, assessment, insight and understanding, and reorientation and reeducation.

Relationship. The relationship between counselor and client is equal, collaborative, warm, empathetic, and based on trust and on the developing relationship. The goals for client growth are based on the client’s worldview and are coconstructed with the counselor. The client and counselor engage in a mutual journey of discovery of the client’s issues related to the client’s lifestyle assessment. Assessment. Assessing or learning about the client plays a central focus in the Adlerian counseling process. Assessment occurs initially at the start of treatment but takes place throughout the counseling process as well. Adlerian counselors assess individual lifestyles, goals, relationships, individual dynamics, family connectedness and constellations, and early recollections. There are both formal and informal lifestyle assessments that Adlerian counselors use in gathering information for client growth. Insight and understanding. Individual growth in Adlerian counseling arises from gaining an understanding of one’s individual purpose. Adlerian counselors assist clients in recognizing their motivations and help clients become knowledgeable of themselves. Through counseling, they discover awareness of purpose. Reorientation and reeducation. Through insight and understanding, clients are able to become reoriented and reeducated. This is the process of putting awareness of purpose into action. During the growth stage, the counselor facilitates behavior choices to help clients overcome the use of less wellfunctioning alternatives. This is consistent with the insight and understanding the client gains regarding lifestyle, purpose, and motivation.

THEORY SUMMARY

Adler’s individual psychology accentuates the positive nature of humankind and focuses on assisting individuals to drive their own destiny through choice and change. Together, the Adlerian counselor and client build relationship, gather information on lifestyle, family, and social connectedness; gain insight; and develop goals and behaviors based on newly fashioned meaning and purpose. The creative nature of individual psychology lends itself to application within a wide variety of contexts and for individuals across many cultures. Counselors practice individual psychology within school, agency, private, individual, family, group, college, mental health, and parent education settings. Expressive arts, specifically art therapy, play therapy (Kottman, 1999, 2003), and bibliotherapy (Kottman, 2001), fit well within the frame of individual psychology. Creative approaches provide avenues of self-exploration and understanding (Gladding, 2005). Further, these venues often provide a catalyst to insight and change and these are directly or indirectly expressed through the art activity. Through expressive and creative interventions, clients are able to gain insight, reorientation, and reeducation for growth.

ADLERIAN PRACTICE AND THE CREATIVE ARTS

Art and creative interventions can easily and appropriately be integrated into the counseling process (Crenshaw, 2004, 2006; Gladding, 2005; Malchiodi, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008; Oaklander, 1988) especially when working within the framework of individual psychology (Kottman, 2001). The use of art and play media are tools that facilitate individual competence in communication, understanding, self-reflection, and world perceptions (Pehrsson & Aguilera, 2008; Pehrsson & McMillen, 2005). Art interventions in counseling function as avenues for individuals to recognize lifestyle, family constellations, faulty thinking, and mistaken goals (Dreikurs, 1986; Watts & Garza, 2008). The use of art therapy within individual psychology consists of four phases consistent with the stand-alone goals of individual psychology (relationship development; assessment and exploration of lifestyle, goals of behavior, faulty thinking, and maladaptive behaviors; facilitation of individual insight; and orientation and reeducation). Although most often art media is used in the assessment phase of Adlerian counseling, it should be noted that Adlerian-based counselors can and do use art media to facilitate all phases of the counseling process. The benefits of introducing art into the counseling practice include self-discovery, empowerment, understanding motivations and behaviors of self and others, social connectedness and purpose, relaxation, self-efficacy, and catharsis (Kramer, 1979; Kramer & Schehr, 1983; Rubin, 1984), all of which fit well within the individual psychology framework (Kottman, 2003).

PLAY THERAPY

Client-centered play therapy (Axline, 1947; Landreth, 2002; Pehrsson & Aguilera, 2008) can easily be adapted to Adlerian premises; indeed, encouragement and self-efficiency are major components of this theory and form of therapy (Kottman, 1999, 2001, 2003). Play therapy is primarily geared toward working with children aged 2 through 12, although some counselors have successfully modified the process to serve other populations as well (Pehrsson & Aguilera). The tools of play therapy include mostly toys, art media, and role play materials. Adlerian toys (tools), in general, that are used in the counseling playroom include those which represent nurturing and family because they promote exploration of family atmosphere and constellation. Scary tools promote exploration of mistaken beliefs and worldview. Cultural tools promote self-worth and a sense of social belonging (Kottman, 2001, 2003). Through play, counselors can assist clients in recognizing family roles, worldview and lifestyle, motivations, and mistaken goals (Dreikurs, 1986; Watts & Garza, 2008). Adlerian play therapy moves through these phases: relationship development; exploration of lifestyle, goals of behavior, faulty thinking, and maladaptive behaviors; facilitation of individual insight; and orientation and reeducation. Play used within the Adlerian framework assists individuals in the cathartic process of self-discovery and emotional release that leads to discovery of mistaken goals (Kottman, 1999, 2001, 2003).

BIBLIOTHERAPY

Bibliotherapy is the use of literature to assist clients in dealing with severe mental health matters as well as life transitional issues. The most recognized and used model of bibliotherapy includes a three-stage approach that focuses on identification, catharsis, and insight (Shrodes, 1950). This approach is consistent with the focus of individual psychology. Through this three-stage bibliotherapy approach, the individuals identify with characters in a selected piece of literature, works through issues, and experiences that moves them toward a cathartic release. The cathartic release is the avenue toward gaining insight, personal growth, and development (Hynes & Hynes-Berry, 1994; Pehrsson & McMillen, 2005; Shrodes). Bibliotherapy offers counselors a wide range of creative and experiential strategies (Pardeck, 1991, 1998; Pardeck & Pardeck, 1984, 1993; Pehrsson, 2006; Pehrsson & McMillen, 2007). Adlerian counselors can employ bibliotherapeutic interventions to facilitate clients in gaining familiarity with their personal concerns and to identify with their own personal uniqueness and their feelings. It may also be used as a therapeutic mechanism to help establish the counseling relationship, to explore lifestyle and career issues, to promote insight and awareness, and to reorient and reeducate (Jackson, 2001). Bibliotherapy can assist clients in understating their worldview and cultural sense of self and related connections (Pardeck & Pardeck, 1998; Pehrsson & McMillen, 2006). Individual psychology offers a rich framework for the integration of a multiple expressive art techniques. It focuses on relationship, insight, growth, and social connection makes it an ideal theory for the integration of creativity by the counselor.

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

STRUCTURED MULTIPLE-DOMAIN FAMILY DRAWING TECHNIQUE

Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

Indications: This intervention is appropriate for clients facing transitional, family, mental health, career, lifestyle, parenting, identity, cultural, violence, poverty, substance abuse, and trauma-related issues. Not all individuals are comfortable communicating their concerns verbally or without some form of structure (Crenshaw, 2004, 2006; Malchioldi, 2003, 2008). This procedure allows for a relatively nonintimating process for clients to express their ideas regarding their family dynamics using the medium of visual art. This technique provides a guided process and minimal structure for the client and the counselor to follow and allows for expression of thought and feeling through verbal and nonverbal methods (Kramer, 1979). The technique also provides for some choice making, nondirective, and creativity within the drawing process. These matter to clients as they move through the exploration process (Malchioldi, 2005; Oaklander, 1988).

This procedure serves to create discovery, self and family awareness, and insight. The counselor encourages the client to draw a picture representing a family activity. The counselor’s stance and prompts apply encouragement. The message to the client is “You are the expert of what your family does.” The client is empowered to create and explain the picture. The client becomes enlightened regarding family dynamics and his or her place within the family structure. The client becomes engaged within the therapeutic relationship. The counselor enhances the client’s self-awareness and family roles by reinforcing specific points and family dynamics discussed as the picture is processed.

Goal: Client self-identification and insight

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to expand the individual’s understanding of his or her current life issues and roles he or she plays within the family through the use of drawing. This drawing activity is used for the purposes of exploring the client’s home environment and the client’s family dynamics and it promotes the uses of verbal and nonverbal skills in the reflective and counseling processes. The procedure also provides distancing and something of a safety net to talk about complex and painful concerns. This technique is a modification of the original diagnostic and projective assessment procedure created by Burns and Kauffman’s Kinetic Family Draw Technique (Burns & Kaufman, 1972). The counselor prompts the client to draw and through additional writing, drawing, and talking, the counselor encourages the client to explore and discuss the picture; thus, investigating several domains (cognitive, verbal, affective, and behavioral) as these relate to the client’s family structure and dynamics that are contained within the drawing.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Paper and pencil, as a minimum; other art materials, if desired. Additionally, this can be applied to modified sandtray work, sculpture, or other forms of media other than paper and pencil.

Cautions: Counselors must know their art media and understand the provocative nature of art and what art and art materials can elicit from clients (Kramer, 1979, 1983; Malchiodi, 2005, 2008; Oaklander, 1988; Rubin, 1984). Some clients have a fear of drawing, poorly developed motor skills or injuries, an expressive writing disorder, or other related ability limitations that may make art an inappropriate therapeutic choice (Malchiodi, 2006, 2003).

Instructions:

Provide an appropriate work area with minimal distractions. Explain to the client that the activity will assist in getting to know one another better. The counselor can state, People can communicate about their worldviews, daily lives, and families is through drawing and talking. It is important to let the client know that it is not a test and that there is no grade or right or wrong way of doing the exercise, especially when working with school-aged youth. Instruct the client to draw (i.e., Draw a picture of you and your family doing something; it can be real or imaginary). After the client has completed the picture, invite the client to discuss the picture. Move from the general (what the family is doing) to the specific details of the drawing (placement of persons and objects and related specifics). Ask the client, What would each person in the picture be saying if they were talking? Inviting the client to draw speech bubbles is also helpful. Suggest that the client draw a bubble out of each person’s mouth or hands if they use sign language. Ask the client, What would each person in the picture be thinking about but not really saying? Invite the client to draw a thought bubble. Prompt discussion by asking the following question, What would each person in the picture be feeling inside? Drawing a heart shaped bubble that the client can write feelings inside is often useful. Ask this final question, What would each person in the picture would be doing next or planning to do? Invite the client to draw an action arrow. When the client indicates he or she is finished, pause and ask, Is there anything else you want to erase or add to the picture that you may have forgotten or now seems important? This allows for closure, provides additional invitation to add that which might be hidden, important, and/or valuable information and allows

for undoing of embarrassing or emotionally difficult information.

SHOW ME YOUR FAMILY IN THE DOLLHOUSE ACTIVITY

Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

Indications: This intervention can be used with clients facing any challenges of life and transition as it provides a window into the origin of the client’s worldview, lifestyle, and family atmosphere.

Goal: Client identification, self-awareness, understanding family constellation, and assessing family atmosphere

Modality: Play therapy

The Fit: The concepts and principles of child-centered play therapy are easily married to Adler’s theory. In Adlerian play therapy, the counselor’s main role is to observe the client within the playroom and through the play process, to understand the child’s lifestyle, worldview, and the life situation he or she presents. It is through observation and synthesis of this information that the therapist gains understanding of the child. Strong emphasis is placed on understanding the child and his or her role within the family context. Adlerian play therapy builds on the premise that children are inherently social and have a need to belong. Children are creative beings who seek experiences that enhance their own lifestyles and they demonstrate behavior that is purposeful. Maladjustment results when children fail to connect with others. The counselor relies heavily on the use of encouragement and, thus, shows unconditional acceptance, demonstrates faith in the child’s abilities, recognizes the child’s effort, and focuses on strengths. Additionally, the counselor demonstrates interest and accepts and even models the courage to be imperfect while providing opportunities for social belonging.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Dolls of all shapes, ages, sizes, colors; dollhouse (or a large box with cardboard glued to designate different rooms can be used); dollhouse furniture appropriate to the kitchen, dining area, bathroom, garage, bedroom, and living room; food, baby bottles, telephones, clocks, bathtub, toilet, stoves, televisions, and computers. Cultural artifacts that pertain to the counselor’s client population are critical (Gil & Drewes, 2005).

Instructions:

Invite and guide the client to create his or her family in the dollhouse (i.e., state Show me your family in the dollhouse.). If the client is hesitant, ask the client to create a scene of a typical day in his or her home or a make believe day. Tell him or her that he or she can use many things in this room and place them inside or around the dollhouse. Once the family scene is created, invite the client to tell you about the scene (i.e., Tell me about this scene or Tell me what is going on in the house right now). Follow the client’s cues and probe as needed. If the client is more reserved, move from general information gathering to more specific probes; invite the client to discuss each figure and what each of them is doing, saying, thinking, and feeling. Suggested processing statements or questions might include, Tell me more about this family, what are they doing now? If this family were to sing a song together, what would that song be? (This can also be changed to watch television show, read a book, play a game, go to a movie, or do something together.) In this family, show me what happens when people are happy, sad, mad, and quiet. Show me what happens when there is a birthday and celebration. Show me what happens when someone is in trouble. Show me this family working on a project. When the processing has reached an end, thank the client for participating using statements that encourages the client and acknowledges the client’s efforts.

Summary: Adapting play therapy to Adlerian principles provides the counselor a rich opportunity to understand the client and the client’s state of selfawareness, the family constellation, and family atmosphere. Through strategically chosen toys (tools), the use of a structured activity within the dollhouse, the counselor can build the relationship and, at the same time, explore with the client by assisting him or her in gaining insight and ultimately moving toward reorientation and reeducation.

A STRUCTURED DISCOVERY BIBLIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUE

Mary Amanda Graham and Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson

Indications: Bibliotherapy is appropriate with clients facing family, mental health, career, lifestyle, parenting, cultural, substance abuse, and traumarelated issues.

Goal: Client identification, catharsis, insight, reorientation, and reeducation

Modality: Bibliotherapy

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to expand and intensify the individuals’ understanding of their issues through the use of literature. Used within an individual or in group context, this intervention aids in developing counselor and client working alliance, trust, group cohesion, self-exploration, insight, and growth. This activity lends itself to an Adlerian approach because it promotes insight, growth, social connection, self-discovery, and change. The psychology of the six Es is used within the Adlerian bibliotherapy context (Riordan, Mullis, & Nuchow, 1996): educate by filling the basic needs and skills gap; encourage through the reading of inspirational and motivational reading material; empower through goal formation and attainment; enlighten by reading materials that increase awareness about self and others; engage the individual with the social world through social mentoring and other fictional material; and enhance by reinforcing specific points and lifestyle changes being addressed in counseling.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Various literature should be made available. Literature should be chosen based on the developmental level of the individual and presenting concern(s). The counselor needs to be mindful of complex cultural and diversity aspects when using literature with clients. Within the Adlerian framework, literature selection is often collaborative but can be selected by the client or the counselor. An Adlerian counselor always prereads and screens the literature for appropriateness prior to making it available to the client (Pehrsson & Pehrsson, 2006).

Instructions:

Select written material consistent with the client’s developmental level and presenting concern. Depending on client’s developmental level, comfortability, and book choice, you may choose to read the book to the client in session or ask the client to read the material at home prior to the session. When the client is prepared for a discussion of the material, you will invite a discussion of the material in session. You may want to use some of the following questions to facilitate the discussion: What happened in the story or what are the general themes of the literature read? Do you relate to any characters or themes in the story? How? How are these themes or characters related to your current situation? What feelings, thoughts, or memories has this story brought out? How can you take what you have identified with and make changes? Your facilitation of the bibliotherapy experience should have the flexibility to facilitate the dialogue as it relates to characters and themes with whom the client identifies and to his or her relevant presenting problems. Each client will identify with a different theme or character, and catharsis and insight is unique to each individual. The bibliotherapy experience can be facilitated in a single session or over the course of treatment using a single piece of literature or various literature choices.

LIFE MAP ACCORDION BOOK

Katrina Cook

Indications: Appropriate presenting concerns include discouragement, low self-esteem, depression, major life transitions, lack of decision-making skills, lack of coping skills, or stress.

Goal: Exploration of life experiences to improve self-esteem, mood, decision making, coping, or transitional reinforcement

Modality: Art

The Fit: Life maps fit well within Adlerian therapy because they help clients examine early recollections, impact of experiences within their family constellation (such as birth order), lifestyle, life goals, fostering social interest, developing an action plan, and future orientation. All of these areas are a focus of Adlerian therapy (Adler, 1959). This activity allows clients to turn their life map into a book.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Colored paper, cardboard, glue, old maps, scissors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, old magazines, and dowels. The client is asked to provide personal items such as photos, drawings, tickets for special events, and so forth.

Instructions:

Help the client construct the accordion stylebook (Weintraub & Miller, 2010). The size of the book will be determined by the size of the strips of paper. Fold a strip of paper in half. Then fold the edge of one half back to the centerfold. Crease that fold and then fold it backward and crease it in the other direction. Fold this new fold up to meet the centerfold, and then fold the end to the centerfold. Repeat this folding sequence with the other half of the book. This will create an eight-page accordion fold book. Cut two pieces of cardboard the same size as the book and glue them to the ends of the pages. Cut out and glue a section of a map as a backdrop. Develop collages or draw significant events representing the clients’ lives or future goals. Invite the clients to process the events and mementos they placed in their book (see Figure 2.1).

TISSUE PAPER COLLAGE

Nan J. Giblin

Indications: This activity works well for clients who may have difficulty expressing their feelings and for children and adults who may be unsure about their ability to make art because there are no “right or wrong” methods of completing the activity. It is appropriate for clients who have suffered abuse, lack verbal skills, or have secrets that they do not want to verbalize or for those who suffer from impatience and anger.

Goal: Expression of feelings and increased self-awareness

Modality: Art

The Fit: Adlerians have long used art as a means of helping clients. Sadie Dreikurs (1986), wife of Rudolph Dreikurs, was the first to introduce Adlerians to the power of art as a therapeutic tool. Creative artwork is viewed as an extension of the client. Art both allows for emotional catharsis and the free expression of feelings as well as provides a verbal and nonverbal means for the client to connect with the therapist. Adlerians believe in the right of individuals to express themselves through various methods.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: 11 × 14 canvas, plywood, or heavy art board (size may vary); various colors of tissue paper; glue (1 cup white school glue and 1 cup water); 1 in. inexpensive paint brush; gesso (optional); paper towels; newspapers or coverings for protecting desks and tables

Instructions:

Begin the session with a discussion about ways that people can express their feelings through art. Assure clients that tissue paper collage is a method of artistic expression at which everyone can succeed. Prepare canvas by applying a layer of gesso to the canvas or art board and allow it to dry (preparation of canvas may be omitted if time is short). Invite clients to choose the pieces of tissue paper that they wish to use. Each person should choose at least six different colors and cut or tear the tissue paper into smaller pieces. Reassure clients that they may or may not create a plan for their collage. Apply a layer of the glue mixture to the canvas. Using a brush, let clients cover each piece of tissue paper with the glue mixture with pieces of torn or cut tissue paper and affix them to the canvas using lighter colors first. Allow clients to repeat the process as many times as desired as they add layers of tissue paper (at least six) to the canvas. Allow art to dry and then invite the clients to share their artwork and to describe their collage. Invite processing with questions such as, Tell me about your collage(s). Did you have a plan for making it? How did you actually do it? How did you choose the colors? How do you feel about how it turned out? What does the collage mean to you? What does the collage say to you? If more than one collage was created, ask, How are the collages related? Keep the focus on the client’s interpretation or reaction to the activity and only allow group (if present) to offer nonjudgmental .

Possible Variations: Include substitution of materials or upgrades or combination with other media such as ink or magic markers.

SEEING THE CLIENT’S WORLD THROUGH IMAGES AND COLLAGE

Teah L. Moore

Indications: As with any counseling session, the practitioner should have an understanding about the clients’ readiness to explore certain areas of their lives, relationship or selves. Collage work may uncover unconscious beliefs or past events. Caution should be taken in regard to the selection of the area of exploration. Safety scissors should be used with clientele such as small children, clients who may have difficulty working with sharp items, or clients to which sharp items are a concern.

Goal: To provide clients with a visual and tangible image of their selfexploration and their work toward enhancement of self-awareness and communication skills

Modality: Art

The Fit: Collage work provides clients the opportunity to express their feelings, describe family dynamics, interactions, and themselves, which fits with a range of theories including existentialism, Adlerian, and Jungian. An existentialist orientation may lead to an exploration of self-awareness and themes of death, meaninglessness, freedom, and isolation. Adlerian counselors may use collage work as another tool by which to develop the lifestyle assessment for clients who have difficulty sharing about themselves. Collages can be a medium through which clients illustrate various relationships with others, daily life, ways of being, inferiority issues, and so forth. Jungian practitioners can assist clients in examining archetypes by building a collage of various animals, characters, or people (Frost, 2001).

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Magazines from different genres and of different audiences, such as National Geographic Magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal, men’s magazines, catalogs; scissors; glue sticks; white card stock paper (choose size appropriate for time limitations); laminating machine (if possible, not required); markers or pens

Instructions:

Consider areas that clients will be exploring such as what aspect of themselves (clients’ emotions or feelings, themes, events, relationships, etc.) they will explore through the collage work and present these areas to them as a focus. Introduce the activity to clients by discussing their knowledge about collages. Explain ways in which collage work may be used in counseling and its benefits to clients such as its use as a visual diary of counseling sessions, their life, behaviors, family interactions, feelings and emotions, and, also, progress in sessions. If possible, have some examples for the clients to view. Inform clients that they will work independently to create a collage and that they will be invited to discuss the process and their work after its completion. Normally, collage work stays in the office and, later, can be used as a gauge for progress. For the first time, provide client with a 5 × 9 size cardstock. This will help in time management. Establish a set time for the completion; if not, some clients will use more of the time in creating the collage and leave little time for discussion. Allow clients to work without interruption and encourage them to work silently as they reflect and focus on their image choices. Attend to the items the clients pause at, comments the clients make while working, and in the way in which they approach the task and sort the pictures. After the collage is complete, invite the client to share what he or she sees in the collage and the meaning the selection of images chosen hold. Connect the collage with previous sessions, such as themes, lifestyle, family descriptions, and previous confrontations. Point out use of colors, images, words, and so forth, in a tentative and nonjudgmental way, such as, When I look at your picture I think about, this comes to mind, those colors seem to represent, you mention you would hide in the stable and I see you have horses in the picture, and so forth.

Prior to laminating or storing, label the back of the card with what was explored, such as an emotion, event, relationship, so forth, and the client’s name or code. Remind the client that the artwork will remain in the office and that it will periodically be explored in future sessions. Ask if the client would be willing to continue with additional collage work in future sessions. Reiterate that the work helps provide a visual diary of progress and visually gives him or her ways to discuss what is inside him or her.

Variation: Some clients may need examples of collage to better understand the process. Prepared cards can be used prior to this activity. The practitioner can develop his or her own collage cards. Friends and families are a great source for developing various viewpoints, pictures, themes, and inner thoughts. The already prepared cards can be used to do some prework. Clients select which cards “speak” to them. From these selected cards, the session can focus around the pictures, words, themes, and so forth.

REFERENCES

Adler, A. (1927). Understanding human nature. Garden City, NY: Garden City. Adler, A. (1959). Understanding human nature. New York: Premier Books. Axline, V. M. (1947). Play therapy. London: Churchill Livingstone. Burns, R. C. & Kaufman, S. H. (1972). Action, styles, and symbols in kinetic family drawings (K-F-D). New York: Brunner-Routledge. Crenshaw, D. A. (2004). Engaging resistant children in therapy: Projective drawing and storytelling techniques. Rhinebeck, NY: Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation (RCFC). Crenshaw, D. A. (2006). Evocative strategies in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Dreikurs, S. E. (1986). Cows can be purple: My life and art therapy. Chicago: Alfred Adler Institute. Frost, S. (2001). SoulCollage. Santa Cruz, CA: Hanford Meade Publishers. Gil, E., & Drewes, A. (2005). Cultural issues in play therapy. New York: Guilford Press. Gladding, S. T. (2005). Counseling as an art: The creative arts in counseling (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Hynes, A. M., & Hynes-Berry, M. (1994). Biblio-poetry therapy, the interactive process: A handbook. St. Cloud, MN: North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc. Jackson, S. A. (2001). Using bibliotherapy with clients. The Journal of Individual Psychotherapy, 57, 289-297.

Kottman, T. (1999). Integrating the Crucial C’s into Adlerian Play Therapy. Journal of Individual Psychology, 55(3), 288–297. Kottman, T. (2001) Play therapy: Basics and beyond. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Kottman, T. (2003). Partners in play: An Adlerian approach in play therapy (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Kramer, E. (1979). Childhood and art therapy. New York: Schocken Books. Kramer, E., & Schehr, J. (1983). An art therapy evaluation session for children. American Journal of Art Therapy, 23, 3–12. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). New York: Brunner Routledge. Malchiodi, C. A. (Ed.). (2003). Handbook of art therapy. New York: Guilford Press. Malchiodi, C. A. (2005). Expressive therapies. New York: Guilford Press. Malchiodi, C. A. (2006). Art therapy sourcebook. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Malchiodi, C. A. (Ed.). (2008). Creative interventions with traumatized children. London: Jessica Kingsley. Orgler, H. (1963). Alfred Adler: The man and his work-triumph over the inferiority complex. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. Oaklander, V. (1988). Windows of our children. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Press. Pardeck, J. T. (1991). Using reading materials with childhood problems. Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior, 28, 58–65. Pardeck, J. T. (1998). Using books in clinical social work practice: A guide to bibliotherapy. New York: Haworth Press, Inc.

Pardeck, J. T., & Pardeck, J. A. (1984). Bibliotherapy: An approach to helping young people with problems. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, & Sociometry, 37(1), 41–43. Pardeck, J. T., & Pardeck, J. A. (1993). Bibliotherapy: A clinical approach for helping children. (Vol. 16). Langhorne, PA: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. Pardeck, J. T., & Pardeck, J. A. (1998). An exploration of the uses of children’s books as an approach for enhancing cultural diversity. Early Child Development and Care, 147, 25–31. Pehrsson, D.-E. (2006). Fictive bibliotherapy and therapeutic storytelling with children who hurt. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1, 273–286. Pehrsson, D.-E., & Aguilera, M. E. (2008). Play therapy: Overview and implications for counselors (APAPCD-12). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Pehrsson, D.-E., & McMillen, P. (2005). Bibliotherapy evaluation tool: Grounding counseling students in the therapeutic use of literature. Arts in Psychotherapy, 32, 47–59. Pehrsson, D.-E., & McMillen, P. (2006). Competent bibliotherapy: Preparing counselors to use literature with culturally diverse clients. Vistas 2006. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Pehrsson, D. E., & McMillen, P. (2007). Bibliotherapy: Overview and implications for counselors (ACAPCD-02). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Pehrsson, D.-E., & Pehrsson, R. S. (2006). Bibliotherapy practices with children: Cautions for school counselors. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 19, 185–193. Riordan, R. J., Mullis, F., & Nuchow, L. (1996). Organizing for bibliotherapy: The science in the art. Individual Psychology, 52(2), 169–180. Rubin, J. (1984). Child art therapy. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Shrodes, C. (1950). Bibliotherapy: A theoretical and clinical-experimental study.

Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California–Berkeley. Watts, R. E., & Garza, Y. (2008). Using children’s drawings to facilitate the acting as if procedure. Journal of Individual Psychology, 64, 113–118. Weintraub, D., & Miller, K. (2010). Accordion fold book. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://198-172-203-93.ga.verio.net/pix/accordionbook.pdf

Solution-Focused Therapy

Mark Gillen

The use of solution-focused therapy (SFT) has increased in all areas of counseling, popularized for both its flexibility and its focus on client’s strengths. Williams (2000) reported that solution-focused therapy energized staff and increased staff confidence and optimism when working with clients. Proponents of solution-focused therapy claimed that it yields rapid change, enduring change, a higher frequency of single session cures, and a high degree of client satisfaction (Stalker, Levene, & Coady, 1999).

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY

Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, Eve Lipchik, Alex Molnar, Jane Peller, and others developed solution-focused therapy at the Brief Family Therapy Center in the 1980s. This ideographic, strategic therapy model emphasized brevity, clearly defined goals, and the use of interventions with clients (Stalker et al., 1999). De Shazer (1982) described how Milton Erickson, and others, influenced solution-focused therapy. According to de Shazer, Erickson took the learning that people already had and assisted them in applying this information to new situations. This method of interaction with clients was based on Erickson’s three principles: (a) meet clients where they are, (b) modify the outlook of the client to gain control, and (c) allow for change that meets the needs of the client (de Shazer). Aspects of Erickson’s principles are integrated into solution-focused therapy. For instance, solution-focused therapists used the miracle question to determine how life would be different for the client if the problem were miraculously solved (Stalker et al., 1999). Erickson also contributed his description of the counselor’s role in client resistance; referred to as Erickson’s first law, it states, “as long as clients are going to resist, you ought to encourage them to resist” (de Shazer, p.11). The concepts of isomorphism, cooperation, and paradoxical intent are also basic to solution-focused work (de Shazer, 1982). De Shazer reported that he and others at the Brief Family Therapy Center were influenced by Bateson’s concept of isomorphic change as a central component of family therapy. Bateson’s description of prior learning, which stated that an idea that had been used successfully would be used again, and Festinger’s idea of social-group , where a social group strengthened ideas that were demonstrably false, also influenced the solution-focused theorists (Molnar & Lindquist, 1989).

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

Solution-focused therapy is based on the assumption that solutions are to be found through the process of changing interactions and the creation of new meanings for clients’ problems as well as the client solving the problems and overcoming habit patterns (Stalker et al., 1999). Littrell, Malia, and Vanderwood (1995) described the assumptions of solution-focused therapy as (a) setting a concrete goal to elicit ideas for change, (b) the existence of exceptions to any problem, (c) clients already have the resources to change, and (d) the use of a clinical team can be used to develop compliments and clues. These assumptions ed the underlying precepts that (a) small changes lead to changes in the system as a whole, (b) change is constant, and (c) clients should be encouraged to see themselves as “normal” with the counselors at their side (Littrell et al.; Stalker et al.). The various components of solution-focused therapy have been built over time. The miracle question, a major therapeutic component, originated with Milton Erickson’s work with hypnosis, and it emphasized coconstruction of solutions gathered through the use of Socratic questioning between the therapist and the client, as well as visualization of prior and future successes (Franklin, Biever, Moore, Clemons, & Scamardo, 2001). The consulting break began when a Brief Family Therapy Center trainee disagreed with a phone-in suggestion and left the room to consult with the team and the compliment originated when a client asked the observers for (de Shazer, 1982). The model has also evolved from simply attempting to change client behavior directly to a process of mutuality, whereby the counselor and the client accept each other’s worldview and employ a conversation counseling model to determine an appropriate intervention (Stalker et al., 1999). Molnar and Lindquist (1989) have described solution-focused therapy as being ecosystemic, thus it intended to impact problem behaviors in various social setting. They further offered insights on the creation of an ecosystemic view that included (a) asking questions that reoriented the client to the problems, (b) searching for clues that revealed how others perceived the problem situation, and (c) noticing changes. However, although some theorists described a close

relationship between problems and solutions, known as problutions (Selekman, 1997), this contradicted the solution-focused concept that solutions are not directly related to problems (de Shazer, 1988).

THE COUNSELING PROCESS

Prior to meeting with clients, solution-focused therapy counselors generally gathered limited information about the client to minimize preconceived ideas (Stalker et al., 1999). Counselors devoted little time to exploring problems (Franklin et al., 2001) or searching for underlying problems (Littrell et al., 1995). Counselors developed realistic solutions with the clients, discovered how the solutions were already manifested, and determined small steps toward a solution (Franklin et al.). Exceptions or circumstances when the problem did not occur, or occurred with less frequency, were used to assist clients in discovering solutions. Murphy (1994) described five methods for helping a client to recognize and use exceptions. The methods included (a) elicitation of times when the problem is absent, (b) elaboration on features and circumstances of these times, (c) expanded exceptions to other contexts, (d) evaluation of the exceptions based on preestablished goals, and (e) empowerment of the client so that change was maintained over time. By recognizing exceptions, solution-focused therapy amplified positive behaviors and reinforced effective coping strategies while emphasizing the process and focusing on changing future behavior (Franklin et al., 2001). The focus on future behavior related to frames or rules that people followed in certain situations. Reframing or shaping, another component of solution-focused therapy, assisted clients to change the frames that gave them trouble (de Shazer, 1988; Molnar & Lindquist, 1989).

EFFICACY OF SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY

The literature is filled with anecdotal reports outlining the success of solutionfocused therapy (Corcoran & Stephenson, 2000). In a meta-analysis of published studies examining solution-focused therapy, however, Stalker et al. (1999) reported that there was no empirical evidence to the claims of success made by solution-focused advocates, because no methodologically sound studies had been conducted. Some studies were constrained by the solution-focused assumption that the client was considered the person most knowledgeable about whether he or she has reached the goal of therapy, thus client was the primary focus of research (Littrell et al., 1995). Other studies suffered because they used only some of the components of solution-focused therapy but did not employ all of the characteristic features. The expected components included (a) the miracle question, (b) scaling questions, (c) the interview break, and (d) client compliments and homework. These studies were not included in the Stalker et al. study because the counselors being observed were not practicing solutionfocused counseling. In 2000, Gingerich and Eisengart conducted systemic qualitative review of 15 SFT outcome studies and found that because of limited research designs and other factors there was inadequate empirical for solution-focused therapy. Franklin et al. (2001) stated that the solution-focused model has not been established using experimental methods and that the outcomes of the studies that have been done are simplistic. Coady, Stalker, and Levene (2000) warned that most experimental research on solution-focused therapy has not used control groups. Studies that have employed control groups must be also viewed with caution because of the small number of participants, stringent criteria for participation, and little information about intervention protocols (Coady et al.). More recently, Kim (2008) conducted a meta-analysis of 22 studies and found small positive treatment effects for solution-focused therapy when providing on externalizing behavior problems, internalizing behavior problems, and family and relational problems. The analysis showed positive effect with depression, anxiety, self-concept, and self-esteem (Kim). Results from a review

of solution-focused therapy studies related to work with children and adolescents also found that it may be useful for certain presenting concerns. Examples of such include working with at-risk students with behavior problems including conduct problems, hyperactivity, and substance abuse (Kim & Franklin, 2009).

IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELING AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

Solution-focused counselors have claimed that this method provides rapid, enduring change, and a high degree of client satisfaction (Stalker et al., 1999). Research has found that solution-focused therapy is strengths oriented, collaborative, and represented a promising addition to a counselor’s repertoire (Murphy, 1994). Some have argued that methods, such as solution-focused therapy, are merely vehicles that contribute to change (Williams, 2000). However, a marriage between this theoretical orientation and the creative arts is an excellent match. Solution-focused therapists are invested in helping clients find new ways of thinking, being, and doing, and integrating creative arts interventions in an innovative method of shaking up ineffective patterns for clients. Although few research studies have provided a glimpse into the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy, there are instances where solutionfocused methods should not be used. These include crises, situations with certain clients with severe problems such as trauma, or where a prescribed policy must be followed, as in the case of abuse or neglect (Coady et al., 2000; Molnar and Lindquist, 1989; Stalker et al., 1999).

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

DRAWING A SOLUTION

Elsa Soto Leggett and Kathy Ybañez

Indications: This activity is especially appropriate for clients who may have limited vocabularies, difficulty expressing complex concepts, or for whom their primary language is not English, or who may be reluctant to engage in talk therapy. It is recommended for clients who express a sense of hopelessness about present or future situations.

Goal: To provide concrete expression of abstract questions that explore exceptions to problems, the miracle question, and goal setting

Modality: Art

The Fit: Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) uses signature questions to keep the focus on how clients can change. These questions are designed to allow the counselor to listen to clients’ words and absorb the meanings before formulating the next question by connecting clients’ key words and phrases. This process helps the client establish the groundwork for new thinking while co-constructing with the counselor new and alternative meanings that move the client towards change and solutions (Trepper, et al., 2008). The miracle question is a technique often used in solution focused therapy (de Shazer, 1988). Through this activity, clients create a visual reminder of how their lives could be and the goals they aspire to achieve. To facilitate the verbal and nonverbal expressions of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a client, it may be necessary to utilize a combination of talking and playing (Gladding, 2005; Orton, 1997). Naumberg (as cited in Orton, 1997, Leggett, 2009) described drawing as a means to view into the unconscious, gain insight into the process of counseling, and allow the client to bring in his or her own interpretation. Malchiodi (2005) asserted “self-expression is used as a container for feelings and perceptions that may deepen into greater self-understanding” (p. 9). Through the visual art of drawing, a client can manipulate paper and crayons to represent the problem or situations (Chesley, Gillett, & Wagner, 2008), or in the case of SFT, to explore the exceptions to a problem or discover the details of a miracle. The purpose of this activity is to allow the client to reveal thoughts, feelings, and hopes in a tangible format.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Art supplies such as plain paper or drawing paper of various sizes, pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, or colored pencils (An older client may feel more comfortable with a drawing tablet or notebook to chronicle his or her drawings.)

Instructions: Depending on the stage of the counseling relationship, the counselor can use any of the five following prompts to complete the drawing activity.

Describing the problem and establishing goals

1.1 Ask the client, What brings you here today? This initiation step invites the client to tell his or her story. The client identifies what he or she wants to be different or to change, which can lead to establishing a goal. The goal should (a) fit the client’s needs; (b) be relevant, meaningful, and specific to the situation; and (c) concrete, behavioral in nature, and measurable. Sometimes a client has difficulty explaining or expressing the problem being faced.

1.2 Provide art materials and ask the client to draw a picture of the situation that is most troubling and allow the client time to fully complete the picture at a high level of detail.

1.3 Invite the client to describe the details of the picture. The use of solutionfocused relationship questions and not-knowing questions will facilitate the processing of the drawing while providing important information about what and who is important to the client (see 5).

Miracle question. The miracle question helps the client look beyond the present, and into the future. It helps the client to visualize how life will be different when the goal is achieved. This step can prove to be the most difficult for young clients, because of developmental level and the complexity of the question.

2.1 Ask the client, If a miracle happened tonight while you were asleep and when you woke up tomorrow the problem that brought you here today was solved by magic, what would be the first small thing you would notice that told you this miracle has happened? or Imagine that tomorrow was a perfect day and the problem you are having today was gone. What would that perfect day look like?

2.2 Ask the client to draw a picture of the miracle or the perfect day and allow the client time to fully complete the picture at a high level of detail. These details, specifically those that are different from the previous day, should be discussed and enriched with SFT relationship questions and not-knowing questions.

Exploring for exceptions. This technique includes the search for times when the problem is not happening or is less severe. This can also include time in the past similar to the miracle picture—when things have been better. The use of followup questions provides insight into who did what to make the exceptions happen. Was it the client? Was it a parent, a teacher, or a friend? The drawing allows the client to carefully examine even the smallest exception to the problem.

3.1 Ask the client, Can you think of another time when you did not have a problem with ________?

3.2 Ask the client to draw a picture of a time when the problem was not happening and allow the client time to fully complete the picture at a high level of detail. As the client is encouraged to consider exceptions, the drawing may enable the client to consider actions or behaviors contributing to the exception. If a client has difficulty with this request, ask the client to consider a time in the recent past when a small part of the perfect day or miracle was experienced. For some young clients it may be simplest to concentrate on only one exception rather than the exploration of several.

Scaling questions. These questions can be used to assess the baseline or to evaluate progress of the presenting concern.

4.1 Ask the client, On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning you have every confidence that this problem can be solved and 1 meaning no confidence at all, where would you put yourself today?

4.2 Ask the client to draw a picture of what the number looks like. Visual representations of the scaling question can help make the evaluation of progress more concrete (Nims, 2007). The format of the question may be altered to fit the focus of the scaling question. An example of such rewording might be, On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being your miracle picture or perfect day, and 1 being the worst day, where would you say you are today, right now?

Relationship questions and not-knowing questions. These questions allow clients to take ownership and expertise regarding their presenting concerns. Questions include, What tells you that this is a problem? Who would notice that this is a problem for you? Can you tell me more about what you have drawn? What do you mean when you say ? When this problem is solved what you notice different? Who else will notice that things are different? What differences will they notice?

NEW CHAPTER PAMPHLET STITCH BOOK

Katrina Cook

Indications: Appropriate presenting concerns can include, but are not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, or major life transitions.

Goal: To enhance self-awareness and establish goal setting

Modality: Art and/or writing

The Fit: The miracle question is a technique often used in solution-focused therapy (de Shazer, 1988). The pamphlet stitch book provides clients with opportunities to shift their focus from current problems to a future life that is open to positive opportunities. The pamphlet stitch book has one signature, or chapter, that represents the client’s answer to the question If a miracle happened and the problem you have was solved overnight, how would you know it was solved, and what would be different? Through this activity, clients create a visual reminder of how their lives could be and the goals they aspire to achieve. This intervention is especially appropriate for clients experiencing a transition.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Stiff paper for the book cover, softer paper for the text pages, sturdy thread, and sewing needles, old magazines, ink stamps, and ink pads, any client-chosen personal items such as photos, drawings, poems, letters, or journal entries You may elect to create the signatures before meeting with the client so the client can focus his or her energy on the collage. To create signatures, fold sheets of paper and tear the sheets at the fold until you have sheets at the desired size, with a fold crease in the middle. Stack the pages on top of each other on the fold, creating a peak shape (Miraker & Peyton, 2009; Smith, 1999). Include 3–5 sheets in each peak, depending on how many pages the book will contain.

Instructions:

Begin the session by collaborating with the client to identify the presenting problem; ask the client the miracle question; and ask the client to write a response to the miracle question. Give the client one of the peaked signature/chapters and the cover sheet, and demonstrate how to sew the pages together inside the cover sheet. This is done by

2.1 Folding the cover sheet and placing it on top of the peaked sheets. Use a clothespin or a paper clip to keep the pages together.

2.2 With a needle, pierce three holes along the fold—1 in. in the center, one 1in. from the top, and the other 1 in. from the bottom.

2.3 Thread the needle with a thread that is three times as long as the book.

2.4 From the inside of the book, bring your needle and thread through the center hole, while holding the tail of the thread in the inside of the book.

2.5 Bring the needle and thread to the top hole and thread from the outside of the book to the inside.

2.6 Bring it back to the center hole on the inside of the book and bring the thread through this hole again. Continue to hold the tail securely.

2.7 Bring the needle to the bottom hole of the book and thread through the outside of the book back to the inside. Then bring the needle and thread back to the center hole and tie a knot with the tail. Think of the sewing as if you are creating a figure 8 (Miraker & Peyton, 2009; Smith, 1999).

Ask clients to write or collage images that represent their answer to the miracle question. Ask clients to create a title for their books and write or collage it on the covers. After completion of the books, facilitate a discussion focusing on the visual and written representations within the books. Possible discussion questions include, Tell me about the title of your book. What does that title mean to you? Show and describe each page of the book and explain what it means to you. What story does this book tell about you? How does this chapter of your life end? Encourage clients to carry their books with them as a visual reminder of how their lives might be.

RACE CAR IDENTIFICATION

Sheri Pickover

Indications: Appropriate presenting concerns may include, but are not limited to, extreme emotional reactions, attachment disorders, impulsive or aggressive behavior.

Goal: To increase range of emotion and increase self-awareness

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to provide the client with a metaphor for extreme emotional reactions that are not appropriate to the arousing situation; for example, a client who flies into a rage over an insult or a client who worries excessively over a quiz. This activity is appropriate for either group or individual counseling and is designed to be used after a client has developed the ability to identify a wide palette of emotions. This intervention derives from the theoretical view that clients who struggle with affect regulation have a developmental deficit resulting from an insecure attachment style and therefore respond to social situations with impulsive and aggressive behavior (Bowlby, 1988). This theoretical view assumes that the client struggled to develop adequate affect regulation skills in early childhood and this intervention works to build these needed emotional developmental skills.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Markers, crayons, pens and the like, paper, and age-appropriate scissors

Instructions:

Open the session with a description of the analogy, such as, How do we react to different situations? Emotions are like a race car. All feelings are valid, but sometimes we go 0–150 mph even in the wrong situations. How fast do you go in the following situations? Ask the client to draw a race car without offering assistance or guidelines. Review relevant scenarios with the client and ask the client to put a speed on the emotions (i.e., 50 miles per hour angry or 80 miles per hour anxious). Scenarios might include such times as the following: (a) neighbor insults family member, (b) starting a new job, or (c) friend makes fun of your clothes. Write down the client responses to maintain a written record of progress. Discuss scenarios that would justify 150 miles per hour angry or 130 miles per anxious, as well as scenarios that would not justify as strong a response. Invite the client to create “speeding tickets” with the art materials available. The tickets should include a space for the client to either write or draw the situation (depending on developmental level), a space for the client to mark the speed, and a space for an “I feel” statement/drawing. Ask the client to cut out the tickets and then review the “I feel” statements in session. Give the client the tickets with the following directions: For the next week, see if you can catch yourself speeding. Every time you run into a situation that makes you feel angry (or anxious etc.) ask yourself if the level of emotion is appropriate to the situation. , feelings are not wrong, but if the intensity does not match the situation, you are speeding. Give yourself a speeding ticket each time you catch yourself speeding.

Review the results in future sessions and create more speeding tickets, if needed. Use the metaphor to identify client strengths by pointing out times the client either showed awareness of speeding or demonstrated the ability to prevent

speeding. Continue to refer to this intervention throughout the counseling process as a check-in and to monitor progress.

DISCOVERING SOLUTIONS IN THE SAND

Charles E. Myers

Indications: Appropriate for a wide range of presenting concerns, including loss, divorce, depression, and trauma, this activity can also be used in personal growth, visualizing what the client wants to obtain.

Goal: To help the client to envision solutions

Modality: Sandtray therapy

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to help clients shift from a problemfocused, past-oriented perspective to a solution-focused, future-oriented perspective. Clients often can become “stuck,” or mired in their problems, unable to visualize a better future. This activity is a modification of de Shazer’s (1988) “miracle question,” with roots in Erickson’s (1954) “crystal ball” technique. The therapist asks the client to envision a world without his or her problem, how would it be different, and what can he or she do to help make that change. This process helps the client to develop well-defined goals (Sklare, 2005) and interventions the client is likely to commit to and to follow through. Built on the belief that all people have the resources to find their own solutions, this technique allows the therapist to tap into those resources. The goal of the miracle question is to shift the client’s focus from the problem to the solutions (Murphy, 1997), instilling hope that his or her circumstances can change and that he or she has the power to make change happen. The use of solution-focused, brief, and sandtray therapies together provide clients a positive and empowering approach (Taylor, 2009).

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Couples/individuals

Materials: Sandtray (ideally 20 in. wide, 30 in. long, and 3 in. deep with inside bottom and walls painted medium blue); dustless sand to fill the tray about 2–3 in. deep; and eclectic collection of miniatures in prescribed categories (Homeyer & Sweeney, 1998)

Instructions:

Begin with having the client become acquainted with the sand with prompts such as Place your hands in the sand, notice how it feels, how it moves and responds to your touch. Invite the client to share any sensations or observations. This has both the effect of accustoming the client to the medium as well as having a grounding effect. Say to the client, Think about the (the presenting problem). What does it look like in your life, what feelings does it bring up? Say to the client, Now keeping in mind (the presenting problem), choose as few or as many miniatures as you like and create your world (a picture) as it is now on the left half of the sandtray. Note: as in reading, time in expressive arts often moves visually from left to right. The client creates the world without disruption as the therapist observes and honors the process and provides a safe space in which the client may create. Process the first half (problem side) of the tray with the client. Ask the client first to explain the tray globally then gradually move to more specific parts of the tray. After processing the “problem” side of the tray with the client, ask the client the miracle question, Imagine it is 6 months from now and your problem no longer exists. Think about how your world, your life will be different. How will it look, how will you feel. Now on the right side of the tray I would like you to create your world (a picture) of how it will be in 6 months when the problem no longer exists. As the client creates the “solution,” simply observe and honor the process in silence. When the client has completed the right half (solution side) of the tray, ask the client, What is different in the second half. What changed? How do you know the problem is gone? How can others tell the problem is gone? Questions like these help the client to define how things will be different, which is useful in creating goals for therapy. These questions also help the client to see that his or

her life can change for the better, which is useful in instilling hope. Write down and acknowledge the goals that are created through the processing of the sand tray. Ask the client, What can you do to get from the left half of the tray to the right half? What is in your power to change? These questions tap the client’s inner resources and elicit potential interventions from the client. As the ideas originate with the client the likelihood of client buy-in and follow through is increased. Take a digital photo of the sand world. Photos of sand tray can be used to help the client see change and to develop a common metaphorical language between the client and the therapist. (i.e., the dragon you used to represent your anger over the breakup of you marriage, and the swimming dolphin as freedom to become yourself. Are you more the dragon or the dolphin today?)

REFERENCES

Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Clinical applications of attachment theory. New York: Basic Books. Chesley, G. L., Gillett, D. A., & Wagner, W. G. (2008). Verbal and nonverbal metaphor with children in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86(4), 399–411. Coady, N., Stalker, C., & Levene, J. (2000). A closer examination of the empirical for claims about the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: Stalker et al. respond to Gingerich. Families in Society, 81(2), 223–230. Corcoran, J., & Stephenson, M. (2000). The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy with child behavior problems: A preliminary study. Families in Society, 81, 468–474. De Shazer, S. (1982). Patterns of brief family therapy: An ecosystemic approach. New York: Guilford Press. De Shazer, S. (1988). Clues: Investigating solutions in brief therapy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. De Shazer, S. (1991). Putting difference to work. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Erickson, M. H. (1954). Pseudo-orientation in time as a hypnotic procedure. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2, 261–283. Franklin, C., Biever, J., Moore, K., Clemons, D., & Scamardo, M. (2001). The effectiveness of solution-focused theory with children in a school setting. Research on Social Work Practice, 11, 411–434. Gingerich, W., & Eisengart, S. (2000). Solution-focused brief therapy: A review of outcome research. Family Process, 39, 477–496.

Gladding, S. T. (2005) Counseling as an art: The creative arts in counseling (3rd ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Homeyer, L. E., & Sweeney, D. S. (1998) Sandtray: A practical manual. Canyon Lake TX: Lindan Press. Kim, J. S. (2008). Examining the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A meta-analysis. Research on Social Work Practice, 18, 107–116. Kim, J. S., & Franklin, C. (2009). Solution-focused brief therapy in schools: A review of the outcome literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(4), 464–470. Leggett, E. S. (2009). A creative application of solution focused counseling: An integration with children’s literature and visual arts. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 4, 191–200. Littrell, J., Malia, J., & Vanderwood, M. (1995). Single-session brief counseling in a high school. Journal of Counseling and Development, 73, 451–458. Malchiodi, C. A. (2005). Expressive therapies: History, theory, and practice. In C. A. Malchiodi (Ed.), Expressive therapies (pp. 1–15). New York: Guilford Press. Miraker, C., & Peyton, S. (2009) Bookmaking with kids: For the love of reading, writing, & art. Sewn pamphlet stitch. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from http://www.bookmaking with kids.com/wp-content/uploas/2009/07/sewnpamphlet-instructions.pdg Molnar, A., & Lindquist, B. (1989). Changing problem behavior in schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Murphy, J. (1994). Working with what works: A solution-focused approach to school behavior problems. School Counselor, 42, 59–68. Murphy, J. J. (1997). Solution-focused counseling in middle and high schools. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Nims, D. R. (2007). Integrating play therapy techniques into solution-focused brief therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 16, 54–68.

Orton, G. H. (1997). Strategies for counseling with children and their parents. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing. Russell, K. C. (2000). Exploring how the wilderness therapy process relates to outcomes. The Journal of Experiential Education, 23(3), 170–176. Selekman, M. (1997). Solution-focused therapy with children: Harnessing family strengths for systemic change. New York: Guilford Press. Sklare, G. B. (2005). Brief counseling that works: A solution-focused approach for school counselors and isters (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Smith, K. A. (1999). Non-adhesive binding: Books without paste or glue. Rochester, NY: Author. Stalker, C., Levene, J., & Coady, N. (1999). Solution-focused brief therapy: One model fits all? Families in Society, 80, 468–477. Taylor, E. (2009). Sandtray and solution-focused therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 18(1), 56–68. Trepper, T. S., McCollum, E. E., DeJong, P., Korman, H., Gingerich, W., & Franklin, C. (2008). Solution focused therapy treatment manual for working with individuals: Research Committee of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://www.sfbta.org/Research.pdf Williams, B. (2000). The treatment of adolescent populations: An institutional vs. a wilderness setting. Journal of Child & Adolescent Group Therapy, 10, 47– 56.

Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy

Dixie Meyer

Many cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) goals and techniques are often in alignment with those from an expressive arts perspective. In both the CBT and the expressive arts, the common goal is for the client to achieve behavioral change. CBT is also known for using techniques such as journaling, role-play, and guided imagery—techniques that are also commonly used in expressive arts approaches. This chapter will further explain how the expressive arts can be integrated into CBT.

FOUNDATIONS OF COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

CBT is an amalgam of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT; Ellis, 1998, 1999), behavior therapy (BT; Lazarus, 1971), and cognitive therapy (CT; Beck, 1967, 2005; Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). What makes this theory different from other kinds of therapy is the emergence of behaviors and cognitions into one integrated, comprehensive theory. Historically, REBT developed during the 1950s (Corsini & Wedding, 2008). Despite prior exploration into behavioral interventions, it was not until the 1950s when BT developed into a manner to treat psychological issues (Corsini & Wedding). Beck’s work in the cognitive model closely followed the development of these others theories and in the 1960s the writings of Beck emerged into CT (Corsini & Wedding). However, Beck’s theory began as he was investigating depression. Because BT often leaves out the cognitive and affective component, and because of brevity, this chapter will focus on Beck’s cognitive model with limited comparison to Ellis’s REBT.

Basic Tenets

When assessing any theoretical orientation, it is important to begin with the view of human nature from that theoretical perspective. From a CT perspective, humans are viewed as neither good nor bad, but the focus is concerned with how individuals adapt to their social environment and application of learning (Beck, 1976). REBT is similar in the neutral perspective of the view of human nature, but REBT posits that individuals are capable of thinking rationally and thus, thinking rationally should be the focus of therapy (Ellis, 1998, 1999). Although both focus on cognitions, what is different between CT and REBT is CT’s focus on previous experiences in cognitions. CT follows that experiences form beliefs. Therefore, a CT counselor will more readily focus on the past and the REBT counselor will stay focused on the present. With both CT and REBT, the emphasis in counseling is on the clients’ beliefs. According to CT (Beck, Freeman, & Davis, 1994), beliefs may be categorized as core, conditional, or compensatory beliefs. Core beliefs are automatic and typically reflect views of oneself. Conditional beliefs assign meaning to experiences and operate from the if–then principle. If an event happens, then the individual will often assign a label to himself or herself. Compensatory beliefs are often based on core beliefs and help individuals define the core belief. For example, an individual may have a certain core belief about himself or herself and then the compensatory belief indicates to the individual how he or she should act. According to CT, all beliefs (core, conditional, and compensatory) are organized into schemas or patterns of assumptions developed out of experience (Beck et al., 1979). All information is processed through schemas and this determines thoughts about new experiences and how individuals respond. Schemas, therefore, can be either adaptive or dysfunctional dependent on the outcome on the mental health of the individual. Collections of schemas are called modes and these organize the client’s perspective of reality (Beck et al., 1979). Modes may be primitive, often operating with a more extreme response and thinking in absolutes, or mature, operating with more flexibility in the thought process and able to integrate situational information (Beck et al., 1979).

COGNITIONS COMPOSITION

Unlike Ellis who assessed for irrational thoughts, Beck was known to assess for dysfunctional thoughts. What often happens with individuals is patterns emerge from their negative thoughts. Typically, these are called cognitive distortions. In CT, Beck (1967) and Beck et al. (1979) described common cognitive distortions:

Arbitrary inferences occur when the client makes a conclusion without confirmatory evidence or when contradictory evidence is present. Selective abstraction occurs when a client elects to focus on one or a few details present and disregard the broader circumstances. Overgeneralizations occur when the client comes to a generalized conclusion from one event. Magnification and minimization occurs when the client either contributes too little or too much significance to an event. Personalization occurs when the client views unrelated events as a reflection of himself or herself when no relationship exists. Dichotomous thinking occurs when a client interprets an event as either all good or all bad. Catastrophizing occurs when the client views the event as worse than what actually happened. Mind reading occurs when the client assumes that he or she knows the intentions of or what someone else is thinking. Fortune telling occurs when the client imagines the worst will happen. Labeling occurs when a client defines himself or herself based on a singular

event or applies a negative label to himself or herself without objectively describing the event.

Ellis (1999), similar to Beck’s cognitive distortions, had a theoretical explanation for the thoughts an individual has. This model is called the ABC model. The A represents the activating event. The B represents an individual’s belief about the activating event and the C represents the emotional or behavioral consequence based on the belief of the event. Thus, according to Ellis (1999), it is not the emotions, behaviors, or the event that disturbed an individual, but his or her beliefs about the event. Throughout the course of counseling, a counselor may review common cognitive distortions with a client or have the client dissect his or her responses to an event to investigate his or her beliefs about the event. These activities help the client work toward more adaptive thought processes or more rational thinking. For example, Ellis would work with the client to examine his or her irrational thoughts whereas Beck would work with a client to develop adaptive or flexible thought patterns.

THE COUNSELING PROCESS

REBT is largely viewed as the integration of emotions and cognitions into behaviors (Ellis, 1962). Comparably, CT postulates that individual responses involve behavioral, cognitive, and affective components (Beck, 1976). Thus, both an REBT and a CT counselor will examine the client’s belief system within the counseling process. Although Ellis may view thoughts as irrational and thus irrational thoughts cause disturbances, Beck had a more neutral response to thoughts. He found it was the outcome of the thoughts that defined them not as irrational or rational, but rather adaptive or maladaptive. In of pathology, CT considers each disorder to have cognitive themes of dysfunctional thoughts, whereas REBT views pathology in what the client considers is something he or she should or must have or do and how he or she incorporates these musts and shoulds into his or her beliefs (Beck et al., 1994; Ellis, 1998, 1999). then from the CT perspective, within the behavioral, cognitive, and affective responses are a series of schemas or core beliefs that influence how an individual will respond. In counseling, these schemas or core beliefs are converted to testable hypotheses (Beck et al., 1979). Clients are asked to test their hypotheses or look for evidence to either confirm or deny their core beliefs. This process of using the scientific method to test the client’s beliefs is called collaborative empiricism (Beck et al., 1979). The other strategy that directs the course of CT counseling is a process called guided discovery. Guided discovery looks for themes in present dysfunctional thoughts and links these to the client’s previous experiences (Beck et al., 1994). During the guided discovery process, the counselor and client seek to uncover the origins of his or her thoughts and uncover his or her cognitive distortions. When working with a client, it is important for the client to recognize his or her automatic thoughts and determine if these automatic thoughts are negative or dysfunctional (Beck et al., 1979). Following this, the client will be able to understand how cognitions also influence how he or she behaves and feels (Beck et al., 1979). The counselor will work with the client to help him or her deactivate his or her dysfunctional thoughts (Beck et al., 1979). To deactivate the thoughts, the counselor aims to loosen the power the thoughts have over the client and help

the client become less sensitive to the dysfunctional thoughts (Beck et al., 1979). Once this process is underway, the counselor can then help the client modify his or her current beliefs. , this model of therapy closely follows the scientific model and thus, the counselor will want to work with the client to help the client assess the evidence in of or against the automatic thoughts (Beck et al., 1979). Dependent on the outcome of the search of evidence, the counselor will work with the client to help him or her develop cognitions founded in reality (Beck et al., 1979). Subsequently, adapt new beliefs or modes to help the client uncover new more healthy cognitive thought patterns. Together, the CT counselor and the client examine dysfunctional beliefs to adjust them into functional beliefs. The counselor will fully integrate this process with the client (Beck et al., 1979). Thus, the client will be able to detect dysfunctional thoughts, alter these thoughts to be more objective and therefore, the client’s thoughts will no longer distort his or her experiences.

COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TECHNIQUES AND INTEGRATION OF EXPRESSIVE ARTS

The term CBT is designated for combining the cognitive model of therapy with behavioral interventions (Beck, 2005). The outline of CBT techniques often is in alignment with the use of the techniques from an expressive arts perspective. In both CBT and the expressive arts, the common goal is for the client to achieve behavioral change. During a counseling session after the execution of any intervention, both CBT and in counseling using the expressive arts, time is set aside for processing the intervention. During this time, the use of questioning, reflection, and learning from the intervention occurs. From a CBT perspective, the goal may be focused on cognitive restructuring. It is important to note, however, that even if the term cognitive restructuring is not used in expressive arts modalities, this does not mean that change in the client’s thought process does not occur. Thus, through both the CBT and the use of expressive arts in counseling, changes in thoughts and behaviors can be expected. The uses of the expressive arts are often already included in CBT techniques or could easily fall into a category of a behavioral intervention. For example, CBT is known for using journaling to chart progress and explore current thoughts and feelings. From the expressive arts perspective, writing and poetry are common modalities and are often already used for this purpose. CBT is also known for the inclusion of role-play. Role-playing involves practicing new behavioral skills or preparing the client for a difficult social situation by practicing the situation in counseling. In drama therapy, role-playing is frequently used. Aside from cross-utilized techniques, other techniques could easily be adapted into expressive arts techniques. The CBT technique of guided imagery is already commonly used in drama therapy. Guided imagery is the process of allowing the imagination to guide the client toward healing. The counselor will often tell a story or direct the client to imagine what the counselor is saying. Guided imagery is often used to aid in relaxation or helping the client to imagine a time when he or she will have the quality of mental health he or she desires. The inclusion of music could enhance a guided imagery, thus making the technique a music therapy intervention as well. CBT also includes the technique of

reprocessing memories to uncover the etiology of cognitive distortions. This could easily become an art therapy invention. The client could draw the memory of when the distortion began. Then, the client could paint over the picture to change it to a more adaptive memory. Thus, the client could have a physical representation of a more healthy thought process.

EMPIRICAL FOR COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Beck believed that mental health disorders could be categorized by common thought processes. Beck is a prolific author and often writes about the thought processes of certain mental disorders while creating guidebooks for helping others counsel clients with various mental health disorders. He has written books over such disorders as working with depression, anxiety, personality, bipolar, schizophrenia, and substance abuse while creating a model for treating individuals with these disorders. The evidence-based practices movement is strongly influencing the counseling profession. Several key components of this movement are knowing when, how, and with whom to use which theoretical orientation. The structure of CBT allows this orientation to be researched and, thus, there are numerous studies ing its use with various populations, psychological issues, and settings. In 2005 and 2006, two article reviews examine empirical for CBT (Beck, 2005; Butler, Chapman, Forman, & Beck, 2006). Results from numerous studies reviewed in these articles report that using CBT may produce efficacious outcomes when working with individuals with depression, anxiety disorders, marital distress, schizophrenia, eating disorders, somatic disorders, addictions, anger management, previous suicidal ideation or attempts, chronic pain, and sexual offenses. This suggests that using a CBT orientation in counseling may be beneficial for clients with most disorders. Since 2006, when the most recent comprehensive review of empirical for CBT was found, more research has been produced to suggest auspicious results when using CBT in counseling. Since then, studies have reported that CBT may be helpful when working with individuals with impulse control disorders, insomnia, sexual dysfunction including vaginismus, and some personality disorders (Clarke, Rizvi, & Resick, 2008; Davidson et al., 2006; Davidson et al., 2009; Emmelkamp, Benner, Kuipers, Feiertag, Koster, & van Apeldoorn, 2006; Hodgins & Peden, 2008; Morin et al., 2009; Hoyer, Uhmann, Rambow, & Jacobi, 2009; Perlman, Arnedt, Earnheart, Gorman, & Shireley, 2008; ter Kuile et al., 2007; van Lankveld et al., 2006). Although empirical

has been found for antisocial, avoidant, borderline, personality disorders (Clark et al.; Davidson et al., 2006; Davidson et al., 2009; Emmelkamp et al., 2006), counselors should be advised when working with clients with other personality disorders. It is important to note, however, that no studies were found assessing for treatment of dissociative disorders, cognitive disorders, and factitious disorders. Therefore, counselors should be cautious about applying CBT when working with clients on reducing symptoms with dissociative, cognitive, or factitious disorders.

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL THERAPY DRAMA IN TWO ACTS

Dixie Meyer

Indications: This activity is especially appropriate when a client is developing ways to expand his or her behavior repertoire or when a client is preparing to face a challenging or potentially emotionally charged social situation or seeking to stretch personal boundaries.

Goal: To prepare a client to successfully manage an personal interaction

Modality: Drama

The Fit: Drama therapy seems to be the expressive art modality most easily in alignment with CBT. With the strong emphasis on behavior change and practicing new behaviors prior to real-life execution, both CBT and drama therapy are similar in application. For example, one technique frequently implemented in both CBT and drama therapy is the role-play. Role-play is a form of skills training in which the client is able to act out a social situation of his or her choice.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Couples/families/groups/individuals

Materials: No special materials are required.

Instructions: The following technique will focus on executing a role-play while encouraging the client to expand his or her behavior repertoire. This technique may be executed as a typically role-play with one adjustment.

Act I:

Ask the client to focus on the challenging interaction. Ask the client to initially try the role-play of the difficult situation behaving and speaking in his or her normal manner. Process the role-play and ask the client to focus on the emotions that arose out of the experiences, what was expected and unexpected in the role-play, what he or she thought about the process, and his or her likes and dislikes about the roleplay.

Act II:

Ask the client to think about a character from a movie or play that he or she would like to emulate in real life, in general, and the situation, in specific. Character of choice may be someone who has survived despite impossible odds such as Dieter Dengler, the only prisoner of war taken in combat during the Vietnam War who successfully escaped; his story is told in the movie Rescue Dawn. A client may want to portray a selfless individual such George Bailey form the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. A client may also chose to portray an individual who never gave up his or her hopeful attitude such as Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who lived in hiding during World War II; her story is told through her book, The Diary of Anne Frank. Ask the client to execute the role-play again personifying the ired character. After playing out the new role in the familiar situation, invite the client to explore what he or she would like to take from the role-play and to incorporate into his or her thought, affect, and behavior repertoires.

Curtain Call: At the follow-up session after the actual interaction has occurred, ask the client to share the ways in which he or she emulated the character and ask him or her to “play the character” as he or she give his or her assessment of the interaction.

ACTING OUT: PARADOXICAL INTENTION

Dixie Meyer

Indications: This activity may be used with clients who are fearful of their own reactions, emotions, or possible responses to client-specific stimuli; helpful for clients who allow their fears or apprehensions about people or events to keep them from experiencing things they would like as in cases of phobias or obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).

Goal: To allow a client to play out his or her fears in a safe environment to give him or her a sense of control over his or her fears and anxieties

Modality: Drama

The Fit: There is a creative essence to CBT. Many of the techniques used from this theoretical orientation, allow the counselor to use his or her imagination in the process. One such inventive intervention is the paradoxical intervention. Paradoxical intervention asks the client to act out exactly what he or she fears (Burns, 1989). The client would be encouraged to physically or behaviorally act out what he or she are scared to happen. The individual then, via his or her behaviors, tries to go crazy. This may include the client talking gibberish, throwing a tantrum, or pounding his or her fists. In this manner, clients are able to see that what frightens them may not actually be so fearful. In addition, by the client being able to act out this behavior, he or she is also itting control over the behavior.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Individuals

Materials: No special materials are required.

Caution: It is important for the counselor to be mindful of the fears of the client and to avoid encouraging unethical or dangerous behavior by the client. Do not encourage clients to behave in ways that may harm themselves or another. It is essential that the client initially practice this intervention in the counselor’s presence before trying this without the counselor present.

Instructions: With any counseling, the client’s safety is a concern; thus, the client may initially be encouraged to try this behavior with the counselor present. However, once the client is able to feel comfortable with the intervention and the counselor is not concerned, the client will harm himself or herself, the client may also implement this activity at home.

Begin the practice enactment by providing a demonstration what the client is being asked to perform (Burns, 1989). Invite the client to execute the behaviors that are feared. Encourage the client to perform his or her own behaviors and feelings rather than mimicking your demonstration so that the client can feel connected with what his or her behavior. During the client’s enactment, verbalize encouragers (i.e., It is okay to pound your fist or throw yourself into this activity). Encouragement from you may help the client release any anxiety associated with acting out the behaviors or help the client feel more comfortable with his or her feared behaviors and feelings. After an in-session enactment, encourage the client to use this activity outside of the office on an as needed basis, allowing the behavior to become intrinsically reinforced. If the client uses this technique with others present, it may be best if the client informs them that it is a therapeutic technique.

FELTING WITH FAMILY

Cheryl L. Shiflett and HoiLam Tang

Indications: Children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder and their families may benefit from the collaborative, manipulative, and tactile dimensions of this art intervention

Goals: To promote cooperative and reciprocal interaction with siblings, to promote sensory integration, and to develop communicating choices

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to expand the client’s tolerance of tactile and kinesthetic exploration of art materials, provide opportunities to select and communicate color choices, and to promote cooperative and reciprocal interactions with siblings. Used in a group of siblings, this motivating activity facilitates a primarily nonverbal method to build meaningful interactions with family while empowering the client with opportunities to make choices about materials and to safely and actively explore those materials with touch. This activity lends itself to a cognitive– behavioral approach because it promotes social learning through observation of other sibling social interactions and imitating behaviors demonstrated by the therapist or counselor. According to Bandura (1977), human behavior is learned and modeled based on observation. By shaping desired behavior to interact with art materials, prompting continued engagement, and by reinforcing the interaction between client, sibling, and material, the client’s perception of a successful experience provides a conceptual reference for repeating interactive and engaging behaviors in novel circumstances (Kazdin, 2001). The felting material and felting process provide tactile sensory nourishment, a primary building block for sensory integration and ultimately developing academic readiness and more complex cognitive skills (Kranowitz, 1998). The authors have used this activity in a sibling art therapy group for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and to their sibling(s) in a sibling art therapy group. Additionally, this activity has implications for enhancing familial relationships by including parents and caregivers in family art therapy. This technique has also been found to promote attention to task, following directions, turn-taking, and other prosocial behaviors with children attending an alternative school setting because of oppositional defiant behaviors.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Families/groups

Materials: 20-oz assorted colored merino wool (basic primary and secondary colors); a 0.5 gal thermos filled with warm soapy water; a second 0.5–1 gal thermos container filled with warm clean water; several small measuring cups; working mat (a 12 ft round solar bubble cover or a large durable plastic bubble sheet); 2–3 water trays; a few small sponges; 5–7 pieces of big towels; and a couple of pieces of felt cloth samples

Instructions:

Lay down the solar bubble cover in the center of the activity room. You can stand in the middle of the solar bubble cover and invite your clients and their siblings to explore the environment together. Allow 4–6 minutes for your clients to get familiar with the environment and ask them find a comfortable spot to sit on the solar bubble cover with their siblings. After your clients become comfortable with the environment, a brief sensory experiment will take place by inviting your clients and their siblings to touch and feel the wool supply. Put the wool against your cheeks or between your palms; encourage your clients and their siblings to follow your actions. Ask them to identify feelings from touching the materials. Encourage them to describe their sensory feeling (e.g., soft, comfortable, ticklish, warm, itchy, etc.). For clients with limited verbal communication, incorporate communication devices or a prepared picture card choice board. As they describe their feelings, explore with them what kinds of sensory feelings they like the most. Following the brief sensory experiment, several pieces of small felt samples for your clients to touch. Describe to them that today they are going to play with the wool and transform the wool into felt. Demonstrate the dry felting techniques to your clients by placing small pieces of wool against each other. Use two different colors and blend them together during the dry felting process. Next, announce to your clients that they are going to pick their favorite colors to create a piece of soft felt with their siblings. Ask your clients and their siblings to learn each other’s favorite colors. Ask your clients and their sibling to select their favorite color from the wool supply bin. Then, assist them with the dry felting technique by placing small pieces of wool against each other. Emphasize to each sibling team the importance of connecting their wool on the flat solar bubble cover. Encourage them to interact with each other by working the colors together. Give approximately 5–8 minutes (depending on time constraints) for them to lay

3–4 layers of the dry wool together to make a piece of woven wool. Demonstrate wet felting technique by pouring a one-half cup of warm soap water on the center of a piece of dry woven wool. Demonstrate with the sibling pair how to use their hands to slowly spread the soapy water outward and gently rubbing the wet wool. Exhibit different movements (e.g., pulling, twisting, squishing, etc.). Try mixing the wool with your feet and toes. Invite siblings to lead your clients to explore different movements with the wet wool. Also, ask each team to observe other team’s movement and try out new movement from others. After 5–10 minutes of wet felting, provide each team with a sponge to absorb the excessive soap. Examine with each pair if the wool has successfully transformed into a piece of felt. Then, pour about 0.5 gal of warm water in the water trays. Ask each team to use the warm water to clean their felt cloth. After they use the clean water to clean their felt cloth, demonstrate a catch-andthrow game with your cofacilitator. Ask each team to follow your demonstration and play throw and catch several times with the felt cloth to dry their wet felt cloths. If any client does not want to play the catch-and-throw game, ask him or her to lift the wet felt above his or her head and drop it on the solar bubble wrap many times with his or her sibling so that they can extract excessive water from their felt. After the throw-and-catch game, give each team a towel. Invite each team to use the towel to clean up the working area and roll up the solar bubble cover together. Using communication devices, line drawings or images for communication when appropriate, invite responses to questions such as, How did the dry wool feel? How did the wet felt feel? What was your favorite part of felting? What was it like to make felt with your sibling? What have you learned from your siblings?

THE TEAPOT TRANSITION

Nancy L. Davis

Indications: This activity is directed at individuals with some block to change when facing transitions.

Goal: To assist clients in developing actions plans for handling transitions

Modality: Expressive writing

The Fit: This activity fits with the cognitive–behavioral emphasis on the connection between our thoughts and our behaviors. By creating and stating plans for future action, we are changing our future behavior through thoughtful planning.

Populations: Older children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Paper, writing instruments

Instructions:

Print out a picture of a teakettle to represent the need to let ideas “simmer” and “brew” until ready for action. Print out the prompts on surface of choice (a chalkboard, paper, small pieces of papers in an envelope, etc.) Each participant will receive a small envelope with the following phrases to complete. Phrases inside the make-believe teapot: With some planning, I can . . .; In the past, when I was stuck, I tried . . .; I have confidence that I will start . . .; One person who can help me is . . .; Three baby steps I can accomplish include . . . Explain the challenges of making progress over obstacles using this script: When individuals meet obstacles in their lives, they often find themselves floundering. Some might say they feel that they are “stuck.” The emotional impact of this condition can restrict the behaviors that would enable positive movement. Stopping for a cup of tea can afford some reflective opportunities. In your make-believe teapot, you will find some phrases to help you start thinking of ways to overcome the obstacles you’re facing. With the phrases you find, complete sentences addressing your specific problem. Example: If the phrase says, “With some planning, I can . . .” then you would write something like this: With some planning, I can “ a counselor, make an appointment, and begin work on my addiction.” After each participant has had time to come up with some action plans, invite the group to share their ideas and to help those who are still stuck in the process of developing ideas.

REVERSAL MOVES FOR PROBLEMATIC THINKING

Suzanne Degges-White

Indications: This activity is useful for clients who are embedded in unproductive patterns or who feel unable to come up with a new way of looking at a problem.

Goal: To help clients find new ways of addressing issues that have them stuck

Modality: Art and visualization

The Fit: Clients often get stuck in negative patterns because of personal belief systems or schema that effectively lock them into predictable patterns. Through this activity, clients are encouraged to first write out their problem or presenting issue in the normal way in which they perceive events in their life. Then, they are encouraged to let go of their preconceived perspective or expectations through a revision of their thought process to allow for innovative and less structured thinking.

Populations: Children, adolescents, adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Two writing instruments (ideally, one regular pencil/pen and one colorful or unique marker/pen/crayon); ruled paper and drawing paper

Instructions:

Give clients a piece of ruled paper and invite the clients to take out a pen/pencil (or provide one). Invite them to take a few moments to write out a brief description of the problem, issue, or concern that brought them to counseling. After they have completed the writing exercise, ask them if you may read aloud their description. Before reading the clients’ writing, communicate the following, paraphrasing into your own natural speech: We often look at problems with just the “dominant” side of our brain. For lefthanders, we use the right side and for right-handers, we use the left side. Both hemispheres do some really unique things. The right side is visual and processes information in an intuitive and simultaneous way. The left side is primarily verbal and processes information in an analytical and sequential way. Sometimes a problem needs an intuitive solution and sometimes it needs a logical solution. Yet a lot of times when we get “stuck” in a problem, it means that we’ve exhausted our dominant side’s ability to come up with a solution. By inviting the “other side” of our brain to take over, we can sometimes see a solution where there wasn’t one beforehand. Read the clients’ description aloud and then invite them to close their eyes or soften their gaze. Invite them to let their mind drift past the problem issue and to allow their “nondominant” hemisphere to take over and visualize a solution or a part of the solution to their concern. You might encourage them to imagine the written words to become blurry and the letters shift from spelling out words to becoming an image of the solution to your problem. Watch them as they transform into a picture of the answer you need to solve the problem you’re ready to see unraveled. After giving them a few moments to let their minds engage in a new way, invite the clients to hold on to their developing solution as they open their eyes or come back to focus. Place in front of them the sheet of drawing paper and the

unique or different marker, pen, or crayon. Invite them to take the pen into their nondominant hand to transfer the new ideas generated by their nondominant brain hemisphere onto the paper. Assure them that they can use whatever form of creative processing they would like to use, such as visual images, words, symbols, phrases, self-directives, and so forth. After clients have transferred their imagined solution onto the paper, invite them to share with you their newly developed ideas about working their dilemma. Process how it was for clients to imagine letting go of their dominant way of looking at things as well as using their nondominant hand to draw/write. Does their tendency to “look at things in only one way” ever get in the way of their problem solving or interactions with others?

REFERENCES

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Harper & Row. Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press. Beck, A. T. (2005). The current state of cognitive therapy: A 40-year retrospective. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 953–959. Retrieved October 15, 2009 from http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/62/9/953 Beck, A. T., Freeman, A., & Davis, D. D. (1994). Cognitive therapy for personality disorders: A schema-focused approach (Rev. ed.). Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press/ Professional Resource Exchange. Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: The Guilford Press. Burns, D. D. (1989). Feeling good handbook. New York: Plume/Penguin Books. Butler, A. C., Chapman, J. E., Forman, E. M., & Beck, A. T. (2006). The empirical status of cognitive-behavior therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 17–31. Clarke, S. B., Rizvi, S. L., & Resick, P. A. (2008). Borderline personality characteristics and treatment outcome in cognitive-behavioral treatments for PTSD in female rape victims. Behavior Therapy, 39, 72–78. Corsini, R., & Wedding, D. (2008). Current psychotherapies (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomas Higher Education.

Davidson, K. M., Norrie, K., Tyrer, P., Gumley, A., Tata P., Murray, H., et al. (2006). The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results from the borderline personality disorder study of cognitive therapy (BOSCOT). Journal of Personality Disorders, 20, 450–465. Davidson, K. M., Tyrer, P., Tata P., Cooke, D., Gumley, A., Ford, I., et al. (2009). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for violent men with antisocial personality disorder in the community: An exploratory randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 39(4), 569–577. Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Seacausus, NJ: Citadel Press. Ellis, A. (1998). How to control your anxiety before it controls you. Secaucus, NJ: Caroll Publishing Group. Ellis, A. (1999). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy: A comprehensive method of treating human disturbances. New York: Citadel Press. Emmelkamp, P. M., Benner, A., Kuipers, A., Feiertag, G. A., Koster, H. C., & van Apeldoorn, F. J. (2006). Comparison of brief dynamic and cognitivebehavioural therapies in avoidant personality disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 189, 60–64. Hodgins, D. C., & Peden, N. (2008). Cognitive behavioral treatment for impulse control disorders. Revista Brasileria de Psiquiatria, 30(Suppl. 1), 531–540. Hoyer, J., Uhmann, S., Rambow, J., & Jacobi, F. (2009). Reduction of sexual dysfunction: By-product of cognitive-behavioural therapy for psychological disorders? Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 24, 64–73. Kazdin, A. E. (2001). Behavior modification in applied settings (6th ed.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Kranowitz, C. S. (1998). The out-of-sync child: Recognizing and coping with sensory integration dysfunction. New York: Berkley Publishing Group. Lazarus, A. A. (1971). Behavior therapy and beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill. Morin C. M., Vallières, A., Guay, B., Ivers, H., Savard, J., Mérette, C., et al.

(2009). Cognitive behavioral therapy, singly and combined with medication, for persistent insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(19), 2005–2015. Perlman, L. M., Arnedt, J. T., Earnheart, K. L., Gorman, A. A., & Shirley, K. G. (2008). Group cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in a VA mental health clinic. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 15(4), 426–434. ter Kuile, M. M., van Lankveld, J. J., de Groot, E., Melles, R., Neffs, J., & Zandbergen, M. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for women with lifelong vaginismus: Process and prognostic factors. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(2), 359–373. van Lankveld, J. J., ter Kuile, M. M., de Groot, H. E., Melles, R., Neffs, J., & Zandbergen, M. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for women with lifelong vaginismus: A randomized waiting-list controlled trial of efficacy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 168–178.

Choice Theory

Torey L. Portrie-Bethke

Choice theory is short term, action based, and focuses on the resolution of problems in the present; it is a creative therapeutic process that entails exploring mental images in our minds known as quality worlds. This chapter will explain the history and basic tenets of choice theory, and then discuss how expressive arts techniques can be integrated within it.

HISTORY OF CHOICE THEORY

Choice theory (1998), an expansion of reality therapy (1965), was originated and authored by William Glasser, a board-certified psychiatrist. His therapeutic vision began in 1962, when he created a theory focused on personal responsibility and choice. Although Glasser’s theoretical beliefs do not emphasize exploring past experiences, it is important to recognize a few of his critical life experiences that he attributes to the development of this theory. William Glasser was born May 11, 1925, in Cleveland, OH; he was raised by parents who he describes as being loving toward him and incompatible with each other (Glasser, 1998). At an early age, Glasser recognized the struggle for power and control, relationship disconnect, and lack of fun present in his parents’ partnership. The brief information provided by Glasser highlighting his past childhood gives insight to the development of this theory that emphasizes personal connection in relationships, choice and responsibility, consideration of others, and compatible basic needs in partnerships. In addition to observing relationships that lead to his understanding of personal choice and needs, Glasser was a dedicated student; his educational journey entailed earning three challenging degrees. He began his professional career by earning a degree as an engineer, and he spent 1 year employed as a chemical engineer. This profession did not fulfill Glasser’s basic needs and as a result, he chose to enter a doctoral program in clinical psychology. Consistent with Glasser’s belief of reevaluation and purposeful planning, after earning his master’s degree in clinical psychology, he then continued to earn a medical degree in psychiatry. At the age of 28, Glasser completed his medical degree and began the development of what would become reality therapy and later, choice theory. Glasser developed this theoretical construct from the writings of Powers (1973) on control system theory (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010). Glasser interpreted control system theory as a way for understanding how individuals are controlled by an inner control system in the brain that guides and regulates emotions and behaviors to meet individual needs (Seligman & Reichenberg).

Further development of Glasser’s theory shifted the focus from external control of the brain to internal control of choice. Therefore, reality/control theory later became choice theory with an emphasis on individuals’ choices of thoughts and feelings leading to more fulfilling lives. The connection among all three labels to this theory hold that the brain as a control system relates information from the external world to the present reality of what individuals want and what is currently experienced (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010; Wubbolding, 2000). The process of discovering the gap between what an individual has and what he or she wants guides development of choice theory. Glasser (1998) chose to educate himself and live his theory in a manner that led to the advancement, development, and perfection of an internationally practiced theory that embraces present choices and honors the quality of relationships. Choice theory contributes to the counseling process by embracing the quality of relationships in the present to assist clients’ interpersonal–intrapersonal growth. This process enhances clients’ understanding of their genetically encoded needs of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun (Glasser, 1998). Although each of these needs is important and drives our choices in life, its relative strength may vary over time.

CORE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS OF THEORY

Human Nature

As human beings, we are described by Glasser (1998) as genetically programmed to attempt to satisfy five psychological needs: survival, love and belonging, power (or achievement), freedom (or independence), and fun (or enjoyment). The attempts made by individuals to fulfill these psychological needs are considered the individual’s best choice given the persons’ circumstances, experience, and energy at the time the choice was implemented (Glasser, 1998; Purkey & Schmidt, 1990; Zeeman, 2006). The methods individuals use to satisfy the inherently driven needs serve as instructions for how life is lived and fulfilled (Glasser, 1998). Glasser (1985) identifies five means for satisfying psychological needs (Archer & McCarthy, 2007; Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010; Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2004):

Fulfilling the need to belong by loving, sharing, and cooperating with others. Belonging is also satisfied by the give and take of loving relationships; having emotional , connections, interactions, and valued relationships with people. Fulfilling the need for power by achieving, accomplishing, and being recognized and respected. Power/achievement is also satisfied by feeling successful in achieving accomplishments and competence, self-worth, success, and control over one’s own life. Power may also be achieved in connection and collaboration with others to redefine and refine skills necessary to succeed in life. Fulfilling the need for freedom by making choices in our lives. Freedom and independence are also satisfied by the ability to make choices that best serve personal needs and those of others and to live without unnecessary limits or constraints. Freedom is also the ability to cope effectively with our environment and potentially limited choices. Fulfilling the need for fun by laughing and playing. Fun and enjoyment are also satisfied by asserting the ability to play and explore the world, and by

appreciating being human. Fulfilling the need for survival. Life survival is also satisfied by experiencing the essentials in life, similar to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. As humans, we strive for good health, food, shelter, air, medicine, sexual pleasure, safety, security, and physical comfort. Survival may be viewed as the desire to work hard and gain a sense of security.

All life circumstances and experiences result in differing degrees to which individuals choose behaviors to fulfill and satisfy psychological needs. These behavioral choices are based on the pictures created in individuals’ minds to capture the most pleasurable moments, experiences, and people within those events. The pictures created and recreated to capture our relationships with life are termed quality worlds (Glasser, 1998).

Quality Worlds

Quality worlds are created by small groups of pictures that represent individuals’ unique reality and perceptions of relationships and events. Generally, these pictures represent the images that capture moments of time when life experiences basic needs or of the life individuals most desire to experience, filled with the people individuals want to be with, surrounded by acquired or earned possessions, endured experiences individuals would like to have, and encomed by the ideas and beliefs valued. Glasser (1998) describes three categories these pictures portray: (a) the people we most enjoy spending our time with, (b) The material items and belongings we most want to own or experience, and (c) the thoughts, dreams, or values of belief that governs much of our behavior. As individuals develop a clearer perception of their basic needs through a collaborative counseling environment, they may gain a new awareness that their quality world needs to be reevaluated and restructured to satisfy their basic needs to lead a more fulfilling life. The counseling process is a therapeutic environment that fosters a collaborative counseling relationship to explore aspects of individuals’ quality worlds that they are able to control and satisfy pleasurable desires. The motive driving this behavior to alter the true reality is a continual force to instill a pleasurable feeling in place of a not-so-pleasurable life experience. As individuals begin to view their quality worlds with untruthfulness and discrepancy regarding desired needs, they begin to lose sight of fulfilling basic needs. If individuals continue to choose pictures that are not realistic to their current life experiences, then they may feel disappointment and anger. As individuals engage in the counseling process and become more aware of their needs and the discrepancies in their quality worlds, it becomes more possible for them to make wiser, more realistic choices, have a greater sense over the decisions in their lives, and satisfy their basic needs (Glasser, 1998). The nonjudgmental atmosphere of the counseling relationship affords individuals the opportunity to process and explore relationships and our habits. The collaborative counseling process helps hold individuals able for the changes in behaviors/habits in their lives they chose to make.

Choice theory addresses the need for individuals to create ive habits for their personal growth; these are termed the seven caring habits. Caring habits are embraced by individuals as internally controlled behaviors. These include ing, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. External control is experienced as having dominant controlling behaviors over others. Individuals who believe they are dominated by external control are convinced that they know what is best for everyone including themselves. These behaviors are known as the seven deadly habits exhibited by individuals who are choosing external control and are disconnected from relationships by choosing to behave in a way that is criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, bribing, and/or rewarding to control. Both the caring and deadly habits listed previously are explored in the counseling process in regard to individuals’ total behavior.

Mental Health

Mental health professionals may say that Glasser’s view on mental health is extreme and possibly reckless given his assertive view that individuals choose and are responsible for behaviors, emotions, and physical problems (SommersFlanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2004). At times, this concept may seem insensitive to clients and their presenting issues; however, when implemented correctly these techniques to transition an experience from being depressed to depressing are empowering for clients (Sommers-Flanagan & SommersFlanagan). The idea to use verbs in place of adjectives and nouns encourages individuals to interpret their emotional, physical, mental pain in of choice. Glasser, (1998) identifies two purposes behind this method in gaining awareness: (a) individuals purposely choose how much energy they exert when complaining, and (b) they are more aware and attuned with how their choice impacts experiences to make better choices to eliminate complaints (Archer & McCarthy, 2007). Given that Glasser’s concept of mental illness is drastically different than the mainstream view of medical models of disease, it is important to conceptualize accurately his stance for empowering individuals. Directly related to empowering individuals, the overarching tenets of the counseling profession are to empower clients to access their resources, acknowledge and embrace life transitions across the life span, and honor individual differences, and foster positive growth and wellness. Consistent with this view, Glasser embraced an alternative empowering view to assist individuals in directing their lives. Mental illness in choice theory is the result of individuals’ failure to meet their five basic needs in pleasurable, effective ways (Glasser, 1998). Rather than conceptualizing problems as mental illness, choice theorists view the five basic needs as unbalanced and unmet. This failure may be viewed in five encoming ways based on emotional difficulties:

loneliness and isolation,

loss of control and power—rather than empowerment and success, illness or deprivation—rather than freedom, safety, and security, monotony and depression—rather than fun and creativity, and irritation, rebelliousness, and inhibition—rather than freedom and mindfulness (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010).

Effectively satisfying the five basic needs is a result of individuals being mindful of the choices made regarding thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. As counselors shift client’s/individual’s focus from the symptoms to identifying the purpose of motivating the psychological behavior and question what goals are accomplished, they are able to assist clients/individuals in addressing positive effective strategies within their value system to meet the five basic needs in balance. Wubbolding (2000) suggested that counselors work to express empathy and validation of clients’ experiences when identifying the clients’ methods for meeting their five basic needs. Providing clients with a phenomenological experience may enhance the clients’ perceived connection and security with the counselor when venerable issues and needs are explored.

CONCERNS ADDRESSED BY CHOICE THEORY

Total Behavior

Behavior is more directly defined and elaborated through Glasser’s (1998) view regarding choice theory. His view of theory focuses on four expansions of the word “way” as in the way of conducting oneself. Glasser describes the four inseparable components that, as a whole, make up the “way” we conduct ourselves:

Activity is the first component. This involves walking, talking, playing. Thinking is the second component. This involves the thoughts and images we create. Feeling is the third component. This is described as the emotions we experience based on our behaviors. Physiology is the forth component, and this includes the reaction to doing and living (heart pumping, lungs contracting and retracting, and the neurology associated with our brain functioning).

Considering the impact of all four components of behavior working simultaneously, Glasser (1998) expands the single word “behavior” to the two words “total behavior.” The concept of adding the word total preceding behavior refers to the four components (acting, thinking, feeling, and the physiology) associated with all our actions, thoughts, and feelings, which constitute total behavior. Choice theory postulates that individuals can choose to control thinking and acting components and by doing so, they indirectly gain control over their physiology and emotions. As counselors engage clients in this process, they encourage clients to focus on changing their actions first. Changing actions and thinking is conceptualized as the beginning point for changing feelings and physiology.

This concept of total behavior has been described by Wubbolding (2000) using the car analogy; where the front two wheels are the individuals’ action and thinking and the rear two wheels that follow along are the feelings and physiology (Archer & McCarthy, 2006). Given that cars are lead by the front two wheels and the rear wheels follow, it is clear to see that the best driving results are when the front wheels lead. This directly applies to individuals’ choices to change action and thinking patterns first and as a result, emotions and physiology behaviors are changed and are assumed to provide an overall benefit to individuals.

WDEP System

Robert E. Wubbolding, another significant figure in the development, implementation, and promotion of reality therapy and its progression as choice theory, developed a system for evaluating decisions and actions. His creative strategies enhanced therapeutic outcomes by integrating the WDEP system. This delivery system was designed to enhance the theories’ practicality by Wubbolding. The WDEP system includes four main components: Wants, Direction and Doing, Evaluation, and Planning. These components may be used interchangeably and at the discretion of the counselor and clients needs for the more effective therapeutic process. This process is described by Wubbolding (2000) as follows: W—Wants: This process is the counselor’s and clients’ exploration of the clients’ wants and perceptions. Examination of the clients’ perceptions involves identifying what they want from relationships and the world and how hard they are willing to work to fulfill these wants. Wubbolding (1995) identified two filters that perceptions travel through when assisting individuals of making decisions of wants. These two filters are called the lower level filter and upper level filter.

The lower level filter (total knowledge filter) recognizes and names clients’ perceptions. The upper level filter (valuing filter) appraises perceptions.

The phenomenological approach, which counselors assume while processing with clients how they use their perception filters, fosters development of the clients’ awareness to better evaluate how their choices are fulfilling their needs. Wubbolding (2007) identified a five-level model for counselors to collaboratively assess with clients their commitment to change. The levels assist

counselors in empowering clients to move from lower levels of commitment change to higher levels of change: (a) “I do not want to be here,” (b) “I want the outcome but not the effort,” (c) “I’ll try; I might,” (d) “I will do my best,” and (e) “I will do whatever it takes.”

Therapeutic questions to process: How do you perceive your wanting to meet your needs? How do you perceive your wanting to assist you in meeting your goals? How hard do you want to work?

D—Direction and Doing: Counselors and clients collaboratively explore selftalk and choices. This process enhances the clients’ understanding of how they perceive themselves in the world and how they view aspects of their lives they are able to control and are not able to control. The focus is on what clients are doing and does not focus on specific behaviors and actions.

Therapeutic questions to process: What choices and actions best satisfy your basic needs? Is what you are doing getting you what you want? What self-talk comments best satisfy your motivation to make choices that fulfill your needs? Where are your current choices taking you? What were you doing the last time you felt really well?

E—Evaluation: Self-evaluation is the process in which counselors assist clients in assessing their role and the ramifications of clients choices to fulfill goals, actions, and perceptions.

Therapeutic questions to process: Is what you are doing helping or hurting you? Is what you want realistically attainable? Does your self-talk help or impede your need for satisfying choices? Are you committed enough to get the desired results? Is what you are doing getting you what you want?

P—Planning: Counselors and clients establish and reevaluate the short- and long- term goals established during the therapeutic process. The plans are a result of self-reflection, changes in wants, and the clients’ reevaluation of their total behavior.

Therapeutic questions to process: How will you hold yourself able in evaluating and completing your role in meeting this goal? How will you explore your perceptions of your wants in fulfilling your basic needs? What skills will you implement in meeting your basic needs? What behavior/s will you need to modify to have the greatest control? If you follow through with your plan, how will your life be better? How will you be living a more need-satisfying life? What will you have that you do not have now?

As counselors provide clients therapeutic questions to explore their ability to fulfill their basic needs, they are instilling a lifelong skill of personal responsibility for evaluating choices. The questioning techniques listed earlier are used in the counseling process to question and reevaluate plans to meet basic needs. This will assist clients in transferring learned skills from the counseling process to their lives. Transference of personal choice and responsibility from the counseling relationship to other relationships is an overall goal of counseling.

THERAPEUTIC GOALS

The counseling goals and outcomes for choice theory are described as individuals’ ability to access personal freedom and choice and to have great control over their lives by making more satisfying choices that benefit not only themselves but also others. As counselors work with clients to identify patterns in actions, they assess clients along five therapeutic goals (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2004):

Human connection—Are clients’ personal relationships becoming more fulfilled by the connections with people in their quality worlds? Identify how the counseling process provides clients access to explore their quality worlds to reflect on their innate needs and wants. Explore how clients are choosing to form and maintain rewarding, fulfilling, and respecting relationships. Understanding total behavior—Are clients willing to recognize that their actions and thoughts are directly chosen, and are they able to recognize that their actions and thoughts lead their feelings and physiology? Explore how clients are able to create successful identities. Explore how clients’ actions are respectable of their core values. Counseling—Are clients gaining from the counseling process? Address with clients the aspects of the counseling relationship that are ive in their process. Explore the aspects of the counseling relationship that assist the clients in effectively making choices to meet their basic needs.

Using choice theory—Are clients able to implement the core concepts of choice theory within their relationships and are they able to let go of efforts to control others? Assess the degree to which clients make choices that are respectful of others. Explore how their actions impact themselves and others in their quality worlds. Developing effective plans—How effectively are clients developing and implementing plans for satisfying basic needs? Explore how clients’ plans assist them in maintaining active healthy lifestyles. Determine if the elements of clients plans are simple, attainable, measurable, immediate, involving, controlled, committed, and consistent for clients to obtain.

Overall counselors and clients work collaboratively to obtain and reach the counseling goals. Counselors encourage, , and challenge clients to change actions and thoughts and to find a positive balance in meeting basic needs. To reach these goals, counselors educate clients on the main tenants of choice theory and the process of personal responsibility and choice for satisfying relationships.

Multicultural Perspective

Applying choice theory to diverse populations seems fitting given that the theory has a phenomenological focus used to identify individuals’ worldviews and quality worlds. Choice theory empowers clients by focusing on personal patterns and choices unique to each individual rather than assuming that all individuals fit into a specific plan. Glasser (1998) describes the five basic needs as universal needs. By incorporating needs viewed as universal to all human beings, it appears that choice theory honors the decisions and needs of the individuals receiving counseling services. Many of the concepts within this theory appear to be empowering to clients. Counselors work to empower clients by the encouragement of a successful identity, power of choice, emphasis on personal responsibility, and balance of basic needs (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010). Counselors applying the principles of choice theory provide a framework that honors and embraces the needs of diverse and disenfranchised individuals through a humanistic process of questioning. Overall, this process is respectful of others choices while providing challenging considerations for personal choice and change.

CHOICE THEORY AND THE CREATIVE ARTS

Given that choice theory is short term, action based, and focuses on the resolution of problems in the present; it seems appropriate for diverse needs and issues of the client. In addition to the theory’s emphasis on the empowerment of individuals’ choice and responsible behavior, it employs a creative therapeutic approach to enhancing personal fulfillment relationships. Choice theory is a creative therapeutic process that entails exploring mental images in our minds known as quality worlds. Any image of a quality world or new way of living our lives are representative of the relationships and experiences we desire to have or maintain to fulfill our basic needs. Capturing honest perceptions of basic needs is an important component for making effective, empowering choices in creating our quality worlds.

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Expressive Arts Interventions

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DEPICTING QUALITY WORLD

Torey L. Portrie-Bethke

Indications: Floral arrangements signify beauty, love, loss, encouragement, acceptance, adventure, and relationships. Through creating a floral arrangement to signify intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships within clients’ quality worlds, clients will be encouraged to explore how their relationships are satisfying their basic needs of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun right now and plan to continue satisfying these needs in the future.

Goal: To gain personal insight into their life experiences, relationships, values, and belongings through the dimensions of choice theory and the main premises of personal needs and responsibility

Modality: Floral art

The Fit: Exploring clients’ quality worlds will bring insight into choices and relationship needs. Encouraging clients to explore how choices are made regarding relationships will enhance clients’ abilities in determining how people, events, and dreams are within their control. Ascertaining what is within clients’ control, will enhance their vision of their quality world.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Floral arrangement materials including the holder

Instructions:

Invite clients to select flowers that best represent themselves and those they picture in their quality worlds. Ask clients to arrange the flowers to best represent their relationships with others in their quality worlds. Clients are to self-select the flowers and container for displaying the arrangement. After the floral arrangements are finished, clients will process the experience with the counselor. Possible processing prompts may be, Describe how your needs of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun are met within your quality world. What aspects of your needs can you control? Describe aspects of your quality world that does not meet your basic needs. Based on your current choices identify ways you will change what you want and what you are doing. How have you built relationships that meet your basic needs? What aspects of relationships are most important to you? Describe how you give to your relationships. What aspects of your relationships provide you with the caring habits of ing encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences? What aspects of your relationships do you allow to be controlled by the seven deadly habits of criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and bribing/rewarding to control? What control do you have over your role in these caring and deadly habits? Identify and describe your process in creating your floral arrangement. Describe what each flower or filler represents and how you decided on its place in your floral arrangement. Explore if clients represented themselves within their quality worlds.

CHOICE-MOBILE ACTIVITY

Rachel Payne, Chloe Lancaster, Laura Heil, and Melina Pineda

Indications: This activity is appropriate for clients who are conflicted about past choices or fearful about making the wrong choice in an situation.

Goal: To assist clients in understanding choices based on volition

Modality: Drama

The Fit: During this activity, clients explore their total behavior by reenacting a choice they have previously made. According to Glasser, total behavior always includes four distinct yet interrelated components: acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology (1992, 1997, 1998). Acting involves all those behaviors that are discernable from the outside, such as walking, jogging, and talking. Thinking relates to our perceptions and voluntary beliefs that inform the choices that we make. Feelings are the emotive reactions we experience internally in response to external stimuli. Feelings may include anger, anxiety, and depression. Finally, physiology refers to the physical reactions that occur in our body, such as sweating, headaches, and other psychosomatic symptoms. Choice theorists contend that we choose our total behavior because we are able to choose how we think and how we act. The car analogy has often been used to describe how these four factors influence our total behavior (Glasser, 1992, 1997, 1998). In this depiction, the motor is the basic need, the steering wheel represents the direction we choose to pursue, and the wheels are the acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology constituents. Although, all four wheels influence the path taken, thinking and acting are more dominant, as they determine the choice that is made. We can choose how we think and how we act, therefore thinking and acting represent the front wheels as they steer the direction of the car. By contrast, our physiology and feelings neither are chosen nor have to determine the choices that we make. Feeling and physiology are the back wheels, as they work in tandem with the front wheels yet, do not steer the direction.

Populations: Children/adolescents; Groups

Materials: Choice mobile poster constructed from poster paper and markers prior to the session (On poster board, draw a bird’s eye view outline of a car. Label one rear tire Feeling and the other Physiology. Label the enger’s side front tire Thinking and the driver’s side front tire Acting. Write Acting steers on the steering wheel.); four chairs; four participants

Instructions:

Invite clients to discuss problems that they have experienced in the previous week. Using a WDEP lens (Wubbolding, 1996), encourage clients to evaluate their choices in relation to how they are meeting their needs. After clients have shared, introduce the clients to the poster of the choice mobile and explain and process the four components of choice making (acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology). Inform the clients that they are to perform a live enactment of a choice that has been made by one of the group . Allow the group to decide which choice will be played out. Ask clients to place their chairs in the configuration of a car: Two chairs in the back seat and two in the front seat. Each client represents a component of the choice-making process: Physiology and feelings occupy the back seat whereas thinking and acting occupy the front. Ask the to interpret their response to the problem from the perspective of their assumed roles. Emphasize the importance of describing multiple feelings, and describing the physiological symptoms in detail. The more information generated by the back seat engers will enhance the decisionmaking capacity of the front seat occupants. Likewise, the front seat enger who represents thoughts should be encouraged to consider multiple options and generate a range of possible consequences. The driver will execute the action. If the choice mobile has been effective, all group will begin to understand that they are in control of their choices and are not compelled to think or act simply in of a prominent feeling and/or psychosomatic symptoms. This activity will help generate multiple options around a single scenario and illuminate the variety of choices available. Process the activity with questions such as these: Describe the type of road your choice mobile is on. Bumpy roads are often a sign of trouble. How would the road surface influence the reactions of the engers in the backseat? Brainstorm how the backseat cues provide important information for making

informed choices. Identify a time that you have acted on your backseat cues. What do your choices look like when they are only driven by the backseat engers—feelings and physiology? Identify times when it would be useful to consider thoughts and actions independent of their feelings and physical reactions.

THE PEER PRESSURE COOKER (“TAKING A STAND”)

Beth McCabe

Indications: This activity is helpful for youth who are dealing with peer pressure and are unsure how to manage their choices in life.

Goals: To acquire personal awareness of one’s freedom to choose and one’s responsibility in choosing; to attain personal acceptance of the given consequences in relation to one’s choices; to explore one’s motives for decision making and conscious awareness of how peer pressure can influence one’s decision-making process; to develop mental images as cues to making choices congruent to one’s self-concept

Modality: Movement

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is for the student/client to become aware of his or her personal freedom and responsibility in making behavioral choices independent of others’ negative influence that conflicts with who they are as an individual. A simulation of peer pressure is derived with the given activity, evoking the internal and emotional tension felt between one’s need to belong to a group and the need to be true to one’s self. Two follow-up movement activities using a tug-o-war rope and a parachute help to “paint” a visual picture of how this conflict physically feels until a decision is made that is congruent with one’s own value system.

Populations: Children/adolescents; Groups

Materials: Three orange cones with “YES/TRUE,” “MAYBE/NOT SURE,” and “NO/FALSE” written on them; copy of peer pressure statements (created by you or volunteered by the group); tug-owar rope with bandana tied at its center; four cones to mark area that each team must cross to win the physical challenge; whistle for signal to stop; parachute (All mentioned items can be purchased from Palos Sports Sporting Goods Store in Alsip, Illinois – 1-800-233- 5484).

Instructions:

Stage 1

Place the “MAYBE/NOT SURE” sign in the center of the other two signs with at least 20 ft space between the other two signs placed at each opposing end. Inform the students that a statement will be read that might be controversial in nature. After the statement is read, tell the students that each one must choose what “stand” they will take as their choice of response and they must make the choice without talking to other group . They may choose to move to the YES/TRUE, MAYBE/UNSURE or NO/FALSE marked cone. Inform the group that they will be allotted 30 seconds in which they may change their mind and move to a different position. Because it is difficult for one to make decisions without fearing rejection from peers, gentle reminders should be expected and normal reactions such as talking to each other, looking where others are moving before deciding, chiding others for their decisions to stand alone, and requesting friends to follow them in their decision verbally or by physical gestures, should be viewed as “teachable moments” for future discussion. Adults can be assigned specific groups of individuals to observe and document their behaviors as well, to add to a more meaningful discussion during the debriefing period. Read the pressure cooker statements to the group of students. Reinforce the aforementioned rules as needed. Document student observations by using the pressure cooker statements and writing their name and behaviors elicited next to each statement for group discussion following the activity or private discussion during individual therapy sessions in the future. The following are examples of pressure cooker statements:

Teenagers should not be allowed to ride their skateboards on public sidewalks. There should be an age limit for buying a pack of cigarettes or for smoking.

The use of marijuana should be legal. Because an 18-year-old can go to war, they should be able to drink at 18 in Indiana. If I found a wallet with $50 and a driver’s license in it, I would return it to the owner with the money in it. If I did not have time to study for a test, cheating on it is okay. It is not my fault for being truant. If a friend asked me to bully someone else, I would do it because of our friendship. I would not “tag” another friend’s house if my best friend asked me. It is okay to skip school because I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. playing computer/video games. I would never wear my favorite shirt, which my friends made fun of, again. The decisions I make today will affect my future tomorrow. My family should only make a curfew for me on weekdays. I should not have any curfew. I have “snuck” out of the house at night. Blondes are dumber than brunettes. Redheads have a bad temper. Girls gossip more than boys do about other people. Boys have no feelings. It is always the teacher’s fault if I do poorly in a subject. It is always a bad idea to cut math class to skip a test.

Country music is “the bomb.” Lying to my family is never a good idea. Boys can swear, but girls should never do it. Hawaiian shirts are in style. A girl should be 16 before she pierces her ears. I would never get a tattoo. Having sex makes me cool. Being in a gang is awesome.

After all of the statements are read, move into a debriefing session. This can be done first in small groups with mentors (seniors with juniors/sophomores with freshmen, college with high school or middle school students), or split between co-leaders (counselor and co-facilitator/teacher). If a counselor is a lone facilitator, students can be divided into small groups and a leader from each group can be assigned to debrief the activity using some of these debriefing questions: What made this activity difficult for you? What topics were difficult? Did you feel uncomfortable telling the truth in front of adults? What about mentors? How about each other? What were some of the behaviors that you noticed? (Answers may include standing alone, watching others, following others). What makes a person give into peer pressure? (Answers may include need to fit in and belong; do not want to lose friendships; need to be liked, to avoid being made fun of/bullied). What are some examples of positive peer pressure? (You may need to suggest some responses such as learn how to play a new game; become an ally with a friend to be kinder to someone who is in the “out” group).

Stage 2 Divide the students equally in half between each end of the tug-o-war rope. For safety, students should alternate left and right on each side of the rope. Each team is told to face the other. Inform the teams that when the whistle blows, all activity should stop. The signal to begin is ready, set, and go. Students compete for the championship by winning 2 out of 3 challenges. If there are more students than room provided on the rope, more groups can be formed. Groups can name each other and compete against all groups to achieve the champion team of the school. Upon completion of this activity, ask groups to discuss how the tugging of the rope can relate to a friend being pressured into conforming to actions of a group that are not congruent with their self-concept. Share the metaphor that the rope symbolizes the person’s inner struggle to “fit in” by changing their behaviors, dress, or ideas that conflict with one’s moral, cultural, sexual values, body image, or self-concept. Students are informed that the symbol of the rope can serve as a mental image of the pressure that is placed on someone’s heart when they are trying to make others conform. It can also serve as a mental reminder for checking one’s soundness in making decisions on one’s own. The “sick feeling” in their stomach can serve as an indicator for self-check in the monitoring of their decision.

Stage 3 Introduce the final activity of parachute play. The parachute should be spread out on the ground so that it is entirely open. Students are told to walk to the parachute and sit cross-legged by one of the colors of the parachute. They are informed not to touch the parachute until all instructions are given. Students are told that they may never go under or on the chute and never trap anyone under the chute. Inform students that the goal of this activity is to cooperate with one another to achieve all tasks. Use a raised arm to begin activity and an index finger (pause sign) to stop all activity. A whistle can also be used if it is more comfortable. Students are instructed to grasp the parachute with two hands. Various parachute activities (sitting, kneeling, or standing) are listed below:

Ripples—Wave wrists up and down. Waves—Raise arms higher and lower. Tidal waves—Half of chute stands, other half squats down, alternating movement. Merry-go-round—Students perform locomotion of choice as a group in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction switching on signal. Umbrella—All lift the chute at same time keeping arms up until chute deflates. Shake the bugs off the rug—Students jump up and down shaking the parachute vigorously. Inside the mountain/on top of the mountain—Students hold onto the edges, make an umbrella, take three steps inside of the chute, pull the chute under their bottom and sit on it; Students make an umbrella and pull the edges of the chute down to the ground, kneeling on it. Shake the mountain—Inside the mountain, students push their backs against the chute bouncing their bodies back and forth.

Colors—One of the four colors of the chute is called as students raise the umbrella and switch colors by going under to the other matching color (Can be done under or over chute by crawling to other side). Cat and mouse—Two students are chosen as mice and go under the chute. Two are chosen as cats and are on top of the chute. All other students shake the chute. The cats must attempt to catch the mice by crawling on top of the chute and tagging them. All players are given a chance to be a cat or a mouse.

Upon completion of parachute play, inform the students that the calmness felt while cooperating with one another is a feeling that they should have when their decisions are sound and when they feel acceptance for who they are in their group despite their choices. Inform students that with friendship comes power of influence. Peer pressure can be used in positive ways for the good of individuals, as well.

“FASHION STATEMENTS ARE A FASHION CHOICE” ACTIVITY

Samantha Grzesik and Katie Vena

Indications: This activity is appropriate for clients experiencing maladaptive self-image/self-esteem body image distortions, or struggles with identity issues.

Goal: To develop new perspectives on distorted thinking and choice making through analysis of personal perceptions of the world versus one’s quality world. As a result, clients will gain insight into how their basic needs are not being met, and how this contributes to their maladaptive self-image and identity issues.

Modality: Visual art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to assist clients in understanding the ways in which negative thinking and self-talk drive them to perceive their self with distractive appreciation. Choice theory is based on the notion that external events do not motivate individuals to make poor choices, but rather their own internal expectations (Glasser, 1998). As adolescents work through Erikson’s stage of development identity versus role confusion, many young women face distortions between the media’s portrayal of ideal appearance and their own reality. This may lead to identity crises, poor self-image, and low self-esteem. By inviting young women to use clothing choice and fashion as a medium of expression, you are providing a vehicle through which they can express their individuality and their self-image. Through the integration of choice theory, clients will be encouraged to move from a discussion of fashion style to what other choices in their lives signify. Dressing the self is a strong focus for many adolescents as they grow in their awareness of body image and the visual expression of their identity through their appearance.

Populations: Adolescent females, 13–19 years old who are struggling with selfimage/self-esteem and/or identity issues

Materials and Preparation: Mannequins (one thin, one average, one plus size) and large plastic bins filled with pants, sweaters, tank tops, shorts, and T-shirts that represent a range of fashion styles (i.e., preppy, hippie, emo, conservative, sexy, etc.) and brand names. These items can be purchased at garage sales, thrift stores, and so forth.

Instructions:

Instruct the client to choose his or her “ideal outfit” from the clothing collection and to lay the clothing out on the floor. Invite the client to process the clothing choices with questions such as What about this image that makes it “ideal” to you? Tell me more about the specific items of clothing (i.e., conservative top, ripped-up jeans, etc.) chosen, and what it represents to you. What do you think some of the clothing you did not choose would say to others about you? Ask the client to choose and dress the mannequin they feel best represents his or her own body. Process this choice with questions such as What is it about this mannequin that you feel represents you? How is this choice different from how others might see you? Invite the client to move into a deeper processing of the activity and his or her self-image with questions that lead deeper into identity issues such as What do your clothing choices say to others about you? How do you feel when you look at the outfit you chose? What is about the image that expresses what you want and/or need in your ideal world? How might this image affect your self-esteem or self-image? What are some of your basic needs that you might have trouble being met based on your choices? What areas on your body do you like the most? What areas on your body do you like the least? Instruct and encourage the client to verbally provide three positive affirmations about himself or herself.

REFERENCES

Archer, J., & McCarthy, C. J. (2006). Counseling theories: Contemporary applications and approaches. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Glasser, W. (1985). Control theory: A new explanation of how we control our lives. New York: Harper & Row. Glasser, W. (1992). Reality therapy. New York State Journal for Counseling and Development, 7(1), 5–13. Glasser, W. (1997). Teaching and learning reality therapy. In J. K. Zeig (Ed.), The evolution of psychotherapy: The third conference (pp. 123–133). New York: Brunner/Mazel. Glasser, W. (1998). Choice theory: A new psychology of personal freedom. New York: HarperCollins. Powers, W. T. (1973). Behavior: The control of perception. Chicago: Aldine. Purkey, W. W., & Schmidt, J. J. (1990). Invitational learning for counseling and development. Ann Arbor, MI: ERIC Counseling and Personnel Services Clearinghouse. Seligman, L. W., & Reichenberg, L. W. (2010). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: Systems, strategies, and skills (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2004). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: Skills, strategies, and techniques. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Wubbolding, R. E. (1995). Integrating theory and practice: Expanding the theory and use of the higher level of perception. Journal of Reality Therapy, 15(1), 91– 94.

Wubbolding, R. E. (1996). Reality therapy: Theoretical underpinnings and implementation in practice. Directions in Mental Health Counseling, 6(9), 4–16. Wubbolding, R. E. (2000). Reality therapy for the 21st century. New York: Brunner-Routledge. Wubbolding, R. E. (2007). Glasser quality school. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 11, 253–261. Zeeman, R. D. (2006). Glasser’s choice theory and Purkey’s invitational education—Allied approaches to counseling and schooling. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice, 12, 46–51.

Existential Theory

Michele P. Mannion

If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark.—Saint John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul

Through the lens of multiple considerations, existential psychotherapy speaks to the larger questions of human existence and experience. Via key themes such as freedom, isolation, death, and meaninglessness, the existential clinician engages clients to contemplate how they understand their world, their lives, and the choices they make. The creative process and art making can serve as a vehicle to explore existential themes and assist clients in identifying their own purpose and meaning, with art serving as a source of connection to clients finding their own relevancy within their world.

HISTORY OF EXISTENTIAL THEORY

Existential psychotherapy focuses on the nature of human existence via a spectrum of concerns such as freedom, responsibility, anxiety, and authenticity. Born initially out of European existential philosophy and the writings of philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre, existential philosophy spurred the development of existential psychotherapy by influencing European clinicians, including Ludwig Binswanger (1957) and Viktor Frankl (1959). Existential psychotherapy concepts were further introduced to the United States via the writings of Rollo May (1958) and James Bugental (1965). The emphasis shifted from a skeptical and restrictive view of the human condition (based on a European existential emphasis) to one, which is based on “expansiveness, optimism, limitless horizons, and pragmatism” (Yalom, 1980, p. 19). As noted by Yalom (1980), given the historical European experiences of war, death, and ensuing uncertainties over life, such a viewpoint is inherent to a European perspective of existential psychotherapy; however, existential perspectives from a U.S. framework were bound to reference tenets particular to the United States (such as potential and individuality). Given the grounding of existential psychotherapy in philosophical thought, an existential orientation is transformed into a therapeutic approach relatively free from technique. This is one perception that has contributed to the approach being viewed as the misunderstood stepchild of psychotherapy orientations. An additional oft-cited view of existential psychotherapy is that the approach is best suited for the “worried well,” those clients who have the luxury to “intellectualize” and explore the larger complexities of life. Such perspectives, however, fail to grasp the commonalties existential psychotherapy has with other therapeutic approaches such as humanistic, cognitive–behavioral and narrative therapies. Norcross (1987) suggests that the “core existential concepts – such as meaning, freedom, responsibility, and choice – have been incorporated into most contemporary systems of psychotherapy” (p. 42). Additionally, the importance of attention to the worldview of clients was noted decades ago by Binswanger (1957), who identified “being-in-the-world” (Lebenswelt) as one of the key purposes of the therapeutic encounter. In essence, the focus of existential

psychotherapy centers on the common experience of being human and can be best summed up by the following questions: “Why am I here?”, and “How do I choose to lead my life?”

CORE CONCEPTS OF EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

The avenues to explore “Why am I here?” and “How do I choose to lead my life?” occur via the existential themes of death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness (Yalom, 1980). In many respects, these themes can be considered broad based or umbrella themes, as other clinicians have noted the exploration of additional existential themes, such as intentionality and individuality (Norcross, 1987), myth (May, 1991), or suffering (Frankl, 2000). For purposes of this article, Yalom’s themes are referenced. Although Yalom’s conceptualization presents as seemingly pessimistic, there are mirror truths to each existential theme, and these themes serve as points of examination with clients in exploring the fundamental truths about existence.

Freedom

A foundational beginning to understanding existential concepts can occur via the theme of freedom. As part of our human experience, we are free to choose how we will live our lives, but that freedom entails the ensuing responsibility of directing our lives through the larger lens of freedom, responsibility, and choice. It is the clinician’s task to assist clients in increasing their awareness about their responsibility, including their awareness of multiple possibilities and decision options. This increase in awareness is not without ensuing anxiety because there are no assurances of avoiding pain or tragedy based on any decision; hence, as suggested by May, freedom is “the mother of anxiety” (May, as transcribed by Mishlove, 1995).

Death

For the existential clinician, the denial of death places constraints on one’s ability to live fully and effectively. Denial is connected to not taking responsibility for life’s ultimate truth—that we are finite. Avoidance of death can be best summed up by Woody Allen, the director known for existential themes in his films: “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work . . . I want to achieve it through not dying” (Schoel & Stratton, as cited in Bauman & Waldo, 1998, p. 16). Increasing awareness about death and attempts to come to with life’s ultimate truth can take the form of a number of defense mechanisms such as repression, avoidance, and regression. Yalom (1980) delineates two specific defense mechanisms in avoiding anxiety: an irrational belief in being special and the belief in an ultimate rescuer. Both of these defense mechanisms circumvent the ability to see the ultimate reality of death. Working through the anxiety, however, allows us to be and to take action where we need to in life.

Isolation

From an existential perspective, we are all ultimately separate, and isolation is considered a given of the human condition. By not confronting our individual separateness, our human nature will defensively dictate paths to assuage the anxiety of aloneness, such as over identification with others or retreating into isolation. Although the recognition of ultimately being alone in the world can be overwhelming and disturbing, recognition can serve to identify sources of connection and relatedness with others, which is a real human need. Hence, the task of the existential clinician is to assist clients in negotiating apprehensions about their aloneness, with the responsibility of creating functional and meaningful relationships in life.

Meaninglessness

In existential psychotherapy, the client is asked to address the question How do I make meaning in a world where nothing makes sense? The theme of meaninglessness is embedded in a world that frequently presents as random, full of chaos, and indifferent. To make sense of such a world, existential psychotherapy posits that all humans demonstrate a need for meaning. This view is mostly associated with Viktor Frankl (1959). Frankl’s (1959) experiences in a Nazi concentration camp served as the impetus behind the development of logotherapy, a psychotherapy approach grounded in existential principles. Frankl (1959) wrote of the human need to find meaning in the world rather than within oneself. He referred to this need as “the self transcendence of human existence” and noted that, “being human always points, and is directed, to something, other than oneself – be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter” (p. 115). Lack of meaning in life has been described as an “existential vacuum” by Frankl (1959), and it contributes to a sense of emptiness and a lack of purpose in life. One task of existential psychotherapy is to assist clients in reconciling the harsh nature of the world with their potential for purposefulness and hope.

The Link to Anxiety, Authenticity, and Guilt

Anxiety Underlying each existential theme is anxiety—the existential anxiety of being human. Existential anxiety is not viewed as unconstructive; however, it can be used effectively to help identify specific existential concerns, link the client to awareness, and assist in the development of an authentic life. Existential anxiety is not specific to any one existential theme, given that “an individual may experience existential anxiety from the need to choose alternatives with uncertain outcomes, from recognition of one’s ultimate aloneness, and from the inevitability of death, which may occur prior to self-actualization” (Kitano & LeVine, 1987, p. 405). As we become aware of existential concerns, we rely on defense mechanisms, in a nondysfunctional way, to cope with these concerns. In contrast to existential anxiety is neurotic anxiety, which relates to avoidance and the inability to take responsibility for one’s life. It is nonadaptive and restricts one from living a full life. Avoidance of life’s realities (the existential themes) ultimately leads to an inauthentic life and contributes to neurotic anxiety. With neurotic anxiety, the task is movement toward existential anxiety, to the greatest degree possible, because the presence of neurotic anxiety and symptoms reflective of avoiding life’s realities are linked.

Authenticity In addition to the presence of anxiety underlying existential themes is the concept of authenticity. As we grow in awareness, by default, we become more authentic, necessitating attention to existential themes. As noted by Norcross (1987), “authentic people are aware of themselves, their relationships, and their world; recognize and accept choices and decisions; and take responsibility for their decisions, including full recognition of the consequences” (p. 52). It is through authenticity that we become fully human. Our sense of being human is linked to the responsibility for our potential and our awareness of that potential.

Existential Guilt Existential guilt is another subtheme within an existential perspective. Yalom (1980) delineates between real guilt and neurotic guilt. The latter is associated with perceived grievances toward the self, whereas the former represents actual wrongdoings, socially or toward others. Neurotic guilt may occur when we are not attentive to our own needs, ignore options related to choices, or diminish our experiences with self-condemnation. The degree to which clients can condemn themselves via previous or current decisions can be especially powerful, because guilt is associated with not living up to personal potential. As Yalom (1980) notes, however, guilt can be a motivating force to assist clients in connecting to personal responsibility and recognition of personal potentiality rather than a compulsion to live in regret.

CONCERNS ADDRESSED BY EXISTENTIAL THEORY

As noted previously, the practice of existential psychotherapy is not technique driven and this is consistent with an existential openness to worldview and perspective. Because of this openness, no one set of techniques could possibly address the uniqueness of each client. In general, existential clinicians do not view a lack of techniques as problematic, because most believe techniques oversimplify human nature and needs. However, a lack of a systematic approach to the theory has led to a deficiency of empirically ed data on the effectiveness of existential psychotherapy. Norcross notes that the lack of empirically ed outcome data has contributed to the marginalization of the theory itself (Norcross, 1987). Criticism, notwithstanding research, has consistently demonstrated that it is the therapeutic relationship itself that has the most significant and most positive outcome for therapy (Beutler, Crago, & Arizmendi, 1986; Hubble, Duncan, & Miller, 1999; Lambert & Barley, 2001). Existential psychotherapy does not focus on psychopathology because diagnosis is perceived as a barrier to the relationship that can create a power differential in the client–clinician relationship. Symptoms are framed in of understanding their meaning to the client, in the context of the client’s world and experience. Although the manifestations of neurotic anxiety can lead to psychopathology, severe mental health concerns are framed within an adaptive perspective and link to the avoidance of life’s existential themes. A shared existential principle with humanistic perspectives on psychotherapy is the importance of the client–clinician relationship in facilitating client awareness and change. In a study of clinical practice among existential psychologists, Norcross (1987) found that respondents had the highest mean scores on a scale denoting relationship-enhancing behaviors. Norcross noted “the relative avoidance of psychological tests, overt structure, and direct guidance coincide with the themes of uniqueness and freedom, as well as the inherent burdens of choice and responsibility” (p. 61). In effect, existential clinicians indirectly translate existential themes into the practice of existential psychotherapy; central

to this is how an existential clinician views the therapeutic relationship. Yalom (2002), for instance, identifies himself as a “fellow traveler, a term which abolishes distinctions between ‘them’ (the afflicted) and ‘us’ (the healers)” (p. 8). The clinician–client relationship conveys the existential theme of authenticity and facilitates a genuine understanding of the worldview of the client, enabling the clinician to connect and engage with the client on relevant existential concerns. Because several existential concerns can be overwhelming to process, the means to process those concerns are dependent on the traits of the existential clinician and the strength of the therapeutic relationship. The practice of existential psychotherapy is present oriented, both conceptually, in of client change, and literally, in the here-and-now moment with the client. Conceptually, the past only serves as a connection to what occurs in the present. A focus on the past detracts from the ways in which the client currently experiences his or her world while also preventing him or her from taking responsibility within the present. Figuratively, existential clinicians focus on the “here and now” with clients, linking to the client’s inner world to assist the client achieve greater self-understanding and awareness in the moment. Existential psychotherapy is especially relevant in working with multicultural clients because existential themes are present and relevant across all cultures. Corey (2001, in citing Vontress, 1986) indicates that existential psychotherapy is probably the most useful approach in working with multicultural clients, given the focus on shared human experiences and eventualities. The underlying theme of individuality has been viewed as a limitation to existential psychotherapy, wherein client’s choice may be restricted by factors out of his or her control. However, engaging clients in contemplating the totality of their world experience, such as cultural alienation, can expand how clients view themselves and can open options not previously contemplated.

EXISTENTIAL THEORY AND THE CREATIVE ARTS

Overview of Art Therapy

The use of art therapy as a therapeutic modality is well established (Kramer & Gerity, 2000; McNiff, 1981; Ulman & Dachinger, 1975). The basic premise of art therapy is that, certain emotional states that cannot be expressed in words are best expressed in images (Naumburg, 1966). In effect, art serves as a point of reflection when words cannot readily translate or communicate that which therapeutically needs to be conveyed. The therapeutic use of art is not meant to be entered into lightly. Artists who historically contributed a great deal to the use of art therapeutically have long recognized the power of symbolic images and the recovery of unconscious material as translated through art. Clients may often be caught off guard by the emotional responses elicited through art making, and this requires the clinician to be prepared for such experiences. Gantt (1979) cautions against using art materials indiscriminately without clearly understanding their therapeutic nuances, because doing so can result in either spinning one’s wheels, “or at the worst, courting disaster” (p. 18). Additionally, Hammond and Gantt (1998) point out ethical and legal considerations specific to the use of art therapeutically, including how confidentiality, documentation, and ownership need to be considered.

Identification of Existential Themes

It is no accident that existential theorists have written about art and the creative process (Heidegger, 1971; May, 1994; Yalom, 1980). Artistic processes are especially well suited to exploring existential themes, given the range and encoming nature of existential themes relating to human experience. Malchiodi (2003) notes the views of Frankl on the creative process: that the “courage to create” and “the creative process is an expression of the self and the dilemmas of human existence” (p. 59). Additionally, given the importance of remaining flexible within the practice of existential psychotherapy, the inclusion of art-making activities provides additional opportunities to explore existential themes in a nonprescribed manner. As noted by Robbins (1987), “therapy cannot be stamped out in predictable form. There will always be leftover dough. What to do with that dough is the task of the creative therapist” (p. 72). The use of art within an existential framework can enhance client’s understanding of existential themes and increase a sense of client relatedness to his or her own world and experiences.

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Expressive Arts Interventions

COLLECTING MEANING: THE SHADOW BOX AS EXISTENTIAL REFLECTION

Michele P. Mannion

Indications: Depression (lack of purpose, direction, motivation), grief, physical illness, best suited for clients whose motivation is not substantially impaired (i.e., severe depression)

Goal: To assist clients in connecting to the existential theme of meaning

Modality: Art

The Fit: This activity provides an action-oriented activity to assist in identifying themes of meaning and meaning potential for clients and is especially well suited to clients who have difficulty in acknowledging or recognizing purpose in their lives or to clients who lack a sense of connection. This activity allows the client to explore specific existential themes of meaning and responsibility.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Individuals

Materials: Cardboard 13 × 16 in. (for a completed box, 9 × 12 in.); trim (for box edges); glue gun (in trimming edges of box); Mod Podge (glue/gloss medium); paint (in painting the cardboard); construction/collage paper strips (to cover cardboard instead of paint and for trim); assorted brushes for glue and/or paint; art materials such as tissue paper, clay, pipe cleaners, paint, and so forth. The client should provide small found objects, images, and any printed materials (quotes, poems, etc.).

Instructions:

Prior to client session, create the 9 × 12–in. box: score a line 2 in. from every edge all the way around the edge of the cardboard (this will create boxes in each corner). Cut out corners of cardboard. At scored lines, fold edges up to form box. Use wide masking tape to tape box together. Invite the client to explore and identify sources of meaning and connection. Exploratory questions may include: Who, and what, has been important to me in life? How have I made a difference in my life? How can I make a difference in my life, and in the lives of others? How do I create meaning via love, relationships, play, and work? How can I create new meaning in my life? Convey to the client the purpose of the shadow box activity—to explore and identify sources of meaning and meaning potential. Clients can begin the activity at the point of taping the box together or with a preconstructed box (this saves time). After the box is made, spend time with the client discussing considerations for the box based on how the shadow box can assist in conceptualizing meaning (items, colors used, etc.). Assign the client homework to collect items for the shadow box. These items should represent previously explored existential themes. (Time saver: It is often useful to have a variety and substantial number of precut images from magazine.) Review the client’s items that he or she has selected for his or her shadow box. Are there missing gaps in found objects? If so, examine with the client how missing gaps can be translated into feeling states via symbolic art made by the client during session. For instance, the lack of a photograph may translate to the client’s need for made art. Explore with the client the completeness of the shadow box. Typically, clients intuitively know when their shadow box is complete. Encourage the client to discuss how the shadow box is associated to the theme of meaning. (In general, the shadow box activity can be completed in 3–5 sessions, depending on client

needs.) Process the activity using questions such as the following: How does the overall design of your box reflect who you are? What does the outside of the box, versus the inside of the box, communicate? What is meaningful in the box environment, which can be translated to your life? How have you identified taking responsibility for making meaning in your life? How does the juxtaposition of any images convey meaning? Has the box activity identified any voids in your life, and how can you fill them?

FEELINGS LANDSCAPE

Mardie Howe Rossi and Karen L. Mackie

Indications: Appropriate for clients who have difficulty identifying or expressing feelings or are overwhelmed by feelings. It is also indicated with clients who have experienced loss and trauma as well as with those who are stuck, are in transition, or desire personal growth. Clients must be willing to finger paint. Some clients will not like the feeling of paint on their hands, and these clients can use a brush or Cray-Pas. Clients who are open to exploring their feelings and thoughts through finger painting.

Goals: To encourage full experience without reserve (May, 1969); to move deeply into experience (Knill, Levine, & Levine, 2005); to develop avenues for healing and self-understanding, including common traits such as empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness (Rogers, 1993)

Modality: Art

The Fit: Identifying and expressing feelings through finger painting allow clients to focus on their feelings and listen to what their feelings may be trying to tell them. Accessing and processing feelings are important avenues to healing and self- understanding with the existential and the expressive arts therapeutic frameworks. Both theoretical orientations share common traits such as empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness (Rogers, 1993). Finger painting can be used across the life span for the exploration and expression of feelings. Clients who are uncomfortable in painting or drawing may feel more comfortable with finger painting because there is less pressure to create something artistic.

Populations: Children/adolescents, adults; Individuals/groups

Materials: Finger paints (primary and black), large finger-paint paper or coated paper, or poster board; paper plates for the paint; and wet towels to wipe off the finger-paint between colors.

Instructions: Activity (45–60 minutes)

Describe the feelings landscape as a picture of all the clients’ feelings and let the clients know that to create the landscape, they will use colors to represent their feelings. Explain that the size, shape, texture, and design of the colors can depict and differentiate their feelings. Give clients the permission to make their paintings a unique expression of their own feelings and remind them that their paintings do not have to be artistic or to look like anything recognizable. Ask that the painting be completed in silence so that clients have the opportunity to be aware of their process. Remind them to pay attention to their thoughts and feelings as they work. Allow 45 minutes for painting and remind the clients that they have 5 minutes left after 40 minutes. Invite the clients to process their paintings and to put their feelings into words by speaking from the colors (e.g., I am yellow and I feel ashamed. I am very big and am always here.). Ask clients to process the experience with questions such as How did it feel to make their experience visible? Was there anything they learned about themselves?

BRIDGING THE GAP OF SELF-AWARENESS

Imelda N. Bratton and Christopher P. Roseman

Indications: This activity is appropriate for use when group have reached the termination stage because it provides an opportunity for group discussion regarding the individuals’ personal experiences.

Goal: To provide group with an opportunity to reflect on their attitudes and beliefs relating to multicultural issues through drawing

Modality: Art

The Fit: This activity relates to three existential ultimate concerns as described by Yalom and Leszcz (2005): freedom, meaninglessness, and isolation. Freedom relates to the construction of worldviews. Human beings have a choice to determine how we view ourselves in relation to others. The initial prompt given in this activity asks participants to reflect on their previous prejudices and biases. This allows an opportunity to construct a representation of their previous prejudices and biases that they held toward various multicultural groups. Participants have a choice to determine if they would like to continue to maintain those worldviews. Meaninglessness is described as the act of relating and interacting with others. This is explored in the second prompt by having participants represent their personal journeys from their previous worldview to their current worldview. Isolation refers to the ability to work with and relate to others in a multicultural world. The final drawing task asks participants to represent their current prejudices and biases. Participants may choose to continue to maintain their previous worldviews or bridge the gap and connect with others.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups

Materials: Markers, crayons, or colored pencils; large sheets of paper for each group member. It is recommended that group have a table or hard surface for the drawing activity.

Caution: This may be an emotional activity for some group . Allow ample time for additional processing, if necessary.

Instructions:

Introduction to activity. Invite group to reflect on their own prejudices and biases toward different cultural groups they may have had as a child, adolescent, or young adult. Allow a moment for clients to visualize and reflect on their experiences. Ask group to consider their current beliefs and prejudices toward those cultural groups. Again, allow a moment for group to visualize and self-reflect on their experiences. Inform the group that the activity that they will be doing relates to the reflections that they just visualized. (If some group ask to verbally share their experiences at this point, encourage them to wait until the end of the process time, if possible. Remind the group that this time is intended for self-reflection and the time to process and share will be provided at the end.) The activity. Ask clients to use the right-hand side of the paper to draw an image that represents their attitudes, prejudices, and beliefs on different cultural groups that they have held in the past (either before entering the group or before a significant experience). This image may be created in any way clients believe that reflects the attitudes and beliefs they held at that time. Ask clients to use the left side of the paper to draw a representation of how they see themselves in the present. Ask them to visually represent their current attitudes and beliefs they now hold after learning about multicultural issues. Between the two drawings, ask clients to make a bridge that represents their personal journey from their previous belief system to their current belief system.

Ask them to let the bridge be a symbol of the process they encountered while becoming more knowledgeable about multicultural issues. Provide group with ample time to illustrate their drawing and encourage them to create their self-representations as they wish. The focus is on the process of the activity rather than the product of the drawing. Processing questions. When group are finished, allow them the opportunity to share their drawings, either in small groups or to the whole group, depending on group size. Use some of the following questions to help clients process the activity: What resonated with you during the activity? What were the most notable differences between the drawing on the right side and on the left side? What are your reactions to the differences? What feelings do you have when you see your picture? Where did you place yourself in relation to the bridge? Have you completed the journey across or are you still on the bridge? Can you describe specific incidents that helped you cross your bridge? Is there anything that you would like to be different? What have you learned that you will take from today’s activity?

MUSICAL DIALOGUES

Anna Warzecha and Katarzyna Uzar

Indications: This intervention is indicated for individuals who are new to group techniques and who may need assistance in merging into a group. It is best suited for exploration and communication of self, particularly in relation to others.

Goal: Self-adjustment to a group, broadened self-consciousness, capability of giving and receiving the , internalization of received information that enables multidimensional personal development, and overcoming one’s own limitations

Modality: Music

The Fit: The aim of the activity is to present oneself and as a result, to overcome one’s own fears, such as mental stereotypes connected with perception of a person by the others. The important focus of this activity is to excavate the real view of oneself. Its mechanism is based on the attribution of one’s own, often unaccepted, actions and feelings to the other person. Using the musical instrument enables to increase the distance and present the real self-picture. It also allows for a wide spectrum of . To develop meaning, each participant has the opportunity to express one’s own opinion and judgment, while the person receiving the information has the possibility to reflect, reconsider the way of thinking of oneself, analyze one’s own experiences, interiorize the information that s self-development, and break stereotypes concerning oneself.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups

Materials: A set of simple percussion instruments such as the Orff Instrument Set

Instructions:

Develop the group contract, respected by every participant, which concerns the following: group confidentiality—to assure the feeling of safety; judgment issues—not to judge the statements, expressions, and feelings of the other participants; forms of address—directly or formally; mobile phones—to keep them on silent mode during the session; and so forth. Invite group to discuss the contract using questions such as Does g the contract improve my participation in the group? Do I have a greater feeling of safety? Does the contract stimulate my openness and trust of other people in a group? Does the awareness that I won’t be laughed at, judged by the others, or receive unpleasant make me feel more accepted? Have choose an instrument. Invite to process their choices using questions such as Which instrument have I chosen? Why this one? How does the choice of instrument correlates with my personality? Does it anyhow describe or define me? Does the choice of instrument express my hidden emotions and needs? After the choice of the instrument, every participant prepares a performance. One after the other, group play their planned musical performances. They play their own works to indicate their unique presence in the group—who they are and how they are. Invite to process the experience using questions such as How did I use my time for presentation? Was the time of presentation long (I want to express myself thoroughly, to show who I really am) or short (I don’t want to bother the other people with my presentation)? What is the sound of the chosen instrument—is it resonant or quiet? How does it sound in comparison with other instruments? What is the instrument made of (wood or metal)? Does it reflect in any way who I am? Does my piece have a structured melody, is it planned, or do I play spontaneously what comes to my mind? Is my work dynamic or calm? The therapist may help to identify these qualities, but it is important for to try to identify, verbalize, and give meaning to their work. All group may share in . After the presentations, participants can enter into a

dialogue with each other. The next activity is a dialogue between two randomly matched . The important thing is to find oneself in playing, in relation to the other person. Most of all, the manner of playing is interpreted here. It may happen that during playing in pairs, one person loses one’s own beat or melody. The strength of a member’s ego (one should keep the pace, pulse, and volume when playing together) can be observed during this activity. Playing music with another person allows clients to find out who dominates who and who is submissive to the other person (it happens that, after some time, one person starts to play the same melody as the partner, although initially the melodies were different). Processing questions may include Does how I play help or disturb me? Do I lose my own rhythm, melody? Am I more, less, or maybe equally important in relation to my partner? Do I play all the time in the same way, do I get my melody quieter to hear my partner, or maybe I play louder because I feel drowned out by him or her? The next step to enter into relation with group (society) is an orchestra. All group are to create a unified group or orchestra and play one mutually created musical piece. Discussion questions may include How important is my role in the orchestra? Do I feel a part of the whole? Do I play in one of the sections (e.g., triangles) or do I have the instrument that anyone else has (e.g., cymbals)? Am I heard in the orchestra? Do I feel better playing in an orchestra? What kinds of emotions arise from playing the role of conductor versus orchestra member? Have I seized the opportunity to improvise in the background of the group? Have I taken up that kind of challenge?

REFRAMING WITH MAT BOARDS

Kristin I. Douglas

Indications: This activity is appropriate for clients having challenges with reframing difficult and painful experiences.

Goal: To increase client awareness of ways in which their chosen focus on a situation contributes to the meaning made of their experiences

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this creative approach is to help clients choose to reframe the meaning of difficult and painful experiences. Frankl (2000) believed that we can choose our attitudes, in any circumstances, regardless of how grim those circumstances may be. He emphasized that no matter how involved suffering is, we still have the capacity to choose how we will see the world around us.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals/couples

Materials and Preparation: Colored pencils, paper, and various small art mat boards (e.g., different sizes, colors, textures) used to frame artwork or photos; artwork for client use or client-supplied artwork/photographs.

Instructions:

Using appropriate timing in session, discuss existential issues of freedom, choice, and ability, emphasizing that what we choose to focus on, contributes to the meaning we make of our experiences. Invite the client to choose a specific piece of artwork for exploration. Using the photo or artwork as an example (whether it is on your wall or one that a client brings in session), take the different mat boards and place them up to the artwork. Ask clients what jumps out for them in the picture when different mat boards are used. Circulate through 4–5 mat boards. Discuss together how different mat boards bring out something different in the picture. Using this exercise as a metaphor for the client’s experiences, ask the client How do your viewpoints and perspectives make it hard for you to reframe or make meaning of your current challenges? Ask the client to discuss possible goals for growth and invite the client to create an illustration of how a new perspective might facilitate growth. Invite the client to use a small mat board and a colored pencil to trace/outline a frame onto a sheet of paper. Inside the framed picture just created, have the client draw or describe one of the steps necessary for reaching the new goal. Ask the client to use a larger mat board to draw another frame encoming the first and to illustrate how this one outlined change will influence other changes (hence, helping to create new perspectives). This may be repeated depending on the mat sizes chosen. Process the new insights and perspectives the client has gained from seeing how each action/experience may be reframed through a new perspective.

REFERENCES

Bauman, S., & Waldo, M. (1998). Existential theory and mental health counseling: If it were a snake, it would have bitten! Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 20, 13–27. Beutler, L. E., Crago, M., & Arizmendi, T. G. (1986). Research on therapist variables in psychotherapy. In S. L. Garfield & A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (3rd ed., pp. 257–310). New York: Wiley. Binswanger, L. (1957). Being-in-the-world. London: Souvenir Press. Bugental, J. F. T. (1965). The search for authenticity. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Corey, G. (2001). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (6th ed.). Stamford, CT: Brooks/Cole. Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Boston: Beacon Press. Frankl, V. E. (2000). Man’s search for meaning. (4th ed.). Boston: Beacon Press. Gantt, L. (1979). The other side of art therapy. National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals, 11(2), 14–19. Hammond, L. C., & Gantt, L. (1998). Using art in counseling: Ethical considerations. Journal of Counseling and Development, 76, 271–276. Heidegger, M. (1971). Poetry, language, thought. New York: Harper Collins. Hubble, M. A., Duncan, B. L., & Miller, S. D. (1999). The heart and soul of change: What works in therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Kitano, M. K., & LeVine, E. S. (1987). Existential theory: Guidelines for

practice in child therapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 24(3), 404–413. Knill, P. J., Levine, E. G., & Levine, S. K. (2005). Principles and practice of expressive arts therapy: Toward a therapeutic aesthetics. London: Jessica Kingsley. Kramer, E., & Gerity, L. A. (2000). Art as therapy: Collected papers. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Lambert, M. J., & Barley, D. E. (2001). Research summary on the therapeutic relationship and psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 38(4), 357–361. Malchiodi, C. A. (2003). Humanistic approaches. In C. A. Malchiodi (Ed.), Handbook of art therapy (pp. 58–71). New York: The Guilford Press. May, R. (1958). Contributions of existential psychotherapy. In R. May, E. Angel, & H. F. Ellenberger (Eds.), Existence: A new dimension in psychiatry and psychology (pp. 37–91). New York: Basic Books. May, R. (1969). Love and will. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. May, R. (1991). The cry for myth. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. May, R. (1994). The courage to create. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. McNiff, S. (1981). The arts and psychotherapy. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. Mishlove, J. (1995). Rollo May: The human dilemma. In Thinking allowed: Conversations on the leading edge of knowledge and discovery (pp. 117–123). Tulsa, OK: Council Oak Books. Naumburg, M. (1966). Dynamically oriented art therapy: Its principles and practices. New York: Grune & Stratton. Norcross, J. C. (1987). A rational and empirical analysis of existential psychotherapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 27(1), 41–68.

Robbins, A. (1987). The artist as therapist. New York: Human Sciences Press. Rogers, N. (1993). The creative connection: Expressive arts as healing. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books, Inc. Ulman, E., & Dachinger, P. (Eds.). (1975). Art therapy in theory and practice. New York: Schocken Books. Vontress, C. E. (1986). Existential anxiety: Implications for counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 8, 100–109. Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books. Yalom, I. D. (2002). The gift of therapy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. Yalom, I., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). New York: Basic Books.

Feminist Theory

Heather Trepal and Thelma Duffey

Feminist theory is often described as an approach, or lens, through which counselors view themselves, their clients, their clients’ concerns, and the world. Through this lens, much attention is paid to issues of adherence to gender roles, issues of power and privilege, and the role of advocacy. Inherent in this approach is the use of personal power. This chapter will discuss the development and core concepts of feminist theory and then show how expressive arts techniques can be used within the context of feminist therapy.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS OR FOUNDATIONS OF FEMINIST THEORY

Development of Feminism

Like many traditional theories, feminist theory is a product of historical context. Feminism has been described as occurring in waves and with each wave comes a new and broader scope of influence (Bruns & Trimble, 2001). For example, the initial wave was built on the suffrage movement because it related to securing voting rights for women. During the second wave between 1960s and 1970s, women challenged inequities in systemic concepts. Although both waves had an effect on all women, the early movements were by-products of and related to the efforts of educated, middle-class White women (Bruns & Trimble). Alternatively, the third wave s the current definition and is broader in scope. Funderburk and Fukuyama (2001) define modern feminism as “the belief that human beings are of equal worth and that the pervading patriarchal social structures which perpetuate a hierarchy of dominance, based upon gender, must be revisited and transformed toward more equitable systems” (p. 4). This definition includes the modern feminist scope of attention to men as well as women, and to people of all races, classes, cultures, and sexual orientations. With personal power as a central tenet of this approach, it is often conceptualized as “the ability to access personal and environmental resources to effect personal and/or external change” (Worell & Remer, 2003, p. 78).

Development of Feminist Theory in Counseling

Because of her focus on developmental thinking, Anna Freud has been cited as an early leader in the feminist orientation in the counseling profession. She established methods of working with clients that directly opposed the theory and approach of her father, Sigmund Freud (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010). Sigmund Freud was criticized for working with women through analyzing men and for contributing to the pathologization of women. Thus, pioneering, primarily female theorists (e.g., Karen Deutsch, Karen Horney) contributed to the construction of the feminist approach as a developmental approach that countered the psychological theories that had been derived solely from a male’s perspective (e.g., Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler; Seligman & Reichenberg). More recent prominent feminist writers and theorists in the counseling field include Jean Baker Miller, Carol Gilligan, and Irene Stiver.

Differences Between Feminist Theory and Traditional Theories of Counseling

The differences between feminist theory and traditional counseling theories are threefold. First, although feminist theory is conceptualized as a “theory,” it has also been consistently used as a philosophy or theoretical lens from which counselors can conceptualize and work with clients. Second, many traditional theories are practiced and associated with a theory-specific set of techniques such as the use of the “empty chair technique” within Gestalt therapy. In feminist theory, there are few codified techniques. However, feminist theory is associated with an increased examination of gender roles (i.e., gender role analyses) as well as increased attention to advocacy and personal or political power. More importantly, traditional theories place the root of psychological health and distress within the individual, whereas feminist theory argues that sociopolitical forces are responsible; thus constituting an interactionist approach (Worell & Remer, 2003). This distinction is vital. Although many traditional counseling theories contend that individual clients should challenge and change their thoughts and behaviors, feminist theorists suggest just the opposite. According to this approach, although society has positive benefits, it has also created institutions and social mores that can be oppressive and limiting; these oppressive social effects can then be internalized by the individuals affected by these limiting constructs (Worell & Remer). These effects can be further complicated for persons belonging to marginalized groups.

CORE CONCEPTS OF FEMINIST THEORY

Gender Roles

The sex (whether one is born biologically male or female or intersex) and gender (societal constructions of behaviors associated with males and females) are often used synonymously in counseling and in research (Gilbert & Scher, 1999). However, within feminist approaches, attention to biological sex is not as important as the effects, both positive and limiting, of traditional gender role socialization. Gender roles and socialization play a prominent role in feminist theory. Examining a client’s world through a feminist lens often results in increased attention to socialization and, specifically, to gender role socialization in the client’s life. For example, a male client who is a stay-at-home father and is experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression may be encouraged to examine his life from a gender role perspective. He may consider the influence of family of origin, societal, and environmental factors, and other related issues on his current situation. A counselor functioning from a feminist perspective may encourage the client to examine issues of gender role strain, particularly in areas where his beliefs and experiences may be in conflict.

Gender Role Analysis Isralei and Santor (2000) defined gender role analysis as a method for examining unique ways individuals are socialized to conform to culturally prescribed gender norms. This analysis also considers the myriad ways that gender role socialization affects their lives. For example, in traditional Western society, women are often socialized to believe they are judged or given unearned power, based on their appearance. A counselor using a gender role analysis might work with a female client to examine messages related to women and their appearance while exploring any internalized messages, both positive and limiting, about her appearance. This is particularly salient given that these messages related to our appearance can influence how we feel about ourselves, our ability to trust in and invest in relationships with others, and the degree of personal power we feel in

relation to others.

Power

The issue of power is paramount in feminist theory. According to Brown (2006) “Feminist therapy requires its practitioners to think in a complex and nuanced manner about how power and powerlessness are roots of distress” (p. 17). From a feminist approach, society can be seen as ing factions—some groups are given more power or status than others. Some variables, such as wealth, heterosexism, and youth, can be perceived to carry more power and this hierarchy can create oppressive social institutions and structures. Conversely, other variables, such as poverty, homosexualism, old age, disability, and culture, can be seen as holding less power. A feminist approach to counseling incorporates an examination of the role of power in a client’s life.

Issues of Oppression and Marginalization (Intersections of Multiple Identities)

Powerlessness can lead to issues of oppression and marginalization. Brown (2006) argued “When feminist therapists speak of the politics of the personal, we speak of the experiences of power and powerlessness in people’s lives, experiences that interact with the bodies and biologies we bring into the world to create distress, resilience, dysfunction, and competence” (p. 17). Feminist counselors maintain that individuals live at the intersection of multiple identities. For example, a counselor might be a woman, a lesbian, a mother, a middle-class U.S. citizen, an African American, and college educated. Each of these identities and its collective constellation produce situations in which the counselor can have power or privilege in society and potentially be an oppressor as well as produce situations in which she holds less power or privilege and experiences oppression or limited functioning. For example, the counselor might be given power or status with other parents at her children’s school because she is a working mother. However, once her lesbian identity is revealed, others may then deny her access to some of the same conversations and resources that were once open to her.

Working With Hierarchies in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Another important factor related to the issue of power in feminist theory is the hierarchical relationship between the counselor and the client. In feminist theory, issues surrounding the hierarchy are brought out within the counseling relationship. The theory takes into the power inherent in an “expert– client” relationship, and counselors functioning within this perspective attend to these issues. For example, feminist counselors are likely to use self-disclosure as a means to reduce the power differential in the therapeutic relationship (Banks, 2006). The counselor’s goal for self-disclosure is not to meet her own needs, but rather to reduce the power or hierarchy within the counseling relationship. Feminist counseling focuses on relationships. Another important challenge to both power and hierarchy is the feminist notion of reframing or reimagining traditional diagnoses. For example, a feminist counselor may challenge the traditional diagnosis of eating disorders and reimagine client’s issues with eating as a response to societal expectations or a way of coping with unbalanced social norms for body image. As such, the counselor challenges traditional ways of examining psychological health. Feminist counselors the belief that it is society and oppressive institutions, and the internalization of these basic structures are responsible for psychological distress (Remer, 2008).

Advocacy

Counselors who employ a feminist orientation focus on societal change; in particular, change that leads to the eradication of patriarchal systems that a “power over” culture. In effect, these counselors practice from a cooperative and relational model (Jordan, 2001). Feminist models often call for a challenge to oppressive structures (Worell & Remer, 2003). Feminist counselors traditionally challenge clients to make their personal issues political and to combat oppression. This position holds that personal change can occur vis-à-vis political advocacy. As Brown (2006) exerts, “Feminist practice, however, continues to be one of only a handful of therapy domains in which therapists are called upon to acknowledge as central the politics of practice and the impact on practice of the politics of gender, power, and social location on the lives and work of all of us” (p. 17).

CONCERNS ADDRESSED BY FEMINIST THEORY

Philosophy, Rather Than Techniques or Tools

Because it is philosophically grounded, feminist theory can complement other theoretical approaches in counseling. This interaction between feminist theory and other approaches and techniques is beginning to receive attention in the research literature (Chandler, Worell, & Johnson, 2000; Herlihy & McCollum, 2003; Olson, 2001; Worell, 2001).

Research Base and Efficacy

The focus on gender issues, power, and context in feminist therapy complements many common concerns that clients bring into counseling. Importantly, Chandler et al., (2000) maintain that as opposed to the current evidence-based climate, which favors measurable behavioral outcomes, feminist counselors often address issues that are less able to be measured but are important to overall functioning, such as self-esteem and empowerment. Research on feminist approaches includes treatment of eating disorders (Olson, 2001) and advocacy-based programs (Worell, 2001). However, one potential limitation to feminist theory is the need for more outcome research ing its efficacy with diverse client concerns. Some of the approach’s philosophical tenets have been criticized as difficult to operationalize (Herlihy & McCollum, 2003) and research. For a critique ing the strong relationship between feminist counseling and evidence-based practice, the reader is encouraged to see Brown (2006).

EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND FEMINIST THEORY

Flexibility as a Core Concept of Both Expressive Arts and Feminist Theory

Flexibility is a core concept of both feminist theory and the use of expressive arts in counseling. Feminist theory–based counselors selectively attend to the client and societal issues based on what is occurring in the moment and within client context rather than basing practice on a standard set of principles or a standard template. Similarly, counselors who use expressive counseling techniques are also free to be flexible, to experiment, and to choose the approaches best suited to each client’s unique concerns. Encouraging a client’s creativity can do much to overall client development. Counselors using experiential techniques are called to the same ethical standards as their more traditional counterparts. Gladding (2005) and Jacobs (1994) describe the myriad ways counselors can effectively use creative arts techniques in their work. Duffey (2005a) and Duffey, Haberstroh, and Trepal (2009) describe how creativity and innovative practice can client growth and relational development when used responsibly. Although counselors are encouraged to use innovative strategies when working with clients, they must be mindful of the limits of their experience and training and thoughtfully consider how to effectively use creative counseling techniques in their work (Gladding).

Exploration of Multiple Identities via the Expressive Arts

In addition to remaining flexible and informed, counselors operating from a feminist perspective also consider an individual’s multiple identities as central to feminist theory. This focus on identity complements the expressive arts perspective in that both allow us space to examine ourselves and our life experiences. In combination, feminist theory and expressive arts approaches facilitate creativity and the development of an expanded worldview.

SUMMARY

Feminist theory is an approach to counseling in which counselors and clients are encouraged to examine issues of gender, power, and privilege both in their individual lives and within the counseling relationship. The counseling focus is relational and incorporates an intent to lessen the counselor–client hierarchy to empower the client. Personal advocacy and empowerment are emphasized.

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Expressive Arts Interventions

A MUSICAL CHRONOLOGY AND THE EMERGING LIFE SONG

Thelma Duffey and Heather Trepal

Indications: Grief and loss, life review, and relationship concerns

Goals: To help clients access and identify their beliefs about themselves and others; to help clients understand the mitigating factors that influence their experiences and to consider their lives within the context of larger social circumstances; to provide a forum for clients to identify and process experiences that lead to disempowering perceptions and life scripts; to help clients recognize the effects of these perceptions and relational patterns on present relationships; and to assist clients to deconstruct disempowering perceptions and reauthor their lives through the use of music consciously selected and reinforced

Modality: Music

The Fit: Feminist theory describes how societal messages shape our perceptions of ourselves and others and challenges us to advocate for more growth-fostering perceptions. This intervention illustrates Becvar and Becvar’s (1996) and White and Epston’s (1990, 1992) position that clients can create an alternative perception, even though a dominant perception may be culturally sanctioned. When working from a feminist perspective, it can be important for clients to reconsider messages they now perceive as truth. Clients are encouraged to consider how societal influences impact their perceptions and help perpetuate circumstances that do not promote their greater good. Hodas (1994) also proposes ways to help clients reauthor their lives in ways that promote personal agency. He refers to this as a therapeutic sharing ritual between client and therapist. This is consistent with the feminist theory focus on relationship. Additionally, when coming from a feminist theory perspective, clients consider the sociopolitical impact on their perceptions, and reframe pejorative self-statements and relational perceptions. This intervention can be used to promote this process. Langer (1951) posits that “because the forms of human feelings are more congruent with musical forms than with forms of language, music can reveal the nature of feelings with a detail and truth that language cannot approach” (p. 199). Other researchers also note how music provides a venue for making sense of life experiences (Hays, 2005; Hays & Minichiello, 2005; Karras, 1987; Kenny, 1999). In that spirit, this intervention is designed to access feelings surrounding important life events (Duffey, 2005b; Duffey, Lumadue, & Woods, 2001). The chronology process is used to help clients identify meaningful life experiences and discover unacknowledged perceptions that may interfere with how they live life. A musical chronology is used to assist clients to connect with their feelings and experiences while considering a larger perspective that takes culture, gender, power, privilege, and other salient factors into as they navigate a reauthoring process (Duffey et al., 2001). This process serves as a musical scrapbook that facilitates revisiting experiences and the meanings we give them (Bortnick, 2005; Duffey, 2005b; Duffey et al., 2001).

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Paper, writing instruments, and access to music recordings, song lyrics, and recording software are required. This activity is based on the following assumptions: (a) Music is a common means for some men and women to connect with their life experiences; (b) music and lyrics can contribute to clients’ perceptions of themselves in relation to others; these perceptions are often influenced by societal norms, the media, and other social influences; (c) if our perceptions lead to disempowering and unive thoughts and feelings, they can lead to challenging life experiences; and (d) music is one vehicle by which we may form, maintain, or alter disempowering self-perceptions.

Instructions: A musical chronology is a four-stage process. Basic to this work is an understanding that clients internalize negative and shaming messages and often accept these messages as truth about themselves. Revisiting these messages, while considering the context in which they are relayed, is integral to this work.

Stage I: Counselor and client discuss use music to revisit memories and develop an autobiographical scrapbook.

Stage II: Clients identify songs that have been important to them or that remind them of important life events. They compile a list of songs, and their corresponding lyrics, and arrange them chronologically. This part of the process is designed to help clients mentally organize their experiences. Clients are often surprised to discover patterns with respect to language and messages that color and inform their experiences and expectations. Clients and counselors compile a CD or audiotape.

Stage III: Together they play the music and discuss client thoughts, memories, and associations. This leads to a “revisiting” of historical events.

Stage IV: Client and counselor work collaboratively to facilitate client’s awareness of any disempowering perceptions and to create the possibility of alternate perspectives. Clients find and play a song that represents their current beliefs, values, and convictions. Finally, clients find and play a song that represents their hopes for the future. In doing so, clients identify a song that represents personal strength and an empowering perspective. Given the societal messages that can either promote or impede a person’s functioning in the world, this song is selected as a reminder of the challenges and victories that can come with self-comion and an understanding of the impact of societal contexts on our lives.

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE

Flossie Ierardi

Indications: This intervention may be used to build a sense of community in group settings at different stages of group development.

Goal: To reinforce a sense of safety and belonging within the group community

Modality: Music

The Fit: Bath (2008) discusses a three-pronged approach to trauma-informed care, including safety, connections, and the expression of emotions, which the editors believe to be congruent with feminist-centered counseling. The drum circle in a therapeutic milieu can be perceived as a safe place if the participants’ rhythmic responses are accepted as valuable contributions. Community building and a sense of belonging are known outcomes of the drum circle experience and music contains elements that allow for nonverbal expression and communication. Although the therapeutic community drum circle is not a substitute for the therapeutic relationship that is necessary in addressing trauma, it can reflect an environment that is consistent with trauma-informed care. Bloom (2000) integrates the three components of trauma-informed care when she identifies the importance of cooperation and creative expression in environments that are socially safe. Perry (2006) discusses the effect of trauma on neurodevelopment and states that patterned sensory experiences, including rhythmic stimulation, are successful in helping to reorganize or repattern brain stem systems for improved impulse control and affect modulation (i.e., a calmer state).

Populations: Older adolescents/adults; Groups

Materials: Drums and percussion instruments (shakers, bells, claves, and other world music instruments) that do not require previous musical training; a diverse combination of large and small percussion instruments allows for maximum flexibility of expression and musical roles. The following instructions are intended as guidelines and will likely be adjusted based on the facilitator’s observation of the group’s need for structure, which will likely decrease as the participants gain experience with this activity. This activity is not a substitute for clinical improvisation methods and techniques as implemented in group therapy by a music therapist.

Instructions: Chairs should be arranged in a circle with instruments in the center so that participants may switch instruments as desired after the playing begins. Participants may be invited to experiment with various instruments before making a choice. If the population consists of persons with impulsive behaviors, the facilitator may wish to provide fewer choices and less access to the entire instrumentarium.

Welcome and introduction of experience. Introduce the drum circle as a safe environment for self-expression and interaction. Remind participants that there is no “right” or “wrong” within the drum circle experience. You may suggest group norms, such as respect for instruments, listening to each other, making efforts to blend with the group sound. If the experience is not new to the group, a participant or participants may lead a brief discussion of group norms. Orient group to the instruments noting their origin and noting that each instrument, no matter how large or small, will add a unique tone quality to the overall sound and texture (number of instruments playing at a given time). Invite each group member to make a statement related to the purpose of the drum circle (e.g., personal goal for the session, end-of-week summary statement if applicable, or affirmation). Rhythmic focus and vocabulary. The goals of this phase are to orient the participants to the rhythmic experience and to introduce a vocabulary of expression on the instruments in the drum circle, through the use of a call-andresponse experience, with musical imitation or “echo.” This phase sometimes transitions without pause to an ongoing pattern with improvised rhythms. For imitated rhythm patterns, some basic examples follow: The rhythm associated with a “cha cha” sound is often a good start. The facilitator may recognize the following pattern (see Table 7.1).

This pattern contains four musical beats, the third of which is divided into two equal parts. The group plays the pattern immediately after the facilitator. You may choose to repeat this and subsequent rhythms to create a sense of grounding or stability. The following rhythm is slightly more complicated and includes a word chant that may help in understanding the pattern (accented or stronger notes are in bold; see Table 7.2).

A third example for imitation may be the following popular rhythm in a rock style, again including a word chant (see Table 7.3).

Word chants help facilitate the learning of rhythm patterns for inexperienced group . In smaller groups, ask each group member to say and play his or her name in a repetitive rhythm fashion. Although these rhythms are very basic and familiar, some participants may have difficulty reproducing the patterns correctly. This stage helps determine the interventions that will be used later in the session. If the group is unable to keep a shared beat, you may wish to use only the vocal chants for the imitation task and proceed to drum circle activities requiring less rhythmic accuracy. Musical gathering and introduction of expressive musical elements. Depending on the group and your experience, this musical introduction can be implemented in several ways, either with a recording or independently. The goal of this section is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for rhythmic expression and interaction. For an opening recorded groove, the author suggests a basic four-beat feel, such as Track 1 from the CD included in The Art and Heart of Drum Circles (Stevens, 2003). This track is basic, but energetic and inviting. It is also a good model for your personal practice. Participants can be encouraged, at first, to play softly in continue hearing the recording. At some point, the recording will become inaudible and even unnecessary. You may wish to play the basic pulse (1-2-3-4) on a loud instrument, such as the cowbell, to help keep all players in time together. When you determine that the group are able to play ongoing patterns within the basic presented pulse, begin to give cues for expanded expression through the use of musical elements, such as volume and texture. The group may become accustomed to following facilitation cues, such as raising one’s arms to increase the volume and lowering for decreasing volume. Textural differences can be achieved through cues for part of the group to stop playing, or play softer, whereas one section of the circle, or one instrument type such as shakers, receives a cue to play louder and is thus emphasized. Please see Hull (1998) and Kalani (2004) for additional explanation and illustration. Expanded expression and interaction. Thus far, the drum circle has incorporated safety through the acceptance of participants’ musical responses. Group

also may experience awareness of connections with others through the experience of musical synchrony, whether through pulse, musical dynamics, or volume, or simply through the simultaneous expression of sound versus silence. Interaction may be further emphasized through several options depending on the degree of musical structure needed by the group as evidenced by their ability to attain rhythmic synchrony in the preceding experiences. With all options, it is advisable for you to initiate or an opening rhythm pattern in a familiar style. In addition to the basic four-beat feel, an example is the “6/8 Groove,” Track 2 on the CD in the Stevens (2003) publication. Give the group a brief warm-up using this new rhythm through repetition and emphasis on simple patterns in this new meter. More structure. Continue with cues for volume and textural changes. In the most structured approach, the group may need continued instructions because they may need to develop an appropriate expressive repertoire. The nonverbal experience of affective musical elements will generate increased expressivity through cues from you. Moderate structure. Depending on group size, you may use an approach whereby the participants make verbal suggestions regarding the execution of this phase of the session. Group may decide, based on their experience thus far, which person or instrument type will begin, volume level, speed or pace, and how it will proceed until the end. The instructions will be written on a board that is viewable by all participants. Although there will still be improvisational options, this approach encourages the group to work together to create a visual representation of their expressive choices for the experience. Less structure. Begin with a basic rhythmic pattern or encourage a group member to do so. To introduce this experience, you may encourage the group to become aware of the rhythms of one or more participants and to respond through matching the person’s rhythm or interacting by playing similar rhythms. Participants can also be encouraged to independently vary their volume to add various expressions, to stop playing for brief periods to listen to the group, and to contribute to textural changes. ive musical experience as transition to verbal expression of closure. Return to a familiar rhythm as a nonthreatening means of closing the expressive experience and transitioning to verbal closure. Using a vocal melody can be effective in incorporating musical structure at this point in the session; these may

be basic familiar melodies or songs from other cultures in call-and-response style. Become familiar with uncomplicated songs that can be added to a rhythmic groove. Using melody helps to contain the expressive rhythmic experience by giving an accompaniment role to the instruments of the drum circle. If the facilitator does not wish to use melody, another possibility for imposing structure is to return to the rhythmic call-and-response style or imitation/“echo” that opened the session. This choice will give the experience of a more literal recapitulation or return to the earlier theme of the session. Musically, this session can be compared to a musical composition that contains an introduction (as in the building of rhythmic vocabulary), statement of theme (musical gathering), development of theme (increased musical expression), recapitulation (return to earlier rhythms and themes with introduction of vocal closure), and coda (as in the verbal expression of closure discussed next). Verbal expression of closure. Although the therapeutic community drum circle is not intended to uncover and explore deeper memories of trauma, the association of musical (i.e., nonverbal) perceptions with various feeling states may allow participants to safely identify emotions with distance and objectivity. Ask group to reflect on their opening statement and to articulate a brief summary phrase or word about the drumming experience to close the session. Depending on the group and the setting, the closing verbal directive may be to express a positive statement about the experience, an affirmation of self, or a word of encouragement for self and peers. Suggestions for groups where rhythmic synchrony is a challenge include the following: Pairing visual and vocal cues with rhythm patterns may be more effective than rhythm patterns alone. When rhythmic synchrony is not yet feasible, the facilitator can use an approach such as that described in the Moderate Structure intervention discussed earlier. Using a visual “score” of few instructions and clear gestural cues, the facilitator will assist the group to achieve a sense of connectedness within musical elements of volume, texture, and timbre (instruments of like tonal quality playing together).

The group may be able to create a musical version of an extramusical association, such as a thunderstorm or a particular setting, such as a busy intersection. Occasional group tremolos, where everyone plays loud and fast producing a rumbling effect, can focus the group as a unit. You can give easy and fun cues for increases and decreases in volume, in unison as well as in group subsections (Kalani, 2004)

Note: Adults with a history of typical development are generally able to synchronize pulse whether or not they have had musical training. This may be interrupted by brain trauma, psychiatric disorder, and in some cases, anxiety about a new experience; however, it is quite rare for a group to be unable to achieve a sense of rhythmic synchrony. One notable experience by the author occurred with a group of adults with severe physical disabilities. Despite the lack of basic pulse in the overall sound, their motivation for interactive expression and connection was an overriding factor in the success of the drum circle.

WOMAN CRAFT EMBROIDERY HOOP

Rachel Payne

Indications: Body image, stifled creativity, externalized base of knowledge, eating disorders, bereavement, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, stress, major life transitions, feelings of disconnection, feminist identity development, ethnic or racial identity development, and wounded family ties

Goal: For women to explore a subjective knowledge of history to create connections with the women of their past and establish a new context for themselves and their circle of women in the future

Modality: Visual arts

The Fit: This specific craft activity reflects the historical handiwork of women and serves as a means of connecting women to their ancestral heritage so as to understand the cultural context of our past (Sebba, 1979). It simultaneously allows each woman to claim and create a symbol of self-identity that may facilitate a shift in her relationship with the current sociocultural context. This activity uses a group setting, a preferred feminist approach, to facilitate a sense of connectedness, or “mutual empathy,” between the women participants (Miller & Stiver, 1997, p. 29). Paired with this framework for communication is the exploration of each woman’s inner way of knowing (Belenky, Clinchy, Goldberger, & Tarule,1986). Participants are invited to connect with original female ancestors who exist beyond the distress of current or recent cultural shaping. The project uses the ancestors’ untainted perspectives to assist the client in revisioning the past with the hope that she may heal the women who have lived through it, herself, and those women to come. The feminist approach provided in the woman craft embroidery hoop assists clients to explore multiple areas of gender and self-knowledge. These include the social construction of meanings about women in the past; ways in which being a woman might have been different before society created “truths” about women; ways in which a woman can create her own truth; ways in which connections are fostered by the women within the women’s group; the idea that their bodies might be instruments of knowing; beliefs surrounding their own personal creativity; internalized judgments about creativity, body labels, and gender roles; ownership, honor, and pride in the crafts that generations of women have used as expressions of creativity and womanhood; and the wounds of the more recent generations of their woman-kin.

Populations: (Female) Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: 8-in. embroidery hoops and 1 sq ft of opaque, nonstretch fabric (wool, velvet, heavy cotton, linen) in white, beige, or black for each woman; various colors of embroidery floss; embroidery needles; scissors; thin ribbons, small beads, and charms (optional)

Instructions:

Begin the activity with a discussion of what life might have been like for the groups’ female ancestors. Assist clients in identifying the sociocultural influences present. Explain to the group that they will be engaging in an activity that many of the women of their past may have used as a creative outlet, for decorating their home, commemorating times of difficulty, or marking the occurrence of a significant rite of age such as baptism or marriage (Sebba, 1979). They will be creating a kind of self-portrait showing a hidden quality of the circle of womankind to which they belong. Share that there is no right or wrong way to approach this activity. Assure participants that they are free to learn to use the materials as they go and that they may even share with each other what they learn to expand the group’s pool of knowledge. Their level of skill need not determine the quality of the process. Stitches can be complex or straight and simple. Distribute a hoop, fabric square, and needle to each woman. Place the remaining materials in the center of the group. Stretch material onto the hoop by loosening the screw at the top and separating the outer and inner rings. Center the material on the inner circle and slip the outer over it so that the material is pulled taunt. Tighten the screw to secure. Explain that the group will be doing a guided imagery. Ask them to take their hoop with them as they find a place to sit or recline. Lead the group in this visualization: (Directions to the counselor are given in italics and are not meant to be shared with the group. The following script is intended as a suggestion and may be altered to fit the specific needs of your group. For optimal effect, speak in a relaxed voice with a slow cadence.) As we prepare to explore your inner world of stories and images, allow yourself to settle into the spot you have chosen. (Wait a moment while each person gets

situated.) ing that each cell of your body is created by the line of ancestors who existed before you, let yourself begin this visualization by relaxing your body. Invite your attention to rest with your breath. Notice how it moves in and out of your body. Notice the rise of inhalation, and the gentle giving in of exhalation. (Allow yourself to inhale and exhale, so you can be in connection with the groups’ experience.) Notice, if you will, the movement of your heart within your chest, (pause) and how the breath creates a slight sensation of rocking there. Perhaps, it might feel as if your heart is being cradled by your chest; (pause) rocking to and fro, in a gentle, relaxing rhythm. (pause) It is this same kind of rhythm that has been used to soothe loved ones for generations. Perhaps your body has a small inkling of having been soothed in this way some time in the past and can be comforted once again by this age-old invitation to let go and relax. As you move deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation, let your heart reach out to that line of loved ones who has soothed and been soothed by the presence and thoughts of one another, perhaps recalling your own mother or father and the ones who cared for them. Allow your mind to drift through the circle of family you have known or heard stories about. Drift further down your line of loved ones to the family who are just on the edge of being forgotten. Then, drifting even further allows your heart to connect with the far-reaching fringes of your ancestors. There, in the distant past, settle yourself at the edge of your family’s existence. And turning slowly, allow yourself to look across time to the present, past this day, and into the years and generations to come. These are your people. And you are one of them. Invite them, if you wish, to gather around you like a great hoop that circles around the fabric of your existence. Here in this special place between now and then, make a request to have one woman from your family circle come forward to share with you something about being a woman that might have been lost or diluted in the ing of time. She is here to tell you about the essence of womanhood. Invite her to gift you with this wisdom. It may come in the form of a word or story, an image or symbol, or perhaps it may appear as a feeling or an inner knowing. Take a few moments to visit with this wise woman, to listen her, and to connect. (Give the group a few minutes to process their interaction.) As you prepare to bring your visit with the wise woman to an end, you might consider thanking her for her part in your life. Notice, too, that as you have received your message

from her, all the ancestors, female and male, of the greater circle have stood witness to and been changed by, perhaps even healed by, the wisdom you have been willing to seek out. This is a new day for all of you. Now, begin preparing yourself to return to the room. Bring with you the wisdom you have received. Paying attention once again to your heart rocking in your chest, to your breath, and to the sounds in the room and beyond. And when you are ready, you may open your eyes. (Once everyone has opened her eyes.) Now, allow your hoop to represent that circle of family that witnessed and ed you today. Using the thread provided, create with stitches a clue to the gift you received. It may be a symbol, a word, a self-portrait, or anything of your own creating. As the women begin to sift through the floss, share with them that the six strands are sometimes split into two sets of three to allow it to be more easily pulled through the eye of the needle. As they work, they might imagine their hands drawing out knowledge, like a thread, which is anchored in the distant past with the woman in their visualization. As they pull, they may bring to mind the lineage of wounded women in their recent heritage, as if to carry the newfound realizations of womanhood through them and into the present. Simultaneously, reaching into the future, they can offer the women who are to come a taste of their untainted heritage. In this way, the three threads make the symbolically pulling together of the past, the present, and the future physical. As they stitch, encourage each woman to share her realizations and awarenesses and facilitate empathy by the group for her personalized knowledge and experience. Depending on each woman’s vision for her image, the crafting time for the group may vary. The group may decide to finish and process the next time they meet or take the project home to complete. Invite participants to explain the intention behind their work and assure them that they may bring the finished pieces back later to share. Suggested discussion and questions include: What does your symbol mean to you?What story does your symbol tell? How might this symbol change your perception of yourself as a woman in our present society? What are some of the examples of empathy that you observed or experienced during the activity? What was it like to share this experience with other women? What are the common threads in your stories?

Once the symbols or self-portraits are completed, they may be framed, made into a pillow or badge, or left in the hoop with the excess material pulled tight, trimmed, and anchored with glue to the back.

Figures 7.1 and 7.2 offer examples of woman craft hoops.

ALTERED BOOKS AND CHANGED LIVES

Katrina Cook

Indications: Appropriate presenting concerns can include, but are not limited to physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders, or major life transitions. It is best completed over a series of sessions.

Goal: The goal of this activity is to facilitate self-awareness and foster empowerment of clients.

Modality: Art

The Fit: Clients in the embeddedness–emanation, synthesis, or active commitment stages of feminist identity development (Downing & Roush, 1985) could benefit from this intervention. As clients develop new ways of thinking and feeling about themselves, the altered books can represent their new realization and understanding of themselves. If unfamiliar with altered books, review the Web site listed in the references for descriptions and examples.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Old books in any condition and those that describe stereotypical gender roles are particularly useful. Also needed are glue, scissors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint, paint brushes, ink stamps, ink pads, old magazines, wrapping paper, and any other decorative devices, whether they are two dimensional or three dimensional. Ideally, clients will provide personal items they would like to include such as photos, drawings, poems, found objects, or other memorabilia. Basically, anything goes with altered books, and the finished product may have no resemblance to the original book at all.

Instructions:

Ask clients to reflect on their lives and presenting concern, such as major life transitions, changes in self-perception, or changing relationships. Share with clients some photos or examples of altered books and ask the clients to consider how they might depict an aspect of their lives through the medium of altering books. After choosing a book, invite clients to change the book in any way they would like. Examples could be gluing the pages together, cutting into the book to make shadow boxes or hidden compartments, adding envelopes that contain messages or letters, or sewing images into the pages. Reassure the client that there are no limits and that the final product does not have to resemble a book. Assist the clients while they recreate their books and ask them about the meaning of the items they are using or the messages they include in their books. After all clients complete their books, each client describes what the altered book represents to him or her. Examples of questions to facilitate a process discussion could include What is the title of your altered book and what does that title mean to you? What message about yourself do you believe your book conveys? What does the (object added to the book) mean to you, and what were your reasons for including it? I see that you (alteration to the book—glued pages together, cut into your book, etc.). What does that change represent to you? To other group , ask What is your reaction when you see this book? What do you observe? What stands out to you the most?

Figures 7.3 and 7.4 offer two examples of altered books.

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Gestalt Theory

Brian J. Mistler

Some have called training in Gestalt therapy a creative license (Lobb & AmendtLyon, 2003). For many, this is true. Almost every Gestalt therapist I have known s creative expression in themselves and their clients. I hope that after reading this chapter and entire book, you will feel even more licensed to be creative whatever your training and orientation are. Of course, you do not have to be a Gestalt-oriented therapist to make creative use of the arts; however, there does seem to be natural for incorporating expressive arts interventions in the Gestalt theoretical model itself.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

Gestalt therapy emphasizes wholes, the therapist–client relationship, and awareness of the ongoing present, while combining a phenomenological, existential, and behavioral approach to therapeutic intervention. Its initial formulation is credited primarily to Frederick (Fritz) Perls (1893–1970), and collaborators Laura Perls and Paul Goodman beginning in the 1940s (Perls, 1947, 1969b; Perls, Hefferline, & Goodman, 1951). Fritz Perls was trained in psychiatry and worked for a time with Karen Horney and Wilhelm Reich. Early writing on Gestalt therapy was influenced strongly by the Freudian psychoanalytic tradition in which many at the time were trained. The term gestalt was derived from the focus that this approach places on wholes, patterns, configurations, or gestalts, in contrast to other more reductionist approaches. The term also makes reference to Gestalt therapy’s application of principles investigated by Gestalt psychologists (Kohler, 1992) such as understanding that organisms will tend to try to complete incomplete things, the importance of figure–ground (i.e., foreground–background) shifts, and the role of attention and personal and/or social construction of meaning involved in perception.

CORE CONCEPTS OF GESTALT THEORY

Gestalt therapy takes a Reichian perspective on mind–body unity and attends to the importance of bodily tension and nonverbal behavior (Perls et al., 1951), which makes it especially well aligned with expressive arts. Central to Gestalt therapy is a focus on direct experience, a humanistic belief in the innate movement of organisms toward equilibrium, and existential ; characterized by mutuality and inclusion. Because the person of the therapist and his or her ability to be in with the client is so central to client growth, great emphasis is placed on the development of the counselor as a whole person. An individual who has worked on his or her own “unfinished business” is less reactive, more present, and has more available energy in facilitating the client’s work, than a therapist who has not addressed his or her own issues. This suggests the importance of expressive arts not only for the client but also for the therapist. Gestalt therapy is also deeply aligned with an Eastern, non-Aristotelian philosophical approach, embracing multivalent logic (i.e., both–and as opposed to either–or), field theory (i.e., people and their environment are a related system in constant change), process (e.g., being genuine and present in the ongoing now, rather than focusing on abstract structures and conceptualizations), and a paradoxical theory of change or fostering the natural Taoist “flow” of being who one is, rather than pushing toward an ideal. (Beisser, 2004; Mistler, 2009). Believing “nature heals” (Goodman & Stoehr, 1977), Gestalt-oriented counselors often look forward to developing awareness of clients’ existing processes and the ways in which even the distressing symptoms can be understood as an expression of creativity. Once the person in distress reconnects with his or her creativity through a deeper experiential awareness of the processes and resists his or her connection to present awareness, the side effects (i.e., the client’s symptoms) will begin to go away. There are six primary patterns of disconnection also called channels of resistance. An individual may employ one or several together. Introjection is the indiscriminate acceptance of something outside oneself without “chewing on it” first; at its core, this is ively accepting another’s ideas about how we should be, what we should do, and how we should see the world. Projection is the reverse of introjection. In projection,

the tendency is to make the environment responsible for what actually begins in oneself or ascribing one’s disowned power to someone or something in his or her environment. Encouraging the projector to experiment with “I” language can often be helpful in reowning disowned projections. Confluence occurs when the individual feels no boundary between himself or herself and others. Confluence often leads to what are commonly called psychosomatic problems, and clients stuck in confluence often demand likeness of others to themselves and are intolerant of differences. Retroflection involves doing to oneself what one would like to do to something or someone in the environment. This involves the creation of a boundary drawn sharply inside one’s own self in which an individual splits himself or herself into two parts that war against one another. Expressive techniques can be especially helpful in helping to parse these parts out and to bring integration. Deflection occurs when individuals distance themselves from opportunities for healthy . Examples may include avoiding eye , overly polite phony behaviors, or talking about things other than the present self. Lastly, egotism is an excessive concern with one’s own internal processes, so prominent that the individual does not recognize possibilities for (Mistler, 2009; Van De Riet, Korb, & Gorrell, 1980). Gestalt therapy aims to help the individual’s transition from being stuck in these self-defeating patterns to experience a more creative interaction with the environment—an interaction that offers more quality and satisfaction of the individual’s needs. Through various clinician-led experiments, the individual may have experiences during the therapy session that offer opportunities to complete “unfinished business,” which has previously prevented healthy . Because such imes, or blocks, are certain to interfere with the individual’s ability to maintain and stay in the now, a Gestaltian patient history will only elaborate what is already present in the moment. And because the important gestalts, or wholes, will emerge in the process of trying to make , attention to the obvious in the present is the pathway to completion. To facilitate this awareness, the Gestalt therapist attempts to direct the individual’s ongoing awareness to the present by providing through the therapeutic relationship, attending to breathing as needed to stay with anxiety, and frustrating attempts to escape the present.

RESEARCH BASE AND EFFICACY

Gestalt therapy can be an effective treatment for a range of issues for both individuals, couples, and families (Kempler, 1973) and even those with personality disorders including narcissistic and borderline (Yontef, 1993). Studies have also demonstrated effectiveness within a range of specific issues such as conflict resolution and depression (Strümpfel, 2004; Strümpfel & Goldman, 2002), as well as being more effective at long-term maintenance of the gains (Ellison, Greenberg, Goldman, & Angus, 2009). A review of studies found directive experiential approaches like Gestalt to be more effective than cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT; Greenberg, Elliott, & Lietaer, 1994). Because Gestalt therapy focuses on process, a Gestalt approach can be used and adjusted to fit the needs of almost any patient population (Yontef & Jacobs, 2008). However, clients with profound difficulties in verbalization may require special adjustments by the therapist. Importantly, “Gestalt Therapy does not advocate a cookbook of prescribed techniques for specialized groups of individuals,” (Yontef & Jacobs, 2008, p. 253) but rather encourages development of the therapist as a person allowing for their genuine with each individual client.

GESTALT TECHNIQUES AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

A Gestalt therapist may use a number of techniques in their practice. What is most important is that, each technique is approached with an experimental attitude, not as an assessment, but with an openness to a range of outcomes, and a radical respect for client and their process; hence, the interventions are typically termed experiments. Although many techniques are shared with other orientations, a number of specific themes for techniques have grown out of Gestalt theory itself, such as dialogue (the empty-chair technique being the classic model), present awareness, revisiting unfinished business in the present, giving voice to bodily sensations, and exaggeration (which helps awareness of the “obvious”). Expressive arts interventions can be used quite creatively in the service of helping the client to elucidate the internal dialogue, to be more aware of what is happening in the present, to revisit unfinished business, and to even give a voice to bodily sensations or exaggerate something in a creative way. The expression of “creative formative power in every person” (Perls et al., 1951, p. 288) is core to Gestalt therapy and life. Importantly, good (satisfying) is not seen as more or less creative as bad (unsatisfying) (Korb, 2009). Indeed, the term creativity is usually not found as a separate noun in itself but most often is in its adjectival form in like creative adjustment; highlighting it as an inseparable part of the field of experience. Antonia Sichera (2003) writes, “Creativity is not defined in Gestalt Therapy; but it is implicitly stated that all that ‘happens’ in the field, in relation to the , is in itself ‘creative,’ because without the creative contribution to the subjects involved there is no , no experience, no relationship” (p. 93). Something quite similar may be said about the term expression. Every act is expressive, but not all intentionally so. Not all expressions are owned expressions of oneself; many expressions are not owned and are expressions of things that come from anywhere but oneself. Often, they are introjected from the environment having been taken in—and swallowed whole—at some point earlier in life without fully being processed. This is seen in children who express strong feelings about a political or religious belief about which they know nothing of, but who have introjected the idea from

their parents. Expression may also be projected; such as when we “put words in others’ mouths” that they have not actually communicated. The very notion of self in Gestalt therapy refers to an ongoing process of creative with the environment (Perls, Hefferline, & Goodman, 1994) and meeting one’s needs require spontaneous expression in response to what is perceived in the environment. Within the Gestalt perspective, perception and expression are not fundamentally different as both are creative acts. Creative expression is more than a technique—it is, if understood in a deep, holistic way, nearly synonymous with health. Korb (2009) writes that “creativity is not the province of ‘the Arts,’ artists, or any select stratum of society or discipline. Nor is it an achievement. It must ultimately be embraced as a birthright and an existential constant; whether we learn to use it consciously, responsibly, and proactively or not. The active word is awareness. It is the intrinsic role of the Gestalt therapist to provide the appropriate environment . . .” (np). A therapist who models and s the incorporation of expressive arts interventions into his or her practice lays the foundation for creating such an environment.

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

“EMPTY BEAR” TECHNIQUE: USING PUPPETS WITH ADULTS

Brian J. Mistler

Indications: Any presenting issue that is creating conflict and needs to be given voice

Goal: To help clients express and work through inner conflicts and defenses

Modality: Puppetry and drama

The Fit: Gestalt therapy is characterized by an attitude of atheoretical experimentalism rather than conceptualizations and techniques (Naranjo, 2000). Nevertheless, a few specific techniques for experimenting have been developed, which are especially effective and consistent with the Gestalt therapy approach. Perhaps the most iconic of these is the empty-chair technique. Using empty chairs is actually just one application of a broader technique called dia Gestalt (Mistler, 2009). The aim of dialog is to help increase an individual’s awareness of two or more parts that are in conflict. By using external objects, such as chairs as placeholders, a person is often able to better separate the voices. And by moving from chair to chair, the person can alternatively experiment identifying with each voice, increasing the opportunity to assimilate a disowned projection, or reject an unhelpful introject. Although puppets are often used in play therapy with children (Cassell & Paul, 1967), they also have a great potential for use with university students and even older adults. Using puppets can be helpful for clients with natural theatrical bent as well as those who are not used to being expressive. Indeed, puppets can be helpful for a range of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, and even trauma and protracted grief (Bernier, 2005; Cassell & Paul, 1967). Using, and even choosing, a puppet both encourages initial development of projections and can help some people reconnect with their imagination; who may be hesitant to speak with imaginary people in other chairs.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals/couples

Materials: Multiple puppets. Ideally there should be at least three or four puppets to choose from per client involved. A range of choices from bears and other animals, to humans of various genders and skin colors is nice. For a beginning collection, at least one male and one female are probably important. Eventually, it is nice to have some young and some old, some “scary” and some “friendly.” Just about any kind of real or imagined creature can work. If possible, the puppets should be appropriately sized so that the person can control the movements of the puppets’ mouths in some way. Being able to move at least one of the puppet’s limbs, even from outside the puppet, can help people engage even more in the beginning. Any sort of puppets will work— from homemade sock puppets, to tiny hand dolls, and to more professional puppets. Full-body puppets offer the most versatility in using them as puppets as well as putting them in another chair so that the clients may address them.

Instructions:

Preselection. The activity begins the moment you introduce the idea of using puppets, a suggestion that is best approached with an experimental attitude. You may begin to develop client awareness at this point by asking questions, for example, at a person reluctant to engage:

Therapist: What’s stopping you? Client: That’s silly. Therapist: You mean if you do it, you will be silly? Client: Yes. I’m a grown-up girl. I shouldn’t do silly things. Therapist: Is there also a part of you that wants to be silly? Client: Yes. But, I don’t let her come out much. Therapist: Maybe those two parts could have a conversation . . .

Therapist’s Use of Puppets Without Client. Much of what determines whether a client will participate in an intervention with puppets is the therapist’s own attitude. If a client senses hesitation from you, the client will be reluctant to in. In contrast, if you model commitment to the value of the activity, the client often readily participates. You may also encourage the client’s participation by grabbing a puppet and simply starting the interaction. This lowers the inhibition of the client to select and give voice to his or her own puppet. You may use a puppet to project two sides of a concern—a kind of therapeutic good cop–bad cop. For example, you may instigate a serious conversation with a client who swears he or she has not touched a drop of alcohol this week, whereas a therapist-selected puppet takes the role of a disbeliever saying, Bologna! Like a classic ventriloquist act, you can apologize for the puppet’s behavior and the client while still communicating both important sides of the message.

Selection. Much work can be done in the selection of puppets. It is important to , however, that this is an experiment and not a projective test. Refrain from verbalizing your analysis of choice. Rather than stating explicitly your own interpretations of puppet selection, explore them experientially. Ask the client to have a dialog between puppets selected to represent various individuals in the client’s life; starting with one asking the other, Why didn’t you choose me?

Top Dog–Under Dog. One of the classic patterns of dia Gestalt is called top dog–under dog. This describes a pattern wherein one part of the self oppresses the other part (which, in some way, is complicit). When you ask a person to select two puppets, one may emerge as the “Shut up and do what I say—I know what’s best for us” voice (the top dog) and the other as the “I’ve learned I’m not worth that much, but I still feel I want to be heard” placating voice (under dog). Noticing and exploring this pattern can be helpful. The outcome may be a client rejecting one of the voices as an introject or negotiating a compromise between the two, allowing both voices to be heard, understood, and appreciated for their acting in the person’s best interest.

Emphasis on Ownership. Invite a client to speak to a puppet that represents a place holder for an important individual in the person’s past or present. Then invite the client to speak for this person (i.e., pick up the puppet and speak for or from it, not just to it). Encourage ownership of feelings by reminding the person to speak using “I” language—this is helpful when a person talks about the puppet, as well as when the person uses second-person or third-person language, such as the following:

Client: I don’t like to think about that, it’s depressing. Therapist: Can you say I am depressing? Client: I am depressing. I don’t want to be depressing . . . to be depressed, but I am. Therapist: What do you want to be? Client: I want to be pretty and happy all the time! Therapist: Is there a puppet over there that you think is pretty? Client: Yes, the one in the dress. I’m sure she’s always happy. Therapist: Ok. Go get her, and let’s find out about her life.

Integrating With Therapy. Transitioning to and from puppetry can be challenging, but it does not need to be. As with the start, you may consider “skipping” the transition step (or, at least, making it go by more fluidly and quickly). You can just put the puppets aside and go on with your next intervention. You can also make the transition itself as an intervention. One way to finish the experiment is simply to ask the person if they feel finished with it, for now. If not, ask them what else they would like to say to help them feel finished. This can involve them saying goodbye to the puppet for now. They might want to apologize to a puppet who they did not pay enough attention to or were “too mean” to. These impulses as well can make fruitful fodder for more experimentation. At some point, it can be especially powerful to encourage the client to “become” the puppet—to move from speaking through his or her hand in the puppet to letting a particular voice speak through his or her whole body. This transition from the use of puppets to a more traditional empty-chair experiment can help a person more holistically integrate his or her awareness. And for those clients to whom puppets are very threatening, sometimes just the threat of puppets can help a person be more willing to engage with other expressive techniques, more palatable to his or her particular sensibilities.

E-MOTION, E-MOTION SHIELD

Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall

Indications: Appropriate for a variety of presenting concerns, especially for individuals who seem to have a weak sense of their own steadiness or grounding. Also appropriate for those who are prone to assume emotions of others or react highly to others’ emotions.

Goals: To raise body awareness of emotions; to awareness and centeredness when faced with emotions of others.

Modality: Dance and movement

The Fit: The purpose of this expressive activity is to raise awareness of emotions as they are experienced in the body. A secondary purpose is for individuals to become more aware of their boundaries and of how they are affected by the emotions of others. This expressive arts activity is a perfect fit with Gestalt theory (Perls, 1969a) because the ultimate goal is to raise awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings as well as understand the connection between the mind and the body. This activity can be understood as a Gestalt experiment in which a counselor invites the client to participate.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals/couples

Materials: Paper and pens

Instructions: The activity is designed to take place within a 45–60-minute session, and may range between 20 and 45 minutes depending on whether it is being used with an individual or with a group.

Generate a list of four feeling words with the client including two more positive and two more challenging emotions (this may include feelings you have identified in sessions that are difficult for him or her to feel or to deal with with others etc.). Write these four words on pieces of paper (one on each piece) and place one feeling word in each corner of the room (or otherwise, a defined space). If working with a couple, the couple decides who goes first. If working with a group, invite the clients to pair up and let them decide who goes first. The first volunteer walks around the space until he or she reaches a corner that he or she wants to enter. After entering the corner, he or she should fully embody the feeling of that particular space (i.e., moving as if they are feeling it and assuming associated positions, postures, facial expressions, or breathing patterns). The partner remains outside the corner and stands witness to the emotions being displayed. Encourage the client to visit the four corners of the room and to spend some time in the spaces between the corners. Check with the client what he or she noticed about his or her body while experiencing different emotions. Process questions might include, Were you reluctant to visit some corners? What was different about the embodied experience in different corners? What did you do to transition out? What was the sensation in the in-between space? Check with the client’s partner what he or she noticed within him or her while in proximity to the one embodying the emotion. Process questions might include, Were there certain emotions that were difficult for you to see in the other person? How do you react when others are emotional around you? What tools are available to you holding your own ground when the environment around

you is changing?

*Counseling student variation: class or supervision group are partnered, one serves as a witness who stands outside the space and witnesses the other embodying the emotion. Emotions that have been experienced with clients in recent sessions or with which supervisees have expressed hesitance are used to define the corners. The questions that can be used in addition to the aforementioned process are, How might your reaction to emotions impact your work with clients? What resources can we use to be with our clients in an emotionally charged space while remaining adequately shielded?

SHADOW PARTY

Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall

Indications: The activity is designed for individuals to increase their selfawareness in relation to their judgments of others. When a client, student, or supervisee reports not understanding why he or she reacted so strongly to another person or seems stuck in his or her perceptions and negative judgments of others, this activity may be helpful. It may also indicate whether an individual seems locked in one way of being or is responding (e.g., always emotionally collapsing when challenged).

Goal: Participants will explore and integrate helpful elements of disowned parts of themselves and gain awareness related to their personal triggers.

Modality: Drama

The Fit: Although the concept of the shadow is rooted in Jungian psychology, this shadow exercise fits well as a Gestalt intervention. One of the goals of Gestalt therapy is to clients in becoming unstuck through increased awareness and in experimenting with new ways of being in their environment (Perls et al., 1951). Polster (1999) adds that clients are limited when they react stereotypically within their environments. The purpose of this expressive arts activity is to help individuals become more integrated through reclaiming judgments they may have of others and embracing disowned parts of themselves. Participants increase self-awareness as they embody what they reject in others and have the opportunity to shift from stereotyped patterns of responding through playful experimentation.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups

Materials: Each client or student is responsible for his or her own costume. This may be as simple as a regular dress with an accessory, or more elaborate, depending on the person’s preference and the role that is being assumed (e.g., a person coming as highly judgmental or critical may wear a graduation gown and bring a gavel; a narcissist may choose to wear a crown, etc.).

Instructions: The activity requires a minimum of two sessions. First, a 50minute session will be used to introduce the concepts, invite reflection, and allow individuals to consider how they want to embody their shadows. The shadow party takes between 45 and 90 minutes to facilitate, depending on the size of the group. Between 10 and 15 minutes should be allowed for the initial phase of unstructured interactions, followed by 15–30 minutes of more formal introductions, and 15–20 minutes of debriefing.

Individuals are instructed to contemplate the following questions: What behaviors or traits in others do you find the most irritating? What would be the worst insult someone could say about you? What are some of the adjectives that you would use to describe your least favorite person? The concept of the shadow is then introduced. The shadow is described as representing parts of ourselves that are present but that we effort to hide or disown, and that may be evident in what we find disdainful in others. The shadow sometimes emerges when an early reaction to another occurs and results in a disowning of all associated elements. For example, when witnessing a verbally aggressive adult, a child may subconsciously and broadly reject that way of being and disown not just the aggression, but also disown the potentially useful but associated elements such as power, strength, and assertiveness. Consequently, the person may be withdrawn, ive, and may harshly judge others who are assertive as “demanding.” Individuals are invited to reflect on the questions asked to assist them in identifying one of their shadow parts. Group may seek from the facilitator as they identify their shadow, but are asked to keep their shadow identity secret from other group . Group and facilitators dress up to embody their shadow parts and arrive at the next group acting as their shadow. (It helps to meet in a new location or somehow set up the classroom or group space as a party.) For 10–15 minutes, group embody their shadows and interact with other of the group as their shadows would.

are invited to sit in a half circle (still in their roles; e.g., narcissists may interrupt to bring attention back to themselves or a critic may periodically show disdain for the event). The facilitator invites each member individually to introduce himself or herself and asks the shadow a few questions: Do you have a name? Is there anything you would like us to know about you? What do you think of this party? Are there people here you like or dislike? Group are then invited to guess what shadow the person is embodying and to get affirmation or clarification from the actor. This continues until all group have been introduced. are invited to shake off their shadow role in whatever way they deem appropriate and to come together to debrief the experience. Processing questions may include, How was your experience being in this role? What feelings, thoughts, and ways of acting emerged? How was it to interact with others from this role? Did you see parts of yourself in others’ shadows? What are the positive aspects of this shadow? Are there elements of the shadow that could be drawn or adapted to serve you?

THE BOARDROOM

Stephanie Helsel

Indications: This activity enables self-reflection and therefore can be used whenever it would be helpful for clients to use a more playful or artistic format of exploration. It has been used with secondary school students, chemical dependence rehabilitation groups, and personal growth groups to help examine decision-making consequences and integrate previously unowned aspects of the self. In a group setting, must have established trust and some knowledge of one another’s lives and struggles.

Goal: To broaden and deepen clients’ understanding of the different aspects that make up the self, provide a foundation for conceptualizing and working with polarities and expand clients’ awareness of how they make decisions

Modality: Psychodrama (group) or art (individual)

The Fit: In Gestalt theory, the primary goal is to enable clients to gain awareness, that is, a sense of “what one is doing, planning, and feeling” (Harman, 1974, p. 180). This is essential, for without awareness, clients will not have an understanding of how they impede their own therapeutic goals of behavioral change. When a client has expressed a goal, such as wanting to be more assertive, yet finds himself or herself unable to do so, there is usually a part of the self that is not integrated into the whole of the person’s consciousness. Rather than work to do away with the ive part of the self, the Gestalt therapist works toward an expanded understanding of the self, where the opposites—or polarities—that exist within the client can be seen and expressed when appropriate. As integration is considered to be an ongoing process, finding ways to open up dialogues and communication between polar aspects of the self is an important focus of therapy.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Drawing paper and an assortment of crayons, felt markers, paint, or colored pencils

Instructions:

The session begins with a brief overview of the Gestalt concept of polarities and the usefulness of integrating opposite aspects of the self and, if possible, reviewing some examples that are based on past discussion or work. One of the most useful things we can do is to gain awareness of what we are doing and how we do it. When do we sabotage ourselves? When do we interrupt ourselves? How do we make ive decisions, manage conflict well, and how do we make life more difficult for ourselves? Most of the time, to answer these questions, we have to have an idea of all of the different aspects of ourselves that are operating. We all have many different aspects, and sometimes they are opposite of one another. These are called “polarities.” For example, people have a masculine and a feminine aspect, an aggressive and a ive aspect, and a courageous and a timid aspect. Different aspects emerge during different contexts. This exercise will help us examine the parts of yourself that you do not necessarily think about or like very much. I would like you to think about a situation in which you feel like you are never effective despite your best efforts, or where you notice yourself making impulsive or destructive decisions. We are going to deconstruct the process of deciding how and what you do so we can tell exactly who is calling the shots. Suggest engaging in an experiment that can help increase awareness about how unconscious aspects of self can contribute to choices and behaviors that are counterproductive or otherwise unsatisfactory. Care must be taken to provide a full explanation of the proposed experiment with ample time for discussion. After the experiment has been described and full consent obtained, distribute the art materials or arrange for use of a whiteboard. Invite clients to draw a large rectangle representing a conference room table. This creates the “boardroom” environment. Ask them to consider all the different aspects of themselves that influence their behavior in a specific situation or context. They should decide who is at the head

of the boardroom table, and arrange other characters, representing different aspects of self, in diminishing importance around the table. Each character is named (e.g.,The Child, The Tyrant, My Father, etc.). Clients can illustrate the different characters with as much detail as they wish. Individual clients can take this home and work on it as homework if desired. When working on an individual level, the illustration can then be processed. The goal is to develop greater awareness of how behavior is influenced and which aspects of self are being given inappropriate control or are ignored. Encourage discussion that addresses how the client may make choices and future decisions. When working on a group level, a volunteer is obtained who wants to explore their boardroom with the group. The volunteer asks different group to play the roles of their different aspects. At this time, it is important to make certain that all are giving their full consent to participate and that they do understand that sometimes this experiment can result in experiencing very intense emotions. The volunteer engages the characters in a dialogue, expressing feelings as they emerge and responding to the spontaneous dialogue that develops. The counselor takes on the role of the director, helps the volunteer if he or she gets stuck, or prompts group in their role-playing. The group leader must also manage the energy and timing of the experiment so that there is ample opportunity to process what is happening prior to the end of the group dialogue. Debriefing occurs on a group level, with the volunteer being the first one to talk about his or her experience. For the volunteer who led the enactment experiment, ask questions such as What are you aware of now, having done this? What did you experience during the enactment? What did you learn? Which aspect of self felt the most powerful or weak? Which aspect of self would you like to be managing during decision making in this particular context? What changes do you need to make in order for that to happen? Would you like to receive from others? If yes, help facilitate to provide constructive . For other group , process questions may include the following: How was it like to watch (or participate in) this enactment? Which could you relate to? What was powerful for you? For observers, What would you like to give the participants? How did this experiment make you think about your own unacknowledged aspects of self?

From this point on, aspects of self can be referred to using the names developed during this exercise. It can provide a language the client can use when talking about his or her polarities and help the counselor conceptualize the client’s inner process.

UNPAID BILLS

Stephanie Helsel

Indications: Group counseling settings that encourage the giving of mutual in , as well as with groups whose may be in need of reckoning with hurtful or manipulative past behavior. This should not be used as an ice breaker activity and instead, should be suggested once cohesion has been gained, personal material has been processed, and have come to know of some of the relational issues, current stressors, and sources of shame or guilt with which others are struggling.

Goals: To help clients take responsibility for the choices they have made in the past; to explore feelings of being stuck in negative behavior patterns or ways of relating to others

Modality: Psychodrama

The Fit: This activity provides group with a nonthreatening way to think about their past actions, choices, and relationships. As a group activity, it relies on peer input and the observations and insights of group to help expand understanding of the ways in which guilt, shame, and other destructive emotions and behaviors related to the past are being reexperienced in the present. This activity reflects the Gestalt assumption that unresolved feelings or issues, or “unfinished business,” can hamper the regular process of organismic self-regulation (Perls, 1969c). When people have resolved their past experiences, they are able to be flexible and react from a here-and-now orientation, unencumbered by dissatisfying or maladaptive behavior patterns that were created in response to stimuli they experienced in past contexts (Perls, 1973). As Gestalt is a noninterpretive orientation, the group leader must refrain from analyzing group and instead encourage other to share how they experience one another. This experiment includes the opportunity for enactment, which is considered to be a type of behavior that can lead to an expanded repertoire of possible ways of dealing with the environment.

Populations: Adults; Groups

Materials and Preparation: This experiment uses a “past due” invoice worksheet (see Figure 8.1).

Instructions:

Present a brief overview of the Gestalt concept of unfinished business (see the script that follows) and review some examples. Suggest engaging in an experiment that can help gain awareness on how they are reexperiencing their past problems in their present lives, and why this is a necessary step in resolving such issues. Be careful to provide a full explanation of the proposed experiment and allow time for group to ask questions, review their personal histories, and otherwise process the suggested activity.

Unfinished Business Script

We are all asked to behave in certain ways to obtain the approval of our family and become good of society. We had to learn NOT to hit our siblings when we were angry, to be quiet and sit still in school, to respect our elders, to do our homework, and so forth. Sometimes, the expectations we have to live up to are not exactly healthy and result in our having to repress or suppress aspects of ourselves. For example, the natural exuberance of children is often experienced as inconvenient to adults or at odds with classroom behavior standards. Sometimes we have conflicts with others that we have no way of resolving, because we are too young, they are older family , there is no way to discuss such things in our families, and all kinds of reasons. These kinds of learned behaviors and unresolved conflicts can result in what is known as unfinished business—when we feel stuck, anxious, and unhappy with our lives, these are hints that there is some unresolved business for us to attend to that stems from our actions and relationships from the past. One of the useful things about groups is that we can help one another work out some of this unfinished business. We can help one another understand our behavior, why we relate to others the way we do, and how we can make changes. I ask all of you to consider engaging in an experiment together to help one another see how and where in our lives we are stuck and what we need to resolve in our past. If you

all agree to do so, I will ask you to consider the person sitting on your right. Based on what they have shared about themselves in the group, what you know about their lives and histories, and how you experience them here in this group, consider what you believe may be pieces of their unfinished business. Sometimes it is helpful to see how others view us and gain insight based on what that tells us about ourselves. Using your special wisdom, you can record some ideas for the person sitting on your right, who can then review them. If there is anyone who wants to explore the ideas they receive in greater depth, I have some ideas on how we can do that . . .

After full consent is obtained from all , distribute past due invoice worksheets and invite to write down at least one piece of unfinished business that they believe the group member to their right is carrying with them. This does not have to be accurate, but serves as a reflection of how the group perceive one another based on prior group discussion and sharing of personal information. Ten to fifteen minutes is a sufficient time for to reflect and choose one piece of business script. Group their completed past due worksheets to the member on their right and are then asked to share what has been given to them and to reflect on its accuracy. Encourage to discuss others’ perceptions of them, any unfinished business they may have in common, and how it manifests in their lives. A volunteer is invited to practice “paying the bill,” or enacting one of the activities listed on the worksheet. The goal is to help clients become more comfortable with the thought of actually engaging in the activity with the person involved, or as a means of taking responsibility for one’s difficulties and conflicts, and exploration of the feelings associated with these. For example, one enactment may involve apologizing to a family member for stealing money from them or mistreating them in some way. Ask the volunteer, with help from the group if necessary, to develop a way to “pay the bill.” Other group are asked to help set the scene or play roles in the scene by rearranging furniture, assuming personas, and so forth. Ascertain group ’ full consent to participating and remind them that this experiment can result in experiencing intense emotions.

The volunteer acts out the activity, as you take the role of the director. You may need to encourage other group to prompt the volunteer when he or she is unsure or stuck, to help assuming personas, to be as accurate as possible in their portrayal, and to manage the energy and timing of the experiment and allow for a timely closure and processing. As the experiment reaches an end, invite group to discuss the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that emerged during the experiment. Suggested process questions for who led the enactment include, What are you aware of now having done this? What did you experience during the enactment? What did you learn? What felt familiar or unfamiliar? Would you like to receive from others? If yes, help facilitate to provide constructive . For the member who gave the “unpaid bill,” What prompted you to come up with the unfinished business? How do you see it affecting the group member? What did you experience while the group member participated in the enactment? What, if anything, can you relate to? For other , How was it like to watch this enactment? What could you relate to? What was powerful for you? What would you like to give to the participants? How did this experiment make you think about your own unfinished business? Ask each member to fill out the bottom portion of their past due invoice worksheets and to brainstorm ideas for resolving the “unpaid bills” individually or with the group. If appropriate, ask the volunteer and other group , time permitting, to share his or her plan of action for actually resolving the stuck behavior patterns, past behavior, self-perceptions, or feelings that make up the unfinished business.

REFERENCES

Beisser, A. (2004). The paradoxical theory of change. International Gestalt Journal, 27(2), 103–107. Bernier, M. (2005). Puppetry in education and therapy: Unlocking doors to the mind and heart. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse. Cassell, S., & Paul, M. H. (1967). The role of puppet therapy on the emotional responses of children hospitalized for cardiac catheterization. Journal of Pediatrics, 71(2), 233–239. Ellison, J. A., Greenberg, L. S., Goldman, R. N., & Angus, L. (2009). Maintenance of gains following experiential therapies for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(1), 103–112. Goodman, P., & Stoehr, T. (1977). Nature heals: The psychological essays of Paul Goodman. New York: Free Life Editions. Greenberg, L. S., Elliott, R., & Lietaer, G. (1994). Research on experiential psychotherapies.In A. E. Bergin & S. L. Garfield (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (4th ed., pp. 509–539). New York: Wiley. Harman, R. (1974). Goals of Gestalt therapy. Professional Psychology, 5(2), 178–184. Kempler, W. (1973). Principles of Gestalt family therapy. Costa Mesa, CA: Kempler Institute. Kohler, W. (1992). Gestalt psychology: An introduction to new concepts in modern psychology. New York: Liveright. Korb, M. P. (2009). Creativity. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://gestalt.onlinepsy.com/

Lobb, M. S., & Amendt-Lyon, N. (2003). Creative license: The art of Gestalt therapy. Vienna, Austria: Springer Verlag. Mistler, B. J. (2009). Gestalt therapy. In B. Erford (Ed.), American Counseling Association encyclopedia of counseling (pp. 211–212). Alexandria, VA: The American Counseling Association. Naranjo, C. (2000). Gestalt therapy: The attitude and practice of an atheoretical experientialism (2nd ed.). Williston, VT: Crown House Publishing. Perls, F. S. (1947). Ego, hunger and aggression. London: Allen & Unwin. Perls, F. S. (1969a). Ego, hunger, and aggression: The beginning of Gestalt therapy. New York: Random House. Perls, F. S. (1969b). Gestalt therapy verbatim. Lafayette, CA.: Real People Press. Perls, F. S. (1969c). In and out of the garbage pail. Lafayette, CA: Real People Press. Perls, F. S. (1973). The gestalt approach & eye witness to therapy. Ben Lomond, CA: Science and Behavior Books. Perls, F. S., Hefferline, R. F., & Goodman, P. (1951). Gestalt therapy: Excitement and growth in the human personality. New York: Julian Press. Perls, F. S., Hefferline, R. F., & Goodman, P. (1994). Gestalt therapy: excitement and growth in the human personality. Gouldsboro, ME: Gestalt Journal Press. Polster, M. (1999). Evolution and application. In E. Polster, M. Polster, & A. Roberts (Eds.), From the radical center: The heart of Gestalt therapy: Selected writings of Erving and Miriam Polster (pp. 96–115). Cambridge, MA: GIC Press. Sichera, A. (2003). Therapy as an aesthetic issue: Creativity, dreams, and art in Gestalt therapy. Creative License: The Art of Gestalt Therapy, 93. Strümpfel, U. (2004). Research on gestalt therapy. International Gestalt Journal,

27(1), 9–54. Strümpfel, U., & Goldman, R. (2002). ing gestalt therapy. In D. J. Cain & J. Seeman (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 189–219). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Van De Riet, V., Korb, M. P., & Gorrell, J. J. (1980). Gestalt therapy, an introduction. New York: Pergamon Press. Yontef, G. M. (1993). Awareness, dialogue & process: Essays on Gestalt therapy. Highland, New York: Gestalt Journal Press. Yontef, G. M., & Jacobs, L. (2008). Gestalt therapy. In R. J. Corsini & D. Wedding (Eds.), Current psychotherapies (8th ed., pp. 328–367). Celmond, CA: Brooks/Cole-Thompson.

Person-Centered Therapy

Melissa Luke

Although several hundred different theoretical approaches are said to be currently recognized within counseling and psychology, person-centered therapy continues to have a strong presence among the major theoretical systems (Corsini & Wedding, 2000; Prochaska & Norcross, 2003). In fact, the Psychotherapy Networker (Rogers, Minuchin, Satir, Bowen, & Gottman, 2007) recently named Carl Rogers, founder of person-centered therapy, as the most influential individual of the past 25 years. It has been speculated that the focus of person-centered therapy, on the constructive, positive aspects of human nature, have contributed to its longevity (Corey, 2005). Person-centered therapy postulates that people (a) are inherently trustworthy, (b) have a vast potential for self-understanding, and (c) have a self-directed capability to resolve their difficulties if they have a genuine, accepting, and empathic environment. Consequently, the tenants of person-centered therapy center on the clinician creating this environment, as opposed to engaging in diagnosis, advice giving, or persuasion. However, it should be noted that Rogers never believed personcentered therapy to be a static schema that was completely understood or articulated (Cain & Seeman, 2002). Rather, Rogers (1986a) saw person-centered therapy to be a dynamic theory and practice undergoing continual development based on research and practice.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Rogers’s work within person-centered therapy has been organized into four distinct phases (Bozarth, Zimring, & Tausch, 2002). Within the first phase, his work was focused on the clinician developing a warm, permissive, and nondirective therapeutic environment (Rogers, 1942). Rather than using techniques “on” the client, Rogers believed that it was the clinician’s responsibility to facilitate the client’s expression and self-awareness primarily through reflecting the client’s thoughts and feelings. Within the second phase of his work, Rogers increased his attention on the client’s phenomenological world (Rogers, 1957). He discussed the importance of the clinician’s exploration of the client’s subjective experience and internal reality through the use of accurate empathy. In the third phase of his career, Rogers (1961) focused on the therapeutic relationship, during which time he identified the necessary and sufficient therapeutic conditions for change. It was in this period in which Rogers noted that the clinician can facilitate the client’s actualizing tendency through remaining continually present with the client’s immediate experience, maintaining emotional and cognitive accessibility, and demonstrating unconditional positive regard (Rogers, 1966). The fourth phase of Rogers’s work was marked by his delineation of the core conditions for healing and development, extending these beyond counseling into educational and advocacy environments. Rogers believed that it was the clinician’s responsibility to do more than problem-solve with clients (Rogers, 1977), and instead he endorsed a process that returned the responsibility back to clients so that that they were better prepared to face and respond to future challenges (Sharf, 2005). Rogers (1986a) described this process as consisting of the clinician’s creative use of self as the instrument of change to ultimately expand the client’s cognitive, affective, and behavioral ways of being.

APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS

According to Rogers, all individuals possessed an actualizing tendency; “a directional process of striving toward realization, fulfillment, autonomy, selfdetermination, and perfection” (Corey, 2009, p. 169). Consequently, he believed that the core conditions of clinician congruence, unconditional positive regard, and accurate empathic understanding constituted an appropriate and beneficial approach with all clients, regardless of their symptomology or diagnosis. Nonetheless, Rogers advocated for the ongoing research that tested personcentered hypotheses for the purpose of better informing training as well as refining person-centered theory and practice. As a result, person-centered therapy has been widely investigated with individual clients, groups, and families presenting with a wide range of problems including mood disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, adjustment, and interpersonal difficulties (Bozarth, Zimring, & Tausch, 2002). Although Rogers warned of the potential detriment that could result from rigid adherence to any one school of thought or method (Sharf, 2005), 60 years of research has ed the effectiveness of person-centered therapy (Cain, 2002). More specifically, Watson (2002) reviewed this extant research and concluded that not only is empathy the strongest predictor of client progress, but that there has not been a single study that also has correlated empathy with a negative outcome.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS PERSPECTIVE

Natalie Rogers, daughter of Carl Rogers, is credited with having integrated person-centered therapy with the expressive arts. In 1984, after years of collaboration with her father, Rogers founded the Person-Centered Expressive Therapy Institute in Sonoma, California (http://www.nrogers.com/). Although talk is the primary vehicle for communication in person-centered therapy, nonverbal modalities such as music, movement, drawing, painting, poetry, meditation, and imagery can all become potential vehicles for communication within the expressive arts (Malchiodi, 2005). However, both approaches recognize the role of creative expression in the processes of self-awareness and understanding, as well as client healing and growth (deCarvalho, 1999; Rogers, 1993). In addition, numerous other consistencies have been identified across person-centered therapy and the expressive arts (Malchiodi, 2005; McNiff, 2004; Rogers, 1993), including the following:

The importance of creating a safe, nurturing, and nonjudgmental environment. The clinician’s responsibility to be an empathic, open, honest, congruent, and deep listener, who conveys acceptance and understanding. A trust in the client’s innate capacity to reach toward his or her full potential. A belief that clients’ self-awareness, understanding, and insight can be achieved by delving deeper into one’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Recognition that the process holds the transformative potential, not the product. Self-awareness can be facilitated through action, and thus as an action, creative expression can in turn expand a client’s ways of being. Empathy provides clients an opportunity to empower themselves and discover their unique identity and potential.

In summation, the incorporation of the expressive arts provides a complementary nonverbal means by which to enact the principles of person-centered theory.

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

POSTCARD POETRY SLAM

Melissa Luke

Indications: It is appropriate for use across clinical presentations and problems, and it effectively assists clients in voicing aspects of individual experience about which they are conflicted and unresolved, such as experiences of loss, struggles with addictive behavior, and familial or other relational concerns. Because clients readily engage in this intervention and frequently disclose aspects of their experience that they have not otherwise shared with the clinician or group, it is recommended that the intervention be introduced only after the group is at the working stage and therapeutic boundaries and group norms have been established.

Goal: To facilitate client engagement with understanding and expression of his or her own experience

Modality: Imagery, music, poetry

The Fit: Consistent with what person-centered expressive arts therapist Natalie Rogers (1993) described as the “creative connection,” this intervention combines a number of expressive art modalities. Extending the permissive and accepting therapeutic stance advocated by Carl Rogers (1942) in personcentered therapy, clients are invited to participate in the intervention as an experiential experiment and are free to choose whether to participate and/or to simply observe (Malchiodi, 2005). In addition, the clinician refrains from evaluating what, if anything, is produced by clients within the intervention and, instead, encourages clients to be present with and voice their own subjective experiences of the process (Rogers, 1957).

Populations: Adolescents; Groups/individuals

Materials: Three primary types of materials are required for this activity: postcards, music selections, and writing supplies. First, a wide variety of postcards are required for this intervention and these should offer an array of images that can stimulate and/or be associated with a range of affective and cognitive responses, both positive and negative. A collection will include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) black and white as well as color photographic images of people, places, and things; (b) copies of paintings, drawings, sculpture, and lithographs representing realist, impressionist, cubist, modern, abstract, and surreal styles; (c) reproductions of iconic signage, labels, trademarks, and graffiti; (d) abstract and not easily identifiable images; and (e) multiple different pictorial examples of animals, architecture, vehicles, musical instruments, and food. Musical selections should represent varying musical forms, styles and use of instruments, as well as include examples from different cultures and periods. These may be preselected by the clinician or chosen in session by group . Necessary writing materials include various types of pens, colored and graphite pencils, gel and felt-tipped markers, lined paper of assorted size, colored construction and tissue paper, and when possible, computers.

Instructions

Invite group to participate in an experiential experiment. Explain the title, objectives, and processes of the intervention, which can include showing a video clip of a prior poetry slam. Remind group that they are free to decide whether and how they will participate, elect not to participate, and/or observe. Attend to and voice what is happening in the moment with individuals, subgroups, and the group as a whole. Encourage group to take some time to view the available images. This may be done by circulating the postcards from one group member to another if seated in a circle, distributing a handful to each group member and allowing them to exchange as they wish, or by placing the postcards on a table or the floor and encouraging group make the rounds to see them all. During this portion of the intervention, attend to the experience of the group , reflecting, and clarifying their process. Group will likely be sharing some of their reactions and associations to the images, as well as to the intervention process. Next, ask group to select a number of postcard images. Communicate that each group member may make their selections on whatever criteria they would like (i.e., attraction, repulsion, associations, randomly). Following this, facilitate a discussion about the postcards selected. Each group member is given the opportunity to share as well as to react to what others offer. Encourage group to attend to affective, cognitive, sensory, spiritual, behavioral, physiological, or experiential aspects of their experience. Model a number of ways that the visual images of the postcards can be extended into verbal forms of poetic communication. Be intentional in demonstrating a range of different examples, many of which might be viewed as incomplete or incongruous. For example, extending a postcard image of a Salvador Dali painting, you might offer “Slippery, sliding, sludgy time,” whereas in response to a postcard image of James Dean, you might offer “His chin reminds me of

father, strong and sturdy; his eyes like uncle’s, luring and lewd. I can smell the crisp scent of lingering cologne.” In addition, the following could be demonstrated as an example that translated a black and white postcard image of an art deco building into a verbal metaphor, “Glistening in the open air, standing tall and alone as if she were dressed for the prom, awaiting her ride.” Ask group to experiment with different ways that they can extend the visual images on the postcards. Although they are given space and material to work individually. During this time, encourage the creative process of each group member, reiterate unconditional acceptance and regard, and provide empathic reflective and observational statements as you move about the room. You may elect to play music during this process, but it is not necessary to do so. Carefully observe the group during this process, and judge how much time is sufficient before inviting group to sequence their verbal extensions of the various postcard images into creating a poetic “whole.” Group can be given the choice about how to proceed with this portion of the intervention, whether within this session or in the next. As a third option, group may choose to work on this outside of session, bringing the whole back to the next group meeting. Refocus clients on the process, as at this point they are apt to focus more on the product. Once the group have completed their poetic whole, request for any group who are interested to share their work, much like a poetry slam. As part of helping group process their experiences and reactions to the intervention, you can ask clients to respond to direct questions, such as, Where in your body did you feel this poem? What did you discover about yourself? Which image struck you in each group member’s poem and how? What title might you give to your reaction to the process? When might you have been holding back and how do you know? How might your experience “move” or “dance”? Which sound could give voice to the collective group dynamic? What did you notice about your thoughts as you created? performed? listened? observed? To close this intervention, encourage group to make a music selection (from the tapes, CDs, audio files, or iTunes) in response to each group member’s poem. Encourage clients to make the selection as if they were gathering a “gift” to be presented to each group member.

FEELING SCULPTURES MADE FROM GARBAGE

Rachel Payne, Chloe Lancaster, Laura Heil, and Melina Pineda

Indications: This counseling session is appropriate for holistic exploration of feelings.

Goal: To recognize feelings and to gain awareness of the many ways they are expressed

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to sharpen the clients’ ability to recognize, explore, and honor their feelings. Used in a group, this activity aids in building group cohesion and trust, as it requires to work cooperatively on an enjoyable and creative project. This activity lends itself to a person-centered approach, as it promotes and awareness with one’s subjective feelings and internal experience. According to Rogers, all clients have the capacity for self-actualization, which can be facilitated in an atmosphere that fosters trust, self-acceptance, understanding, and an exploration of one’s inner experiencing (Rogers, 1957; 1986b).

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Eclectic mix of garbage-type materials and art supplies—plastic bottles, scraps of material, egg boxes, tin foil, colored paper, tape, markers, pipe cleaners—and any other nondegradable garbage and art material

Instructions:

Commence the session with a discussion of different types of feelings. Explore times in which clients may have ignored or reacted poorly to their own feelings and those of others (e.g., suppressed feelings, gotten angry, overreacted, etc.). During this discussion encourage clients to personify their feelings: What color, texture, sound, animal could describe/represent this feeling? After a brief discussion, ask clients to generate a list of feeling words. Guide clients to reflect on recent and significant events in their lives and ask them to come up with feeling words that adequately capture their inner experiencing. Encourage them to be creative in their choice of words and encourage them to avoid more simplistic feeling words such as sad, mad, happy, and glad. As clients supply words, have one client record them on sticky notes. Once feelings have been recorded, the sticky note should be folded up so the word cannot be seen and placed in a container. When clients have supplied several feeling words, let them know that they are going to play a game. First, split the group into smaller teams and ask one client from each team to pick a folded sticky note from the container. The individual client will share the feeling word selected with his or her own team , but will keep their word a secret from the other teams. Announce to the group that each team is going to work together to make a sculpture of the feeling word they chose. Emphasize to the groups the importance of not revealing their own group’s word to the others. Ask the clients to silently reflect on their feeling words from a multisensory perspective, including touch, texture, and shape. This reflective process will assist them as they create their team sculpture. Give each group approximately 1–2 minutes (depending on time constraints) to select material from the garbage pile. If possible, have the material set up in another room so team can discuss what material would best represent their feeling word. In an ideal setting, the groups create their sculptures in

separate rooms so that the other teams do not hear clues that may reveal the identity of the other teams’ words. Provide the teams with about 15–20 minutes to construct their feeling sculpture. Counselors should encourage the teams to work quickly and intuitively. Once you have supplied directions, step back, and allow the teams to engage in the creative process. Approximately 5 minutes before calling time, encourage the groups to start completing their sculptures and remind them of how much time they have left. When the sculptures are complete, the whole group reconvenes to try and guess what the other teams’ sculptures represent. Prior to having clients guess, instruct the different teams to trade sculptures. Allow enough time for all the group to examine all of the sculptures. Let each team be asked six questions by of the other groups to help them guess the feeling word symbolized by their sculpture. Encourage clients to consider how different elements of a sculpture can assist them in making an informed guess. Also remind them that the feeling words represented by the sculptures are limited to those words recorded earlier. If necessary, briefly review the words on the sticky notes. Suggested discussion questions include, What key feature of the sculpture led you to believe that the feeling was__? (This is after client correctly guesses.) How did the shape, color, materials used help you determine the feeling? How did the sculpture’s use of comfortable versus uncomfortable features differ? Do the sculptures created here today resonate with your experiences of these feelings? If so, how? Do good and bad feelings really exist? Can anyone share how the garbage used in the sculptures represents how we sometimes treat our feelings?

WALL OF IMAGES

Tina R. Paone

Indications: The presenting issues that would be appropriate for use with this intervention may be self-esteem, self-image, or body image. Other areas of concern related to self are also appropriate and this activity can be altered to address these topics.

Goal: To recognize and counter self-defeating thoughts through more positive self-perceptions

Modality: Art and movement

The Fit: This activity encomes a predominantly client-centered approach, but also includes shades of a cognitive–behavioral/rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) approach. Initially, as the activity is described, there is a directive approach taken with the group that would be considered more cognitive–behavioral in nature rather than client centered. During the actual activity, while group are creating their own collage, the facilitator will reflect back what is seen through the creation process. By doing so, the facilitator will create a safe and comforting environment while establishing rapport with the participants (Rogers, 1957). This rapport building will continue as the facilitator begins to process through the first several questions following the activity, allowing group to respond at their own pace all the while continuing to build rapport with the facilitator as well as other . Once the process stage increases in intensity through the questions being asked and the answers given by the group , the goal of the facilitator is to move into a cognitive–behavioral/REBT approach. As group process the remaining questions, they tend to become more goal oriented through their responses. Through the help of the facilitator, they also become more aware of the self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that they hold concerning self-image. Through the process, they develop a new way to approach images, thoughts, and current behaviors around their own self-image (Ellis, 2001).

Populations: Older children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Variety of magazines, large pieces of construction paper, glue, and scissors

Instructions:

Opening: Ask group to imagine how the ideals of beauty in America affect the way that they deal with individuals whose appearances do or do not reflect the image that the media promotes. Also ask group to examine how they view themselves based on the ideals generated and presented by the media. Discuss with group both the idea of how beauty in America is perceived and how they perceive themselves in relation to it. Group will cocreate a visual understanding of this concept by creating a collage that, in effect, becomes the wall of images. Instructions: Ask group to flip through the various magazines and create their own personal collages of ads or photos they perceive as reflecting the American ideal of beauty. Ask them to present their collages to the group and explain why they chose specific ads or photos. After each group member has presented his or her image, tape each individual collage on the wall to create a “wall of images.” Ask the clients to move around the room as they view and react to the wall of images. Discuss their physical and emotional responses to this wall with the group. Processing questions: These can include, but are not limited to, What were your reactions to this activity? What was it like to view the media expression? What reactions do you have regarding your examination of what the media portrays as beauty? How did it feel to create and share your own collage? How did it feel to see your collage become a part of the whole? Where have you received these ideas about beauty? How can you take that critical eye and that unconscious experience with you to better help you understand aspects of true beauty? How can you apply what you have learned in this group to your life? Cautions. This activity can touch on sensitive issues for , potentially evoking strong positive and negative emotions. All groups and their group energy are different; therefore, it is important to maintain flexibility during processing to allow group to touch on issues, which they feel are

important.

FLORATHERAPY: A GARDEN OF DREAMS

Kristi Perryman, Paul Blisard, and Angela L. Anderson

Indications: Floratherapy is very useful in working with grief issues related to illness, death, and divorce. Sessions include introductory, working, and terminating activities. Uses also include goal setting, family exploration, and working on control and boundary issues.

Goal: To assist clients in their efforts of self-growth and development in the face of loss

Modality: Art/floratherapy

The Fit: Floratherapy is a highly distinctive method of helping clients explore their inner worlds, which, by its very nature, focuses on client growth and development. Floratherapy involves the use of fresh plants and flowers in floral design activities. Using fresh flowers and plants as a medium to promote the therapeutic process, engagement in this process invites enhanced selfdisclosure and expression. Flowers and plants have long been used for their therapeutic value here in the United States. In fact, the earliest documented cases of this method of healing were the work of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was among those who signed the Declaration of Independence (American Horticultural Therapy Association, n.d.). Working with groups of psychiatric patients, he involved these individuals in the process of raising and tending plants as well as having his patients engage in walks through a garden as components of his therapy. The practice of floratherapy fits well within the person-centered construct as described by therapists such as Natalie Rogers (1993), Samuel Gladding (1998), and others. It is an expressive arts technique that is processed through person-centered techniques and therapeutic dialogue with the therapist.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals/clinical supervision

Materials and Preparation: Live plants and flowers as well as vases, wreaths, flowerpots, and such things.

Instructions: This project symbolizes the future; both in of realizing unfulfilled goals and dreams as well as setting goals. It may be used as an introductory activity, allowing to choose plants that represent their personal goals for the group.

Floral design process Clients use live plants that are used to make a dish garden. The counselor instructs participants to select plants that they feel represent their goals and dreams. Some examples of areas of representation include career aspirations, relationships, spirituality, and ions. Facilitator’s role After deg their dish garden, ask participants to share with the group their creations and what the overall garden and the individual plant choices symbolize for them. For example, in one group, a person chose a ion plant to represent his or her spiritual life. Another person explained that since the death of her husband she had not felt ionate about anything. She chose a ion plant to represent her unfulfilled desire to feel ion again. Invite participants to describe their experiences and feelings about working with a living medium. Ask the clients to take home the garden of dreams as a way to encourage to continue working toward their goals and dreams. Ask to bring the dish gardens back at the last group meeting as a culminating activity to discuss how they have nurtured their goals/dreams and to share how they have flourished.

FAMILY OF ORIGIN BOUQUET

Kristi Perryman, Paul Blisard, and Angela L. Anderson

Indications: This activity is appropriate for clients experiencing unresolved family issues.

Goal: To become aware of and express unresolved family of origin issues

Modality: Art/floratherapy

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to offer participants the opportunity to explore memories and perceptions of their original family. This is an especially powerful activity and should be used only after a trusting therapeutic relationship has been established. According to Natalie Rogers’s (1999) person-centered expressive arts principles, “The expressive arts lead us into the unconscious and allow us to express previously unknown facets of ourselves, thus bringing to light new information and awareness” (pp. 130– 131).

Populations: Children (9 and older)/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Large clay or plastic saucer (bottom portion of flower pot); fresh floral foam; moss; leather leaf; fresh flowers (may purchase prearranged bouquet’s and disassemble for this project); sticks or twigs; stones; hot glue and hot glue gun; scissors Prior to the beginning of the session, prepare the saucers by hot gluing floral foam to the saucer and cover the foam with moss (dampen moss to adhere).

Instructions

Instruct participants to select flowers to represent each member of their family or people they consider to be their family, including themselves. Instruct them to create a bouquet with the flowers/materials selected. Ask to share their creations and whom each plant symbolizes with the group or therapist, explaining why each flower was chosen for each family member. Suggested topics for processing include, How do you feel when you look at your family of origin? Be aware of placement of plants (what family are placed close or far away from each member (i.e., “I notice you are by your mom and your brother is closer to your dad . . .”). Facilitator should also be aware of other objects used in the bouquets and inquire as to their meaning such as stones or twigs.

CLIENT MIRROR

Sheri Pickover

Indications: As part of play therapy with young children, this activity is an effective tool to establish a quality relationship and is also effective as intervention with children who demonstrate a lack of self-esteem, self-efficacy or strong sense of ego development. This includes children who constantly seek adult approval or who make statements such as “I’m bad” or “I’m stupid.”

Goal: To increase ego development and self-esteem

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to increase a client’s sense of selfefficacy and self-worth by validating the client’s self-worth and personal worldview. Theoretically, this intervention is derived from the Rogerian principles of unconditional positive regard and empathetic validation (Rogers, 1992).

Populations: Children; Individuals

Materials: Drawing or art creating materials, such as markers, clay, play dough, crayons, paint, and several types of paper, canvas, and molding tools

Instructions:

Using a nondirective approach, offer the client the opportunity to create art. If the client chooses an art project, begin by reflecting the client’s actions (i.e., You are choosing to work with clay!). Choose the same media and ask the client something like, I like what you are doing, can I copy you? If the client agrees, begin to copy the client’s art as closely as possible. Choose the same colors and shapes. Frequently ask the client if you are following them correctly. If the client begins to ask for approval or for you to make decision about the art, reiterate I like what you are doing, what you are making is important, I want to copy you.

Ask the client for direction if needed (i.e., What should I do next?).

USING METAPHOR IN FACILITATING SELF-AWARENESS

Corie Schoeneberg, Nancy Forth, and Atsuko Seto

Indications: Counselors should consider if the client will be able to effectively articulate the metaphor and create one’s own interpretation before using this intervention. Multicultural and diversity issues should also be considered. Some clients may be uncomfortable with the subjectivity of the activity and the abstract thinking that is required.

Goal: Enhanced self-awareness, new insights into personal experience, and goal setting

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is for the client to discover a new or different way of thinking about or conceptualizing a personal experience in order to further facilitate the therapeutic process of healing. This activity prompts the client to create a metaphor between his or her personal experience and a picture, explore meanings of the metaphor in relation to his or her life (Hutchinson, 2007) as well as assisting in increasing personal growth and development (Freud, 1965; Jung, 1961). According to Hanna (2007), a metaphor is “a word or phrase that represents another condition by analogy” (p. 223). Using metaphors as a therapeutic intervention provides a reframe for the client’s reality (Alvarado & Cavazos, 2008; Hanna, 2007), and offers the client a visual image that captures his or her “inner experience” (Chen & Giblin, 2002). Metaphors also provide the client with a new perspective to his or her problem or circumstance while facilitating powerful insights and therapeutic processing. Additionally, the client’s focus on a metaphor creates a psychological distance from the direct emotions and cognitions surrounding a particular experience, thus providing safety for the client in a way that discreetly yet powerfully lowers defenses and self-protecting barriers of affective processing.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Before the session, the counselor should collect and cut out a variety of pictures and images from magazines, the Internet, newspapers, and so forth. They may include both animate and inanimate objects, such as people engaged in activity, animals, scenes found in nature, simple objects, or words. Place the pictures in a container, like a hat or a bowl, from which the client will randomly select a picture. You may also invite the client to take the picture with him or her at the end of the session to encourage continued self-reflection between sessions.

Instructions:

Ask the client to reach into the container of pictures and without looking, randomly select an image. Once the client has selected a picture, ask the client to create a metaphor between his or her personal experience (or presenting concern) and the image. For example, the counselor may ask, How does this image describe (or speak to) what you are going through right now and how you are thinking and feeling about it? Allow the client time to reflect and process this question before answering. As the client begins to verbalize the metaphor, reflect the client’s feelings about these connections with the metaphor. For example, the client selects a picture of a dog burying a bone. The client may create a metaphor between the burying of the bone and keeping the secret of past abuse experiences. You may reflect the client’s feelings of vulnerability and exposure regarding his or her “buried” secret as well as the emotions surrounding the urgency to self-preserve, protect, and hide. When the client seems to be finishing the reflection, you may disclose any other connections you observe between the client and the picture. As the client finishes processing the metaphor, the following questions may be asked to close the activity: What was it like for you to do this activity? What are you going to take with you (or what meaning do you take) from this activity? What do you plan to do with this picture? Future work may include goal setting resulting from client’s exploration of the metaphor. For example, in the metaphor between the buried bone and client’s undisclosed abuse, the counselor may facilitate goal setting by extending the metaphor by asking such questions as, What needs to happen for the dog to feel safe enough to unearth the bone? What are the pros and cons of having the bone buried? What would the dog hope to do with the bone?

EMPOWERMENT OVER HURTFUL WORDS

Beth McCabe

Indications: The client’s individually shared feelings and thoughts must be valued through mutual respect of the counselor/therapist and other group member’s relationship. Trust must first be established by a safe, caring environment with a client or in a group setting for one to be willing to be open to the vulnerability of sharing. The universality provided by the sharing can increase individual and further propagate healing.

Goal: Self-exploration and self-discovery of feelings/emotions associated with hurtful words or actions from one’s past experiences; self-acceptance of the emotional trauma and internalization process resulting in poor self-esteem; personal empowerment over negative feelings and emotions through reframing

Modality: Music and expressive writing

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to aid the clients in their resolution of the negative feelings associated with personally painful experiences. This is accomplished by using music analysis and interpretation in correlation with journaling to allow them to safely tell their story and receive personal validation. By listening to a given song, the lyric analysis aids in unlocking images of personally stored, painful memories, which in turn releases emotions in a safe, controlled therapeutic setting allowing the individual the opportunity to heal through individual of the counselor/therapist or of individual group . The clients empower themselves through the practice of self-talk by developing positive self-affirmations to reframe their painful experience. In addition, it lays a framework for healthy defensive coping mechanisms against future hurtful words or events and their negative impact on one’s psyche.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials and Preparation: Christina Aguilera’s Stripped CD, CD player, individual copies of “Beautiful” song lyrics, copies of journaling worksheet, copies of a feelings identification sheet, copies of the self-affirmations sheet

Instructions:

Begin the session by explaining that music can evoke personal emotions and experiences to surface. Inform the group to listen silently to the lyrics of the song “Beautiful” recorded by Christina Aguilera as it plays for them. Distribute the lyrics and the following lyric interpretation used for this activity: It was rumored that Christina Aguilera was emotionally traumatized in her youth and she used lyrics written and composed by Linda Perry (2002) as a tool to record a song to overcome her pain instead of defining who she is. The group is informed that writing about one’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences can be helpful. It can be a safe way of expressing oneself without the worry of hurting others’ feelings. Keeping one’s feelings in can make a person ill. This intervention can help clear one’s head and provide personal insights and a more positive perspective considering one’s situation. It can reveal and discern what is “my stuff”—what I am responsible for, and what is “others’ stuff”—what they are responsible for. Request that they listen to this piece of music or their chosen song and lyrics while journaling their thoughts and feelings regarding the given selection or their chosen one. Distribute a feelings/emotions handout. While the song is playing or the individuals are analyzing their own personal lyrics, ask the group to individually reflect or think of a situation in the past where they felt hurt by someone’s words or actions. Distribute the journaling handout to each member. Ask them to reflect on the questions below and journal about their feelings and thoughts regarding their experience. Let them know that it is important for them to be honest and open in their sharing. Although it will be encouraged to share their responses during group discussion, their privacy will be respected if they are not ready. Additionally, the client can indicate that it is something that they would rather share during individual counseling or have it privately read by the counselor/therapist. The feelings/emotions sheet can enable each individual to identify how they felt in response to their personal experience.

Reflective questions may include, What hurtful words or actions from your past have blocked you from seeing or believing in good things or qualities about yourself? What hurtful words or actions from your past have prevented you from seeing your outward and/or inward beauty? How did this negative experience make you feel? What did these feelings do to your confidence? How did these feelings affect your behaviors or goals that you wanted to accomplish? How did you get past the pain? What types of behaviors or coping mechanisms did you employ as a mode of survival? Were these behaviors positive or negative? Are they still necessary? How can you learn from your reaction/choice and change it to make it more positive in the future if it ever happens again? How can you turn your “lemons into lemonade”? Each group member is given the opportunity to share what they journaled with other group . Encourage group sharing by letting them know that it is freeing to tell others who are ive and caring. Discuss other songs and music that have helped them get through tough times. Brainstorm as a group other strategies to overcome pain. Distribute the positive affirmation worksheet. Ask clients to devise their own statements of who they are. These are statements each individual group member will practice for the week to increase their positive thinking about themselves. Before dismissal of group, each member shares their positive affirmation with the group, leaving on a positive note.

Journal Worksheet

While the music is playing, think of a situation in the past in which hurtful words or actions have caused you undue pain and emotional trauma. Reflect on the following questions:

What hurtful words or actions from your past have blocked you from seeing or believing in good things or qualities about yourself? What hurtful words or actions from your past have prevented you from seeing your outward and/or inward beauty? How did this negative experience make you feel? What did these feelings do to your confidence? How did these feelings affect your behaviors or goals that you wanted to accomplish? How did you get past the pain? What types of behaviors or coping mechanisms did you employ as a mode of survival? Were these behaviors positive or negative? Are they still necessary? How can you learn from your reaction/choice and change it to make it more positive in the future if it ever happens again? How can you turn your “lemons into lemonade”?

Positive Affirmations

Directions: Review the samples of “I am” statements below (from the Livestrong.com website). Think of your strengths, attributes, talents, and competencies. Create a message of self-talk that you will repeat to yourself until our next session. This will help keep you positive and make you feel better about yourself. *Be ready to share your statement with the group.*

Samples

I am a good person . . . I am trusting. I am creative . . . I am open. I am caring . . . I am generous. I am loving . . . I am courageous. I am smart . . . I am forgiving. I am beautiful . . . I am joyful. I am competent . . . I am energetic.

My Positive Self-Affirmation: I am __________________ . . . I am __________________.

PERSONALITY ZOO

Jill Packman and Ireon Dupree

Indications: This activity can be used to introduce young group to each other’s unique personality characteristics in the group setting. Additionally, this activity allows group to consider how their behaviors affect a group dynamic. The activity can be revisited periodically during groups to discuss why certain people believe, act, or feel in a certain manner. Also, this activity also provides a safe place for children to interact while learning conflict resolution.

Goal: Learning about others: similarities and differences

Modality: Art

The Fit: Mental health is a critical component of children’s learning and general health. Fostering social and emotional health in children as part of healthy child development must, therefore, be a national priority. (U.S. Public Health Service, 2001, p. 5). Play therapy and activity therapy are interventions that are sensitive to the developmental needs of children and preadolescents. Humanistic principles are used throughout this activity.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/families

Materials: Paper bags, markers, crayons, arts and crafts supplies

Instructions:

Begin with a discussion about differences and similarities. Each characteristic should be valued and discussed for its advantages. Shift the discussion to focus on how differences and similarities do not just occur in people, but in animals, too. Invite a discussion of the similarities and differences in the animal world. Instruct group to imagine the animal that most closely matches their personality. An exploration of how that animal reacts in certain situations, how it looks, feels, and takes care of itself follows. Invite group to create this animal out of a paper bag and other art supplies. Ask group to introduce themselves and the animal persona to the group. Open a discussion about how the different animals/group might handle different situations and how they might interact with one another. Possible questions to facilitate discussion include, How did you pick your animal? What about your animal is like you? What isn’t like you? How does your animal react to different situations? (fear, anger, happiness, excitement, etc?) How does your animal protect itself? If you could change something about your animal, what would it be? Who in this group will your animal get along with? Who will it have challenges with? How will you face and work out those challenges? Who in the group is your animal most like? Different from?

MAGIC WANDS

Jill Packman and Ireon Dupree

Indications: This activity can be used with a host of presenting problems because of its goal setting nature. However, it is important to that while goal setting occurs, the process of making the wands is equally as important.

Goal: Impetus to change: gives someone the “power” to make a miracle happen

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to provide a leaping point for change. Through this activity, the children are able to express how they would like to be different and how these changes might occur. This activity can be utilized in a group, family, or individual session. This activity provides insight into how a situation might be different by allowing the clients to fantasize about their “magic” situation. The activity facilitates the client in setting concrete goals and helps the client become aware of those goals and desires. However, in being consistent with a humanistic perspective, the outcome is not the goal. Rather this activity should focus on the process of goal awareness. Humanistic philosophy states that clients should be provided with an accepting, empathic environment to develop a sense of personal choice through person-to-person . (Task Force for the Development of Guidelines for the Provisions of Humanistic Psychosocial Services, 1997). The rationale for using this activity includes the idea that conventional talk therapy is not appropriate for children. They do not have the cognitive development to express themselves verbally. Instead, play is the child’s language (Landreth, 1991).

Populations: Children (9 and older)/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals/families

Materials and Preparation: Wooden dowels cut to approximately 18 inches in length, construction paper, glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, markers, paint, scissors, feathers, gems, tissue paper, pom-poms, ribbon, and crayons (Any available art supplies will work.)

Instructions:

Open with a discussion about super heroes and about what magic powers different heroes possess. The powers can be discussed in of what we wish we could do or what different people do with their powers. If necessary at this point, you can have the clients develop a list of super powers and how they could be used. Ask the clients to imagine they have a super power. What power would they possess? What would the world look like it they had this power? Present the clients with the wooden dowels and art supplies. Invite them to create a token that represents their magic power; they do not have to use the dowels. Lead into a discussion addressing the client’s rationale for choosing a specific power and how it would make things different, how they would use the object to make things different, and how they can use their power in everyday life. Possible questions to facilitate exploration include, How did you choose your power? What do you like about having your power? How would things be different if you had this power? If you could do anything with your power, what would you do? What steps can you begin to take today that could make this come true? How can you help others achieve their power or wish?

REFERENCES

Alvarado, V. I., & Cavazos, L. J. (2008). Allegories and symbols in counseling. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 2(3), 51–59. American Horticultural Therapy Association. (n.d.). The history and practice of horticultural therapy. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.ahta.org/content.cfm?id=history Bozarth, J. D., Zimring, F. M., & Tausch, R. (2002). Client-centered therapy: The evolution of a revolution. In D. J. Cain & J. Seeman (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 147–188). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Chen, M., & Giblin, N. J. (2002). Individual counseling: Skills and techniques. Denver, CO: Love Publishing Company. Cain, D. J. (2002). Defining characteristics, history, and evolution of humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice. In D. J. Cain & J. Seeman (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 3– 54). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Corsini, R. J., & Wedding, D. (2000). Current psychotherapies (6th ed.). New York: Wiley. DeCarvalho, R. J. (1999). Otto Rank, the Rankian circle in Philadelphia, and the origins of Carl Rogers’s person-centered psychotherapy. History of Psychology, 2(2), 132–148. Ellis, A. (2001). Overcoming destructive beliefs, feelings, and behaviors: New directions for rational emotive behavior therapy. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

Freud, S. (1965). The interpretation of dreams. New York: Avon Books. Gladding, S. T. (1998). Counseling as an art: The creative arts in counseling (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Hanna, S. M. (2007). The practice of family therapy: Key elements across models (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Hutchinson, D. (2007). The essential counselor: Process, skills, and techniques. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Jung, C. G. (1961). Memories, dreams, reflections. New York: Vintage Books. Landreth, G. (1991). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development Press. Malchiodi, C. A. (2005). Expressive therapies. New York: Guilford Press. McNiff, S. (2004). Art heals: How creativity cures the soul. Boston: Shambhala. Perry, L. (2002). Beautiful [Recorded by Christina Aguilera]. On Stripped [CD]. New York: RCA Records. Prochaska, J. O., & Norcross, J. C. (2003). Systems of psychotherapy: A transtheoretical analysis (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Rogers, C. R. (1942). Counseling and psychotherapy: Newer concepts in practice. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 95–103. Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Rogers, C. R. (1966). Client-centered therapy. In S. Arieti (Ed.), American handbook of psychiatry (Vol. 3, pp. 183–200). New York: Basic Books. Rogers, C. R. (1977). Carl Rogers on personal power. New York: Delacorte Press.

Rogers, C. R. (1986a). Carl Rogers on the development of the person-centered approach. Person-Centered Review, 1(3), 257–259. Rogers, C. R. (1986b). Client-centered therapy. In I. L. Kutash & A. Wolf (Eds.), Psychotherapist’s casebook (pp. 197–208). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Rogers, C. R. (1992). The processes of therapy. 1940. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(2), 163–164. Rogers, C. R., Minuchin, S., Satir, V., Bowen, M., & Gottman, J. (2007). The top 10: The most influential therapists of the past quarter-century. Psychotherapy Networker, 31(2), 24–68. Rogers, N. (1993). The creative connection: Expressive arts as healing. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. Rogers, N. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Natalie Rogers’s personal Web site: http://www.nrogers.com/ Sharf, R. S. (2004). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling: Concepts and cases (3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Task Force for the Development of Guidelines for the Provision of Humanistic Psychosocial Services. (1997). Guidelines for the provision of humanistic psychosocial services. The Humanistic Psychologist, 24, 64–107. Watson, J. C. (2002). Re-visioning empathy. In D. J. Cain (Ed.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 445–471). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Narrative Approaches

Shawn Patrick

This chapter will present a brief discussion about the origins of narrative therapy and its progression to current practice. This discussion will highlight the creative aspects of the approach as conceived by Michael White and David Epston. Early work by White with children and families demonstrated how narrative principles were able to help families gain a sense of agency over once-perceived “impossible” problems. This early work leads to the development of the “story metaphor” and the ability to help families enter into these stories and create new meanings, outcomes, and actions.

CORE CONCEPTS OF NARRATIVE THERAPY

Narrative practitioners maintain that individuals derive meaning through telling and reenacting stories (Combs & Freedman, 2004). In the retelling of story, a person aligns himself or herself within the context of the dominant story. It is in the metaphor of storytelling that people can become “stuck” in the dominant story (White & Epston, 1990). The script or narrative positions them to relate to themselves and others in a narrow and fixed fashion. It becomes a thin story of how one is to live. Identifying oneself to this thin narrative creates a limitation for different possibilities or outcomes. A client may say, “I am depressed” or “I am a sexual abuse survivor.” It is in these claims of how a person aligns to the problem that his or her story is revealed. He or she experiences the problem or problem-saturated story as oppressive and often concludes that it is “oneself” that is the problem. Externalization is the process by which the problem is redefined in a manner that takes the problem outside of the person (White & Epston, 1990). Using the example earlier, a person who presents the problem by stating, “I’m depressed,” demonstrates how the problem has become the center of identity. Through externalization (i.e., “Depression has entered my life”), the problem is rewritten in a way that allows the person to create an identity that can allow for new ways of experiencing or even eradicating the problem. Naming the problem outside of the person is only the first step in this process, however (White & Epston, 1990). Once the problem has been named, then the person can examine the influence of the problem on his or her life, as well as his or her influence on the problem. Referred to as deconstruction, this new discussion of the externalized problem allows clients to take a stand in relation to this problem. For example, a person may decide to ask depression to leave or may conclude that instead of depression making all of the decisions, the person will decide what areas depression can have control over. Developing these stances is a collaborative process that also emphasizes the client’s ability to make decisions about his or her approach to life. Because problem-saturated stories often rob individuals of this sense and undermine their

efforts at changing the problem, externalization and deconstruction allow clients to regain their sense of agency as these richer and more developed stories provide for previously unrecognized alternatives. These alternatives, or unique outcomes, demonstrate to the person instances where the problem does not dominate the circumstance, and the person has been able to somehow overcome the effects of the problem. It is important to note that positive events and strengths can be externalized just like problems or perceived weaknesses. The exploration of the person’s influence on the development of these positives can become an empowering discussion that highlights the types of resources and abilities the person does possess. Moreover, being able to describe the stance one has developed or one wants to continue developing with these positive areas can strengthen commitment to a course of action or reinforce an existing plan. These areas of success, sometimes referred to as “the project” or “preferred story,” can also be contrasted with the externalized problem (White, 2007). In other words, clients can examine what sorts of actions or ideas contribute to continuing the problem versus those actions that contribute to the preferred story. Narrative approaches, even when being used to interview just one person, also emphasize the systemic nature of relationships and experiences. Thus, narrative approaches also invite commentary on social and cultural influences on the person as well as connect people to larger communities. In some ways, this contextual emphasis provides one of narrative therapy’s best strengths in that it seeks to remove people from the isolating tendency of problem-saturated stories. Documenting practices and the development of communities of concern are two broad techniques that attempt to connect people with others who have experienced similar problems. Documentation includes writing letters, creating certificates, or generating other statements that clients can use to identify the ways in which they have resisted the problem. In some instances, clients might share these documents with others to demonstrate their successes or offer . The sharing of these documents could lead to creating a community of concern of others who have experienced something similar and those who are interested in the success of the person now seeking help. These communities could include people meeting for , communicating through writing, or could be simply metaphorical. For example, a client could be asked to think of those people who would be ive of his or her success; these people might not be alive anymore but would still

constitute a community that the individual can draw strength from.

CONCERNS ADDRESSED BY THEORY

Using these ideas, narrative approaches have been applied to various situations and concerns experienced by families and individuals. Some of the earliest work describing these approaches involved using externalization to address encopresis (White, 1984). Once thought to be a condition brought on by inadequate parenting, White’s (1984) redefinition of the problem as an outside figure (i.e., “Sneaky Poo”) that attempted to defeat the family allowed parents and children to identify the ways in which they could resist the problem’s efforts and “win the battle.” These approaches demonstrated great success in an area once thought to have poor success rates (Silver, Williams, Worthington, & Phillips, 1998). Narrative approaches have since shown to work well with areas such as eating disorders, experiences of trauma and hardship, and relational conflict. Research on the effectiveness of narrative approaches is a young but slowly growing area (Brimhall, Gardner, & Henline, 2003). St. James-O’Connor, Meakes, Pickering, and Schuman (1997) found for the appeal of narrative methods to families. Because the style of a narrative interview involves examination of ways in which people have influenced the problem or previously resisted the negative effects of problems, these approaches also tend to emphasize strength and self-creation. Individuals are able to identify the ways in which they actively work to create new or different ways of knowing, being, or behaving, thus emphasizing personal agency. Families who experienced this approach reported appreciating being viewed as “the expert” on their own problems and noted the strength-based approach as one of the most helpful aspects of therapy (St. James-O’Connor et. al.). Narrative approaches can also be used in nontraditional counseling settings. Because narrative approaches include practices of therapeutic letter writing and documenting, sessions can be spaced-out over different time frames. As such, narrative-based practices can suit clients who may not have the ability to meet weekly or who might live in isolated communities.

NARRATIVE APPROACHES AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

Expressive arts in therapy attempts to use active methods such as art, music, drama, movement, or storytelling to aid people in creating meaning around the events in their lives (Allen & Kreb, 2007). Individuals engaging in such methods allow their stories to unfold through these media, and the process allows for a reinterpretation and expansion of the story that can be personally transformative. Moreover, expressive arts includes the eventual “performance” of the creation, whether it be through sharing the painting, demonstrating the dance, or storytelling. This performance also carries the individual from isolation to connection with the audience. Narrative therapeutic approaches match exceptionally well with expressive arts. Narrative is based on the premise that individuals lead storied lives and, as such, are in a constant and active process of creating these stories (White, 2007). Using documenting processes to create communities of concern also mirror the expressive arts’ emphasis on community building. The creation and sharing of documents and/or therapeutic letters becomes an expression of the new stories the client prefers over the problem-saturated story and the reader becomes witness to this change. Expressive arts also contends that the telling of the story is an affirming process that expresses personal identity, value, and tradition (Allen & Kreb, 2007). For example, in the statement of us activity described later in this chapter, couples are asked to write a statement that reflects their identity as a couple. This statement is intended to become the groundwork for what is most central to the couple’s needs for stability and growth. By putting this in the form of a document, the couple has the opportunity to share this statement publicly, an act that asserts their new position on who they commit to be as opposed to living dominated by the problem. Thus, this process parallels the goal of expressive arts in giving couples an active method generating meaning around their status of couplehood.

__________

Expressive Arts Interventions

THE STATEMENT OF US

John Beckenbach

Indications: Useful for couples in relationships where conflict can influence the quality of the relationship and it can also be useful in relationship enhancement experiences

Goal: To assist couples in securing relational commitment and enhance relational quality through the process of documentation

Modality: Expressive writing

The Fit: Sells, Beckenbach, and Patrick (2009) developed the couples conflict reconciliation model, which included integration of narrative concepts. This included ideas of externalization, documentation/lettering, and reauthoring (White & Epston, 1990). The statement of us is a practice that is particularly rooted in these concepts. Aided by the principles and practices of externalization, the statement of us promotes reauthoring a relational story. This reauthoring becomes embodied through the documenting/lettering.

Populations: Adults; Couples

Materials: Paper and writing instruments; large, poster-type paper, word processing software/printer, and so forth, are appropriate; a photo frame or other means of displaying the document may also be used in this process

Instructions:

Instruct the couple to tly create the statement of us. Examples of questions that help in the development of the statement of us are provided to the couple. These may include the following: Think about couples that you have observed who had a great “us.” What did each couple do to build the structure of their relationship? What images of “us” do you carry from your grandparents and your parents to your relational partnership? How do you see these influencing your current relational partnership? What are the aspects of your spouse’s relational partnership or marital tradition that you have seen reflected in your current relationship? What sacrifices will you have to make in order for the “me” to become an “us”? How will this be difficult for you? How will “us” be different from the current status of “you and me”? What will be the real-life attitude and perspective changes necessary for this to be successful? What do you think couples who create a successful relational partnerships/marriage do to make it work? Reflecting on the questions answered prior and other sources of insight you may have had, create a relational partnership/marriage purpose statement that reflects your priorities, values, and hopes for the relationship. These questions can assist in the production of this written statement but are not intended to be a recipe or exhaustive. Questions can be modified, added, or deleted given the context they are to be used. Encourage the couple to reflect on any number of ideas as they generate the statement of us. The couple can approach the document in or out of session. Upon completion, the couples share the document with the counselor, group, or other format in which it is being used. Encourage the couples to reflect on how they would like to present the document or memorialize the statement of us. This might include framing the statement and displaying it in a prominent location in their homes and/or a public reading with family and friends.

This process serves an important function in the narrative tradition to promote and firmly establish a new story to “us.” By documenting the reauthoring, a new story can be embodied in the relationship with renewed commitment. Here is an example of the statement of us:

We will commit to seeking God’s Kingdom first in all that we are and do. Our home will be a place where family, friends and guests find joy, comfort, peace and happiness. We will exercise wisdom in what we choose to eat, read and do in our home. We will learn to love another as we develop our own talents. We will exercise initiative in accomplishing our life’s goals. We will act on situations as opportunities, rather than to be acted upon. We will always try to keep ourselves free from addictive and destructive habits. We will develop habits that free us from old labels and limits and expand our capabilities and choices. Our money will be our servant, not our master. Our wants will be subject to our needs and means. We will honor God and choose to obey him every day of our lives.

Signed, David and Sabrina

COCONSTRUCTED STORIES

Katrina Cook and Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich

Indications: Most presenting concerns that can be addressed in group counseling can use this intervention. A sample of possible presenting concerns includes low self-esteem, depression, major life transitions, problem solving, stress, and the development of social skills. This activity can also be used to facilitate the development of group cohesion.

Goal: To facilitate social dialogue and a collective environment for clients to reevaluate and reauthor their own life stories

Modality: Writing

The Fit: Narrative therapy focuses on the stories that individuals create about their lives. Often, individuals creating stories only notice the events that the storyline and ignore an opportunity to examine other options or alternatives. This activity allows clients to coconstruct each other’s stories while becoming aware of other possibilities for their own stories (Monk, 1997).

Populations: Older children/adolescents/adults; Groups

Materials and Preparation: The only materials needed for this intervention are pens and several sheets of paper for each group member. Pens are preferable to pencils because they create less friction when writing, enabling the writer to write more quickly. A flat writing surface such as a table or lapboards would also be needed.

Instructions:

Ask each group member to identify a problem that he or she has struggled with during the previous week. However, do not begin a discussion about the problems at this time. Instead, ask clients to tell a story describing this problem and their reactions to it in writing. Inform them that they will be sharing what they write with the rest of the group to prevent unintended disclosures. After 6 minutes of writing, ask each client to his or her paper to the person on the right. Some clients may protest that they have not yet finished their story. Reassure them that the story does not have to be completed. As each group member receives his or her neighbor’s paper, instruct him or her to read what the previous person has written, and then to continue the story from his or her point of view. After 6 minutes of writing, ask the group to the paper they now have to the person on their right and continue writing on that paper. This will continue until each paper has been returned to the original writer. As this proceeds and the papers become longer, you will need to increase the amount of time that es before ing the paper to the person on the right. However, you still want to have them papers before they are completely finished writing about the one they are on so the story has not been completed before the next person gets it. Once the original writers get their own stories back, ask them to read what the others have written, and then to complete the story they started. At this step, allow enough time for each person to finish his or her story. Then ask each original writer to read out loud the coconstructed story and examine the different viewpoints and reactions that emerged from the other group . Facilitate a discussion about the alternative viewpoints that occur in each story and what surprised them the most about how their stories changed once in other people’s hands. The discussion might focus on how different people view the

same problem from a unique perspective, how a problem that seems insurmountable to one person may appear easy to another, and the viability of the alternative stories. Often, clients will include humorous elements in their alternative stories. How does having a sense of humor about a problem change a person’s perception of that problem?

MY METAPHOR

Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall

Indications: Appropriate presenting concerns include but are not limited to self-esteem, stress, anxiety, or depression

Goal: To provide a means for clients to externalize their presenting concerns to facilitate client change

Modality: Visual art and metaphor

The Fit: According to narrative therapy (White & Epston, 1990), reality is subjective and individually constructed. Meaning is derived through the structuring of experience into stories and the retelling and reliving of these stories is central to client change (Legowski & Brownlee, 2001; White & Epston). The purpose of this expressive activity is to use the narrative intervention externalization so that clients can explain, reframe, and solve their own presenting concerns within the counseling context. Through use of metaphor, clients will not only explain presenting concerns but also construct these concerns. Using art materials to create a metaphor for the presenting concern, clients gain meaning, reframe, and solve their own struggles. Actually creating the metaphor makes it more tangible and central to client change.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Paper; drawing materials such as pastels, colored pencils, and crayons; clay or play dough; collage materials such as magazines, scissors, glue, and any other art materials that client and counselor deem necessary to create the metaphor

Instructions:

Introduce the client to the topic of structuring our experiences into stories so that we retell and relive them. Encourage client to use a metaphor to describe the presenting concern that motivated him or her to come into counseling. Give an example of a metaphor, if needed. For example, if the client is ready to get a fresh start after a recent divorce, an appropriate metaphor might be, I am a snake—ready to shed my old skin. Create the metaphor using art materials. For example, the client uses clay to create a snake shedding its skin. Use metaphor throughout counseling relationship so that clients can explain, reframe, and solve presenting concerns. For example, the counselor might keep the snake in her office and refer to it, modify it when needed.

FRACTIONS OF COLORS

Ileana Lane

Indications: Appropriate for clients dealing with sadness caused by an event (mixed emotions), anger toward another person, stress, depression, mixed emotions about an incident, peer mediation, feelings of resentment

Goal: To help clarify and give weight to what issues the client may be focusing on when experiencing conflicting or distressing emotions

Modality: Art

The Fit: This activity allows clients to tell their story of the presenting issues they may be facing between a peer, family member, event, or other situation. This strategy helps clients put their concerns into perspective by “quantifying” the presenting issues. Clients may sometimes feel there are several conflicts they may be facing; following through this activity will help clients understand, interpret, and give volume to the problems they are experiencing. This activity is congruent with the ideas of David Epston and Michael White in having the counselor collaborate with the client in the process of creating a richer story about what the problems’ place is in the clients’ life by naming and by deconstructing the issues of the presenting problem.

Populations: Children (age 6 and older)/adolescents; Groups/individuals

Materials: Markers, crayons, paint, or inkpads, and so forth; paper plate, printer paper, white construction paper, or posterboard, and so forth; writing paper; pencil or pen

Instructions:

Invite client to write a list of different things that may be issues between client and event or person (e.g., peer mediation or level of stress). Ask client to assign colors to each issue using markers, crayons, paint, inkpad or whatever source of colors chosen, creating a color legend for the issues. Using the chosen paper, ask the client to go down list of issues and give them a color fraction using colors on the legend. Once all issues have been given a color fraction, use the art piece to visualize what the bigger issues may be between the client and the event or person. This will help clarify and/or summarize other issues that the client may be focusing on instead of the main problem. An extension to this activity would be to have the client cut the fractions to compare them physically instead of visually.

Processing questions may include, If you could throw all your problems on this paper, what would that look like? Self-disclosure may be helpful when you provide examples of a time when you felt that way and perhaps found that there were more reasons for your feelings than the obvious. Allowing the client to be alone for a few minutes to write down the list of issues can be helpful in allowing the client to be in his or her thoughts and reflect on the issues.

YAKIMA TIME BALL (ADAPTED FROM A TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN PRACTICE)

Nan J. Giblin

Indications: This technique would be very useful for a beginning group where people were getting to know each other. It could also be used later in a group setting because as the trust level of the group increases, the depth of the stories deepens. The counselor needs to understand that in the storytelling, there is no objective truth. With the same time ball, a woman might tell her story several different ways. The point is that each woman owns her own story and can modify it as she wishes.

Goal: Visually portray one’s personal narrative; enhance listening and selfdisclosure skills; increase the participants’ cultural sensitivity

Modality: Art

The Fit: Native American people have historically recognized the importance of telling ones’ story. Likewise, construction of a personal narrative is the basis of narrative therapy (Monk, Winslade, Crocket, & Epson, 1997; White, 2007). In the Yakama Native American tradition, the time ball is an artistic expression of the events of a woman’s life. Additionally, it provides a means of ing and telling a personal story. In the old days and perhaps even today, a Yakama woman began her time ball when she married. A bead that represented the marriage was attached to a long piece of hemp or other natural fiber. Other beads were added for important events such as the birth of a child or the death of a loved one. The beads woven through the hemp became a visual personal narrative. The Yakama women would use their time balls to share their stories with the other women in the tribe. Often during the long winter evenings, women telling their stories through beads and hemp would sit around a fire. These time balls were so important that when a woman dies, her time ball would be buried with her. A representation of a Yakima time ball can be found in the new Native American Museum of the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. The value of this technique can be explained through the use of narrative therapy, which stresses the importance of being able to tell one’s life story. The importance of community is also implicit in the act of storytelling.

Populations: Adults (especially midlife and older); Groups/individuals

Materials: Natural string, jute or flax; beads of different shapes, sizes, and colors; pamphlet by Yakama Indians

Instructions:

The group leader tells the story and the meaning behind the traditional practice of making a Yakima time ball. Group discuss the importance of telling their own stories. Group choose string (approximately 6–10 ft per person) and beads for their time balls. Note: Groups may choose to make their own beads from paper mache or another commercially available product. Group tie the beads onto their strings. Each bead represents an event or emotion in their lives. The string holding the beads is rolled into a ball. Group take turns unrolling their time balls and sharing the events represented by each bead on their string. may choose not to share information about certain beads. The meaning of different beads may change for each person. Group discuss how it was for them to do the activity. Processing should focus on the interpretations of the client, not the counselor. Questions may include the following: How did you choose your beads and string? How did you begin your time ball? What events do the different beads symbolize? Which bead is your favorite? What does your favorite bead represent? What do the colors that you chose symbolize for you? If you had done this beginning as a child, how would it be different from the way you did it today? What emotions did this activity bring out for you? Activity may be varied by making a time ball as someone you love would do it or making beads of your own for the original time ball. Journaling about the experience would also be helpful.

CHEROKEE GOURD PAINTING (AS TAUGHT BY MOMFEATHER ERICKSON FROM MARION, KENTUCKY)

Nan J. Giblin

Indications: This technique can be used with almost any group and with individuals in counseling. It is a nontreating way of telling the major events of their lives.

Goal: Visual expression and sharing of life stories; listening and respecting the life stories of others (if in a group setting)

Modality: Art

The Fit: Narrative therapy (White, 2007) stresses the importance of telling one’s story. Through storytelling, people are able to give meaning to their lives while putting their life experiences into a larger context of universal life themes. The theory behind narrative therapy is consistent with the practice of Cherokee gourd painting, which is a visual way to represent and preserve one’s life story. In a group setting, life stories may be shared. Group show respect for the experiences and history of participants. This technique began with the Cherokee people hundreds of years ago. According to Momfeather Erickson (personal communication, February 22, 2009), a Cherokee elder and teacher of the traditional ways, when a child was born, the mother would begin drawing on a gourd as a gift for that child. First, the mother would draw a symbol of centering and balance on the bottom of the gourd. Then, each major event in the life of the child was artistically recorded by the mother. When the child grew to about 18 years old and was ready to leave home, the mother will give him or her the gourd as a farewell gift. These pictorial gourd diaries aided the young adults in ing and telling the stories of their lives. The gourd is used because it was readily available to the Cherokee. As a natural substance, it was familiar to the people and conveyed a sense of home for the young adults to carry with them throughout their lives. Natural dyes were used.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Clean large gourds (one per client); markers of different colors (Sharpie markers are closest to the Native colors)

Instructions:

Place the gourds on a table and let each client choose one. Introduce the history of the Cherokee gourd painting and add any stories or additional information you would like about the Cherokee people. It is important for the participants to understand that this is a traditional way of art making that calls for respect for the process and for the stories of other group . Ask clients to draw something on the bottom of the gourd to provide a “center.” The Cherokee people believe in the importance of being personally centered as exemplified by the medicine wheel. It is traditional to provide a symbolic representation of being centered before the other symbols are placed on the gourd. Ask clients to draw representations and/or symbols to represent the major events in their lives. When the gourds are completed, each person tells his or her life story as represented on the gourd. Participants may tell as little or as much as they would like. Maintaining a feeling of safety in the group is important. No judgments are to be made about the drawings on the gourds. Listening and respect for others are the key. The group discuss what it was like to do this activity. Processing questions may include, How did you choose your gourd? How did you center the gourd? Did you plan? Did you plan what you are going to draw on the whole gourd or did you just do it without a lot of planning? When you look at your gourd, does it say what you want it to say? Do you like how it turned out? What do the colors that you chose symbolize for you? Is there space left on your gourd? What will you do with that space? What would you title your gourd?

Possible Variations: Substitute other materials for gourd such as pieces of wood, tree bark, or other natural materials. Make the finished gourd into a birdhouse by cutting a small circular hole in the lower part of the gourd, adding a coat of shellac so it can be placed outside, and glue on a small piece of doweling for the birds to land on before going into the house. Paint gourd first with a base coat before adding your story. You may read more about Momfeather Erickson and the Living Village project at http://www.manataka.org/page1562.html or purchase gourds online at http://www.amishgourds.com.

A MULTILEVEL TIMELINE

Sheri Pickover

Indications: Clients who are addressing chronic depressive and negative narrative themes in their lives. This activity is designed to occur over several sessions throughout the course of therapy.

Goal: To increase self-awareness and personal strengths

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to increase a client’s sense of selfefficacy and self-worth by encouraging the client to “restory” a personal history. Theoretically, this intervention uses a solution-focused treatment model by assisting the client to find exceptions, strengths, and personal goals.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Butcher-block paper and several kinds of drawing media, including pencils, crayons, pens, and markers

Instructions:

Begin by cutting a large piece of butcher-block paper and dividing the paper by either folding the paper in half or drawing a line midpoint through the paper. Ask the client to create a timeline on the bottom half of the paper. Encourage the client to highlight any significant points he or she chooses beginning with birth. The client is free to document the event using art, words, or both. Assist the client if the client initially appears resistant and/or struggles with writing. During this part of the intervention, the counselor should provide reflective as the client creates the timeline of his or her own story. Once the client completes the timeline, the counselor determines how to use the top half of the timeline based on the client’s narrative. The following is the list of several ways to “layer” the timeline.

Option No. 1: Provide an emotional representation of the narrative. You can use this option for clients who benefit from a visual representation of the narrative to demonstrate both positive and negative changes in mood.

Ask the client to draw the emotions associated with each point on the timeline on the top half of the paper. If the client struggles to spontaneously draw the emotion, suggest possible emotion metaphors such as faces or weather. Once the client has completed the upper portion (which may take several sessions), use the client’s emotional metaphor to demonstrate the ebb and flow of life. This process often allows the client to visualize change and cope with current stressors because the client now has a visual representation of his or her coping.

Option No. 2: Use specific exception finding to restory the narrative. You can use this option for clients who only identify negative aspects of their lives in the original story. The goal is to help the client identify successful relationships or pieces of relationships to alter the chronic negative perspective.

Unfold the paper and ask the client to identify specific positive aspects of his or her life. Here are some examples: Who taught you to tie your shoes? Who taught you to ride a bike? Do you when you had a birthday cake? Do you who taught you to throw a ball? Once the client has identified positive relationships or events, ask the client to identify the emotions associated with all the events on the time as in Option No. 1.

Option No. 3: Once the client completes both levels of the timeline, flip the paper over and divide this side in half.

Ask the client to create a timeline on the bottom part of the paper for the next 5 years. If the client needs assistance, use guided imagery with the client to help him or her visualize the future such as, What kind of car will you drive? What kind of work will you be doing? What will your marriage look like? On the top half of the paper, ask the client to identify emotions associated with his or her dreams, hopes, and plans. Use both sides of the timeline for ongoing discussions about coping and use the client’s metaphors in his or her narrative to continue increasing self-efficacy.

NARRATIVE SANDTRAY WITH CLIENTS

Adele Logan O’Keefe and Kathleen Levingston

Indications: Appropriate for clients who would benefit from engaging in the process of growth and healing through play and enactments of their experiences, particularly if talk therapy proves challenging or becomes stagnant.

Goal: Exploration and expression of feelings and thoughts through a tactile recreation of their personal narrative.

Modality: Sandtray

The Fit: The purpose of sandtray therapy is to provide a useful, tangible tool to facilitate emotional and psychological healing and growth in clients. Sandtray therapy is highly applicable for a wide range of clients experiencing trauma, grief, loss, sexual or emotional abuse, anger, depression, or anxiety as a way to externalize their experiences and process them in a safe, contained interaction with objects that can represent or symbolize the details of these experiences. In addition, this technique is helpful for clients who tend to depend heavily on thought patterns because items or figurines can bring new thoughts, memories, or personal experiences into mind that bring a fresh perspective. Professionals who use this technique in an interpretive way should be properly trained and should have completed their own trays before using this technique with clients.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Couples/families/individuals

Materials: Purified sand to fill one third of a 30 × 20 × 3 plastic or wood tray (the tray should be painted blue on the bottom and sides to represent either the water or the sky); figurines including people representing a wide variation of roles for both genders, animals, vegetation, buildings, landscape, vehicles, barricades, natural pebbles, sticks, stones; and figurines that represent socially symbolic meaning, such as medical, religious, educational, or life event– oriented objects that can represent stages and experiences throughout the life span.

Instructions:

Prepare the space by ensuring the tray is at eye level and empty of any objects. Arrange the miniatures by grouping similar items into categories and spreading the figurines out in a neat and appealing presentation that allows the client to clearly see and access the miniatures. Introduce the client to the tray and the figurines. Allow the client to spend some time exploring all of the materials. Introduce the client to the process. Tell the client something such as This tray can represent your world. As you look around, find some items that speak to you and build a scene with these items in the sand. You can pick as many or as little as you need. If working with a client who is dealing a particular loss or traumatic experience, you may give a directive: Divide the tray in two. In one half, create a scene before the event and the other half, a scene that shows your world after the event. For example, one half could be a scene of life before deployment to war and the other half, a scene of life after deployment. While the client creates the tray, the professional quietly observes and holds the space. Gently remind the client of the time they have left to complete their tray (5 or 10 minutes). Once the client completes the experience, explore the sandtray with the client. This portion of the activity depends on the sandtray therapist’s philosophy about processing the sandtray. It is important to note that the power of the sandtray lies in the client’s engagement in the sandtray, so if the client is not willing or able to share his or her thoughts and feelings, this is acceptable and appropriate. However, if the clinician chooses to process the sandtray, the following are suggested reflections, prompts, and questions that can facilitate further psychological or cathartic movement: What is the title of your tray? Tell me what is happening in the sandtray. Tell me about the characters in the sandtray. If you could change the story for the (main character or current expression of the experience), how would you change it? At the conclusion of the sandtray session, leave the sandtray and figurines in place. If the client asks if he or she needs to clean the sandtray or place objects

back on the shelves, let the client know that this is not necessary and that you will take care of it. The client’s process can become disrupted or upsetting if he or she sees his or her creation destroyed!

Take a photograph or draw a picture of the sandtray and write notes about the process that took place for the client. For more detailed and expanded instructions, we recommend: Boik, B. L., & Goodwin, E. A. (2000). Sandtray therapy: A step-by-step manual for psychotherapists of diverse orientations. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. Homeyer, L. E., & Sweeney, D. S. (1998). Sandtray: A practical manual. Canyon Lake, TX: Lindan Press. Turner, B. (2005). The handbook of sandplay therapy. Cloverdale, CA: Temenos Press.

REFERENCES

Allen, R., & Kreb, N. (2007). Dramatic psychological storytelling: Using the expressive arts and psychotheatrics. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Brimhall, A. S., Gardner, B. C., & Henline, B. H. (2003). Enhancing narrative couple therapy process with an enactment scaffolding. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 25(4), 391–414. Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (2004). A poststructuralist approach to narrative work. In L. E. Angus & J. McLeod (Eds.), The Handbook of narrative and psychotherapy: Practice, theory, and research (pp. 137–155). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Legowski, T., & Brownlee, K. (2001). Working with metaphor in narrative therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 12(1), 19–28. Monk, G. (1997). How narrative therapy works. In G. Monk, J. Winslade, K. Crocket, & D. Epston (Eds.), Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope (pp. 3–31). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Monk, G., Winslade, J., Crocket, K., Epson, D. (Eds.) (1997). Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Sells, J., Beckenbach, J., & Patrick, S. (2009). Pain and defense vs. grace and justice: A model of relational conflict and restoration. The Family Journal, 17(3), 203–212. Silver, E., Williams, A., Worthington, F., & Phillips, N. (1998). Family therapy and soiling: An audit of externalizing and other approaches. Journal of Family Therapy, 20, 413–422. St. James-O’Connor, T., Meakes, E., Pickering, M., & Schuman, M. (1997). On the right track: Client experience of narrative therapy. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 19, 479–495.

White, M. (1984). Pseudo-encopresis: From avalanche to victory, from vicious to virtuous cycles. Family Systems Medicine, 2(2), 150–160. White, M. (2007). Maps of narrative practice. New York: W. W. Norton. White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Integrative Theory in the Expressive Arts

Sally S. Atkins, Keith M. Davis, and Lauren E. Atkins

Integrative approaches to counseling and psychotherapy involve careful, thoughtful, and systematic selection of ideas and methods from various theoretical systems. This process involves analyzing and synthesizing concepts from different theoretical orientations to form a counseling approach that fits the philosophy and skills of the counselor as well as the differing needs of individual clients. As the field of counseling has matured, the tendency to cross ideological barriers to enhance effectiveness and to find the most appropriate ways of working with diverse populations has increased. Movement toward both theoretical and practical integration has developed rapidly within the field of counseling since the 1980s (Brooks-Harris, 2008). Current major texts in counseling and psychotherapy typically include a chapter on integrative theory. The trend toward integration is based on the realization that no single theory is adequate to explain the complexities of human experience or to address the diverse problems of humans within differing personal, familial, and cultural contexts (Corey, 2001). Although arts-based approaches to therapy developed initially around expertise within a particular modality such as music, drama, or dance, a current major trend in using the arts within the context of counseling is to use two or more of the arts together (Gladding, 2005). Interdisciplinary or intermodal expressive arts therapy is the practice of arts integration, using any or all of the arts together in a therapeutic context to facilitate positive change. The complex practice of interweaving arts modalities, carefully transitioning from one form to another, is grounded in the fundamental sensory interrelatedness of all of the arts. The artmaking process is viewed both as a mode of personal inquiry and as a vehicle for therapeutic change. The practice of integrative expressive arts draws concepts not only from counseling and psychological theory but also from the artistic disciplines and, in some cases, from philosophical and anthropological theory as

well (Knill, Levine, E., & Levine, S, 2005). Thus, the practice of expressive arts in counseling and therapy is well suited to an integrative theoretical perspective.

HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF INTEGRATIVE EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY

The integrative use of the arts is ancient. Indigenous cultures all over the world still use the arts together in the service of life and healing. In Western practices of counseling and psychotherapy, however, integrative use of expressive arts is a relatively recent phenomenon. In 1981, Shaun McNiff published the groundbreaking work, The Arts and Psychotherapy, articulating the intentional use of an interdisciplinary approach to the arts as therapy. This approach had been developing during the 1970s among a community of artists/scholars at Lesley University’s Institute for the Arts and Human Development including McNiff, Paolo Knill, Norma Canner, Elizabeth McKim, and others. This interdisciplinary approach emphasized the intermodal nature of the arts, acknowledging that working in any art form necessarily involves other forms and that purposeful integration of more than one artistic form can offer a wide array of therapeutic possibilities. Working therapeutically with the arts is receiving increasing attention and interest among all of the helping professions. Within the counseling profession, Sam Gladding’s (2005) Counseling as an Art: The Creative Arts in Counseling has been significant in bringing awareness of the arts-based therapies and of the power of the arts to heal to the attention of counselors. Another significant step in bringing the arts to counseling has been the recent creation of the Association for Creativity in Counseling as a division of the American Counseling Association and the creation of its journal, the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.

CORE CONCEPTS

Using the expressive arts in an integrative way in counseling and therapy is still in its early stages as an emerging approach and, at this time, no single theoretical framework exists. Of the multiple pathways toward achieving an integrative approach, the path of technical eclecticism is most commonly used, with counselors choosing techniques from different approaches without necessarily subscribing to their underlying theoretical positions. Within mainstream mental health literature, expressive therapies are often defined by commonalities of practice, such as the use of arts media and nonverbal methods, the emphasis on creative expression, and an action orientation (Wiener, 1999; Wiener & Oxford, 2003). Although the use of expressive arts in counseling is frequently methodology based, the rationale for the effectiveness of arts-based work is consistent with differing theoretical approaches. For example, Jungian concepts of cross-cultural archetypes, myths, and symbols in the collective unconscious, which can be accessed through creativity and imagination, are important aspects of most expressive arts work. From the humanistic and existential psychotherapies, the concept of an innate, creative, and positive striving capacity within each individual is very consistent with arts-based work. Fundamental to expressive arts work is the idea that every person possesses creative capacity, which can be activated and nurtured to enhance healing and well-being. In the future, more indepth theoretical integration aimed at producing a consistent theoretical framework beyond a mere blending of techniques will likely characterize integrative practice in this field.

ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THEORY

Therapeutic use of the expressive arts is finding its way into a wide array of arenas. Literature in mental health, education, nursing, and related fields reveals that the expressive arts are effective in working with both groups and individuals of all ages and with various psychological and medical issues. Although the expressive arts do not rely solely on nonverbal communication, their capacity to access sensory-based experience and to use imagery offers unique therapeutic possibilities. Work in the arts can offer opportunities for self-expression of clients for whom verbal language is limited. The capacity of the expressive arts to by the psychological defenses of the conscious mind makes them a potent method for revealing and addressing various problems. However, because of their potency, these methods should be used with care and with sensitivity to the developmental stage, the personality organization, and the interpersonal dynamics of the individual client. Expressive arts therapists must be especially careful to establish a climate of safety and to move into and out of art experiences appropriately.

INTEGRATIVE THEORY AND THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

Incorporating the power of the arts into the counseling process offers rich possibilities for therapeutic work. Using intermodal or interdisciplinary expressive arts is necessarily integrative from a practical and a technical perspective. Further attention to theoretical aspects of integration will ensure that intermodal work in the arts can become more than a toolbox of eclectic practice without theoretical grounding. The following statements represent our own synthesis of ideas from the emerging literature and interweaving of concepts that we consider to be fundamental to the practice of using expressive arts in counseling:

Creativity is a basic human activity (May, 1975; Levine, 1992). All human beings are creative and are imbedded in a creative universe (Atkins & Williams, 2007). Expressive arts in counseling centers on the primary use of creative process as a vehicle of change (Atkins & Williams, 2007; Rogers, 1993). Creativity in the arts offers humans the possibility to give form to and reflect on experience and emotion (Knill et al., 2005; McNiff, 1992). The arts are inherently interrelated by virtue of their common base in sensory experience (Knill, 1994). Using the arts together in an interdisciplinary way can enhance the possibility of therapeutic change, especially when experiences are designed with attention to the respective qualities and challenges of different art forms (Atkins & Williams, 2007; Knill et al., 2005; McNiff, 1992). In expressive arts therapy, the concept of beauty has nothing to do with a formal aesthetic but with the authenticity and integrity of the artistic process and

product. Imagination can be a potent resource for healing and growth (Atkins & Williams, 2007; Knill, 1994; McNiff, 1992). The arts can be used in various ways in counseling to access internal and external resources, to express emotion, to make choices, to explore questions and possibilities, to build relationships, to enrich and deepen meaning, to distance from and reflect on problems, and to and embrace different parts of the self (Atkins & Williams, 2007). The interpersonal relationship between therapist and client is the ground of therapeutic work, including arts-based therapeutic work (Atkins & Williams, 2007; Rogers, 1993). To cultivate the capacity for therapeutic presence in holding the space for art making, the expressive arts therapist must develop a daily practice of centering and grounding the self (Atkins & Williams, 2007).

The making of an integrative theory is an ongoing and emergent process. It requires careful reflection on the nature of human existence, what causes problems in living, and how change happens. For using the expressive arts in counseling, integrative theory making requires additional reflection on the power of the arts and the role of the arts in human experience.

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Expressive Arts Interventions

ANIMAL MEDICINE/STRENGTH SHIELDS

Keith M. Davis

Indications: This activity has been used with children and adolescents facing challenges with anger management, bullying, grief/loss, eating disorders, selfesteem, domestic violence, and physical/sexual abuse. It has also been used with counseling students as part of a class in ecotherapy, emphasizing the healing connections and relations between humans, animals, and the natural environment.

Goal: To provide a safe way for students/clients to express meaning making of life experience and circumstance when words fail; it is particularly useful with young children who often do not have the vocabulary or cognitive development to verbally express themselves fully.

Modality: Intermodal expressive arts

The Fit: This intervention is an example that integrates intermodal expressive arts with elements of ecotherapy (Davis & Atkins, 2004; Davis & Atkins, in press) and both humanistic and existential theories within the context of individual and/or group counseling. For intermodal expressive arts, animal medicine, and/or strength shields combine visual art making, writing, and storytelling. Should you choose to integrate aspects of ecotherapy, materials for the making of the shield can be gathered from the natural environmental elements (e.g., tree branches, bark, sticks, plants, stones, and rocks), emphasizing connections and relations between humans, animals, and the natural environment. Because the purpose of the shield making is to emphasize aspects of one’s own healing and strengths as metaphorically represented through our connections with certain animals, the activity fits well within humanistic and existential theories. Specifically, humanistic theory emphasizes the strength and healing of genuine relationship. If one’s pet becomes the focus of the shield making, then elements of unconditional positive regard can be incorporated as pets generally love without judgment. The shield making helps facilitate one’s own attempt to make meaning from life experience and circumstance. Thus, the very act of this activity is existential in nature.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Construction paper, crayons, markers; old magazines, particularly ones with wildlife, and other collage materials such as feathers, leather strips, colored tissue paper, ribbons, and yarn; scissors, hole punch, glue, string, and stapler; and, should an ecotherapy approach be used, then students/clients can gather natural elements from the environment (e.g., tree branches, bark, sticks, plants, stones, rocks).

Instructions:

Materials can be arranged around a table and/or workspace. To help build rapport and empathy with the group, you may also choose to create an animal medicine/strength shield. This is particularly helpful working with children and adolescents who may need a “template” for the activity. Using construction paper, each participant decides on the basic shape and size of the shield (e.g., circle, square, rectangle) and cuts with scissors to suit. Cutting pictures of animals and/or wildlife from magazines. Gluing, stapling, or tying pictures to the shield. Hole punching can be used as a way to tie string, yarn, feathers, or animal pictures onto the shield. Natural elements (e.g., tree branches, bark, sticks, plants, stones, rocks) can also be used. The activity can be done either in silence or with soft music playing. You can act as an “art coach,” helping with materials and offering assistance. Allow 45 minutes for the completion of the activity and if time allows, the processing of the activity by having the individual and/or group share either verbally or a small written paragraph, sentence, or words to convey the process and product of the animal medicine/strength shield. (Note: In a school setting, it may be necessary to have a follow-up meeting or series of meetings for processing the activity.) Process can include how the animal medicine/strength shield represents one’s own strengths (i.e., What aspects does one see in oneself that is represented within the animals chosen for the shield?).

Variations: This activity may vary depending on the developmental level of the individual and/or group. For younger children, clear instructions and some modeling (without imposing values) may be necessary. If the shield is to be made using natural elements from the environment, then additional time should be allowed in the gathering of these elements in an outdoor environment. The activity can be used either individually or in a group setting. Additionally, if using this activity with children and/or adolescents in a public school setting, it is best to refer to it simply as an animal strength shield as opposed to using the term medicine, which may not take into issues of religious preference. As always, when working with children and adolescents individually or in groups, it is often best to gain parental permission or .

MUSIC-INSPIRED POETIC SHARING

Keith M. Davis

Indications: This activity can be used to develop trust, empathy, cohesion, and facilitate meaningful personal sharing within a group setting. It has been used in groups of adolescents facing various developmental and personal challenges; marital and relationship counseling where trust and empathy have been challenged; counselor training and supervision programs as a demonstration for building trust, empathy, and cohesion; and various adult counseling groups.

Goal: To facilitate the development of trust, empathy, and rapport

Modality: Intermodal expressive arts

The Fit: This intervention is an example that integrates intermodal expressive arts with elements of humanistic and existential theories within the context of group counseling and/or group counseling supervision. For intermodal expressive arts, music, poetry writing, and visual art making are combined in conjunction with sharing in a small group setting. This activity also fits well within humanistic and existential theories. Trust and empathy form two important cornerstones in humanistic approaches to counseling. As an intervention, this activity relies on group to trust and empathize with one another through the shared creation of poetic writing with words derived from instrumental musical composition clips. As group create their poetic writing from the music, they become involved in an existential process of meaning making.

Populations: Adolescents/adults; Groups/couples

Materials: CD player; various CDs that contain instrumental music (i.e., music without words); construction paper; crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers

Instructions:

Arrange materials on a table or workspace. Give each group member a sheet of paper and something to write with. Plays an approximately 1-minute clip or sample of some instrumental music piece from selected CDs (i.e., it is best to have an assortment of eclectic music that can elicit a range of feelings/thoughts). Ask each group member (or couple if used in marital or relationship counseling) to jot down a series of one-word feeling or thought elicited by each musical piece. At the end of all musical pieces, each member should have a list of feeling or thought words. Ask each group member to exchange his or her own list of words with another group member (i.e., this is where trust is emphasized as many may have emotional attachments to his or her own list). Once each group member has the list of another group member, issue the directive that each group member, using the list of words of another group member, is to create a poem using as many words on the list as possible. Additional words not on the list may be included (e.g., conjunctions, nouns, pronouns) for the poetic composition. Group can use the construction paper and colored pencils and/or markers to create, in essence, a “Hallmark” card of sorts. Once each group member has completed the poem and “card” using the list of words from another group member, instruct them to give the card with poem back to the originator of the list of words. Each group member then takes a turn reading aloud to other group the poem created by the other group member from his or her list of words (i.e., this is the first time the poem is read aloud within the group).

After all poems have been read, process the experience with the group. Allow approximately 90 minutes for this activity.

Variations: It is recommended that instrumental musical pieces are used for this activity because music with lyrics may unduly influence the word choices of participants. However, if working with adolescents, lyrical music may be used and adolescents may be encouraged to bring in their own musical selections. This activity has been successfully used with groups experiencing challenges in rapport building, trust, empathy, and cohesion. are often emotionally connected to their own word list, and the giving of the list to another for poetic creation has proved helpful in overcoming such group challenges.

NAMING AND CLAIMING THE BODY

Lauren E. Atkins

Indications: This activity helps to dialogue regarding body image issues and self-awareness. Body awareness and movement experiences can be helpful as an intervention and as a wellness tool.

Goal: To promote positive self-esteem and to build group cohesion and community

Modality: Intermodal expressive arts

The Fit: This intervention is an example of intermodal transfer, using the artistic modalities of movement/dance and visual art making in conjunction with personal reflection and community sharing.

Populations: Female children/adolescents; Groups/individuals

Materials: Music player (either recorded music on iPod or CD or live music is appropriate); any musical accompaniment that can provide a steady beat and/or atmospheric quality is helpful to setting a tone for the experience; markers and/or crayons; large and small paper

Caution: The movement/dance modality can feel particularly scary and vulnerable to clients, so the counselor must take to care to establish a sense of safety.

Instructions:

Beginning. Make a circle with the group surrounding a large piece of paper. This is a time to become acquainted with each other. Going around the circle, each person has a turn to say his or her name and something he or she loves in his or her life (e.g., color, pet, family, etc.). Asking the question. How does your body feel right now in this moment? The clients respond by writing on the paper in the middle of the circle creating a collective nonverbal sharing of present body experience. Taking turns around the circle again. Each person is asked to share a movement that would feel good in his or her body, possibly a response to the written information. As each client shares movement, all the participants learn the movement. The group can repeat the movement around the circle again, flowing from one movement to the next to create a sustained movement experience. This pattern can be repeated again with music added (if music is not already playing as background ambiance) for added rhythmic stimulus. Asking the question again. How does your body feel, now in this moment? These responses are shared verbally and written on the communal paper. The paper then holds the individual body experience within a collective context, with a subtle suggestion of possibility of change through movement. Clients then separate to find personal space in the room. Direct the clients to find a comfortable position, close their eyes, and focus on their breathing. Then guide the clients through a personal movement experience with the following questions (Clients are encouraged to keep their eyes closed during this process): How might your body move/respond if you are waking up in the morning? How do you move when you feel happy/content? How do you move when you feel angry? How do you move when you feel sad? How do you move when you are excited? Let your body continue to move according to how it feels today, now in the present moment. (Soft atmospheric music can the process by providing a soothing auditory environment.)

Ask each client to take a smaller individual piece of paper and crayons or markers to respond visually to his or her experience. He or she can use words or images as needed to create a visual manifestation of the experience. Invite clients to come together in a final circle and show their image and add new phrases or words to describe their present experience verbally and on the communal large paper. This last group gathering will close the circle and is a time to find completion with the process.

Commentary: This activity provides a structure to investigation of different types of personal issues, struggles, and triumphs. Adjust and change questions as needed for the working population. The questions listed previously are meant as general concepts to address within a movement experience. In depth body awareness is a valuable asset to forming healthy body image and sense of self. This is particularly important for young women as they navigate the complex cultural images, expectations, and myths of women in society. This activity can create a safe space to begin dialogue regarding these types of issues for young women.

THE BOX OF THE SELF

Sally S. Atkins

Indications: This activity can build cohesion and foster meaningful personal sharing within a group. It has been used with persons with anxiety and depression, with adolescents with anger management issues, with incarcerated adolescents and adults, with cancer patients, with clients with developmental disabilities, with victims of domestic violence, and with graduate students in training and supervision. It is particularly appropriate for persons with identity and self-image issues and/or relationship problems. It is useful in any situations in which it would be valuable for clients to claim and value different aspects of the self and to share themselves with others.

Goal: A more complete acceptance and claiming of one’s many inner facets

Modality: Intermodal expressive arts

The Fit: This intervention is an example of intermodal expressive arts, using different artistic modalities of movement, visual art making, and writing in conjunction with personal sharing in a small group setting. Simple collage construction is an example of using low-skill, high-sensitivity art making. The task is simple enough not to frustrate the clients, yet sensitive enough to reflect sophisticated and complicated personal themes. It is an example of using artistic expression to access, embrace, and share different parts of the self.

Populations: Children/adolescents/adults; Groups/individuals

Materials: Containers of various sizes and shapes, such as shoe boxes, hat boxes, gift boxes, cigar boxes, and oatmeal boxes; small paper bags can also be used as containers if boxes are not available; old magazines and other collage materials such as tissue paper, feathers, felt scraps, ribbons and yarn; scissors and glue

Instructions:

Arrange materials on tables around the workspace. Counselor and client(s) take a few moments to breathe, stretch, center, and ground themselves in the body. Have a verbal check in. In a group, this could be a go-around with brief introductions and expectations for the experience. Introduce the materials and experience to client: This exercise is designed to help us to think about and to express in artistic form how we think and feel about ourselves. Instructions: You have about 45 minutes to create a “box of yourself.” Take some time to explore the materials. See what colors, shapes, and images attract you. Think about images that reflect who you are on the outside and decorate your container with those. Think also about your inner self. Choose images that reflect your inner self for the inside of the container. Let your work be an interplay of intention and surprise. Pay particular attention to surprises, to what happens that you did not plan. Be open to contradictions. The art activity can be done in silence or with soft music playing. You will become a kind of “art coach,” helping with the materials and assisting clients when needed. About 10 minutes before the allotted time is up, remind clients about the time. At the conclusion of the art experience, assist clients with cleaning up the space and materials. Invite clients to return to the circle with their boxes of self. Ask them to write about the art experience, reflecting on new learning and awareness about themselves that may have emerged from the process of the experience as well as from the product created. Also ask them to reflect on what resources, both internal and external, were used to accomplish the task of creating the box.

Give each person the opportunity to show his or her box and to tell something from the experience with the group. Remind the group to refrain from judgment of others or themselves. At a final go-around, ask each group member to share with the group one thing he or she will take with him or her from the experience.

Variations: If the group is an ongoing group, can be asked to prepare an artwork of their choice (e.g., song, movement, visual art, poem) as a response to witness the sharing of the boxes of self in the circle. This experience can also be adapted for use with individual clients. Making the box can be done in a single 1.5-hour session or assigned as a homework activity.

REFERENCES

Atkins, S. S., & Williams, L. D. (2007). Sourcebook in expressive arts therapy. Boone, NC: Parkway Brooks-Harris, J. E. (2008). Integrative multitheoretical psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Corey, G. (2001). The art of integrative counseling. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Davis, K. M., & Atkins, S. S. (2004). Teaching a course in ecotherapy: We went to the woods. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 43, 211–218. Davis, K. M., & Atkins, S. S. (in press). Ecotherapy: Tribalism in the mountains and forest. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. Gladding, S. T. (2005). Counseling as an art: The creative arts in counseling (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Knill, P. J. (1994). Multiplicity as a tradition: Theories for interdisciplinary arts therapies—An overview. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 21(5), 319–328. Knill, P. J., Levine, E. G., & Levine, S. K. (2005). Principles and practice of expressive arts therapy: Toward a therapeutic aesthetics. London: Jessica Kingsley. Levine, S. K. (1992). Poiesis: The language of psychology and the speech of the soul. London: Jessica Kingsley. May, R. (1975). The courage to create. New York: Bantam Books. McNiff, S. (1981). The arts and psychotherapy. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

McNiff, S. (1992). Art as medicine: Creating a therapy of the imagination. Boston: Shambhala. Rogers, N. (1993). The creative connection: Expressive arts as healing. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. Wiener, D. J. (Ed.). (1999). Beyond talk therapy: Using movement and expressive techniques in clinical practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Wiener, D. J., & Oxford, L. K. (Eds.). (2003). Action therapy with families and groups: Using creative arts improvisation in clinical practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Clinical Supervision

Montserrat Casado-Kehoe and Kathy Ybañez

Bernard and Goodyear (2009) describe supervision as comprised of two words, super and vision, and yet most of traditional supervision does not always show this vision. In many cases, it is more of a continuation of talk therapy, a cognitive focus, describing with words rather than seeing the case. The integration of expressive arts and creativity in supervision provides an opportunity to experience and see visuals during supervision and enhance the “vision.” The idea is that the use of symbols or pictures can assist in projecting one’s perception of inner and outer reality (Lahad, 2000), providing insight in supervision. Supervision is a safe place where the counselor can explore new behaviors to become a more competent and effective counselor. Whereas traditional supervision focuses on case conceptualization, the use of expressive arts interventions may add a different focus, facilitating supervisees’ exploration of self and how that affects the case or provides a different perspective about the case. The use of expressive arts interventions can facilitate communication and enhance this development of therapeutic competence that the supervisee needs to feel and experience.

THEORY

This chapter will describe the integration of a Gestalt and experiential learning approach in supervision. Gestalt theory is a phenomenological experiential approach developed by Fritz and Laura Pearls in the early 1950s (Corey, 2009; Neukrug, 2007). In play therapy, Violet Oaklander (1988, 2007) successfully integrated a Gestalt approach with the use of play working with children, adolescents, and families. Hoyt and Goulding (1989) extend the integration of a Gestalt psychotherapy theory to supervision. Gestalt therapy postulates that people have the ability to change as they become more aware of self by allowing themselves to perceive, feel, and act rather than continue to interpret the past (Yontef, 1993). Operating in the “here and now,” the individual works through unfinished business, bringing it to awareness. At different points in life, an individual may become “stuck” and start to express neurotic behaviors that, once confronted, brings awareness to the client (Neukrug, 2007). It is only in the present, experiencing the now, that the individual can have experiences that let go of what is blocked and move toward growth. The goal is to become more fully aware and alive, feeling free from the past. Focusing in the moment, the process, a dialogic relationship exists in which the therapist and client allow themselves to experience, ultimately engaging in dialogue about those experiences. Although communicating what is being experienced, the goal is for the client to become aware of what he or she is doing, how he or she is doing it, and how he or she can change, gaining value of self (Corey, 2009; Yontef). In therapy, there is a strong emphasis on gaining personal responsibility. The therapist emphasizes feelings to help the individual become aware of projections and takes responsibility for all of his or her parts. Various techniques can be used, such as awareness exercises, use of “I” statements, empty chair, role-playing dreams, and playing the projection, among others (Neukrug).

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Like person-centered therapy, Gestalt proposes that individuals have the power to change if they develop awareness of self. It is a positivist theory that believes in the potential of the human being and the innate ability toward health and growth (Ruiz, 2009). Unlike psychoanalysis, Gestalt does not seek to interpret but to allow individuals to experience all parts of the self and to establish a relationship that is caring, accepting, and nonjudgmental. One experiences self in comparison with other, and how one experiences other is related to how one experiences self (Yontef, 1993). In therapy, the individual learns how to establish with self and others, feeling more alive. Freud emphasized the past in therapy, whereas Fritz Perls paid attention to the present, how the person felt in the here and now about his or her unfinished business (Neukrug, 2007). Thus, the Gestalt approach helps the individual focus on the present because the past is gone and the future has not come. It is in the present that the individual experiences and develops awareness and insight of this experience.

CORE PRINCIPLES

An important component of Gestalt therapy is the relationship, an I–Thou experience. Without a relationship, nothing happens therapeutically (Oaklander, 2007). The therapist engages in a mutual relationship with the client spontaneously and genuinely. In this relationship, the therapist models for the client’s awareness of self and the courage to be authentic and able to express one’s feelings. is how the client is experiencing the moment and organizing processes (Kaplan, Kaplan, & Serok, 1985). involves having the ability to be fully present while engaging the senses, body, emotions, and intellect. Resistance is part of the therapeutic process and part of self-protection. As the therapeutic relationship deepens, the resistance will lower. To help the client experience, the focus is on senses and the body. As one engages the senses and becomes aware of one’s body feelings and sensations, one starts to define the self and makes with the world (Oaklander, 1988). The role of the therapist is also to strengthen the self of the client helping him or her make choices, experience mastery, own projections, set boundaries and limits, experience power and control, and be able to express aggressive energy (Oaklander, 2007). It is in this process of experiencing and learning that the client learns to trust the self.

GESTALT APPROACH TO SUPERVISION

The purposes of supervision are varied: (a) to assist the supervisee understand the case contentwise and processwise; (b) to help the supervisee gain awareness of how he or she impacts the case; (c) to gain an understanding of the dynamics between therapist and client; (d) to assess the interventions used; (e) to develop a deeper understanding of theory; and (f) to empower and challenge the supervisee. Given the multipurpose nature of supervision, some of the areas the supervisor may choose to address in supervision may be the following: (a) personality functioning of the client; (b) personality functioning of the supervisee; (c) supervisee–client relationship; (d) supervisee–supervisor relationship; (e) development of theory; (f) issues related to change; (g) diagnosis and treatment plan; and (h) ethical, professional, and istrative issues (Resnick & Estrup, 2000). A Gestalt therapy and supervision model focuses on holism, phenomenology, and a strong dialogic supervisory relationship. Thus, the emphasis is on an I– Thou relationship where the supervisee experiences in the here and now an awareness of self and how he or she impacts the case. In the here and now, the supervisee is seen and feels connected to the supervisor in dialogue. This relationship is one that is characterized by presence, genuineness, open communication, and inclusion (Pack, 2009). Although insight and awareness are part of the supervisory experience, what makes it unique and therapeutic is the dialogic relationship where both supervisee and supervisor honor one another (Resnick & Estrup, 2000). Guided by standards of care, the supervisor ensures safe practice and monitors that the needs of the client are being met (Pack, 2009). Thus, the quality of the relationship is paramount to help the supervisee grow clinically and personally. In this dialogic relationship, the role of the supervisor is to be ive, accepting, emphatic, relational, and challenging (Corey, 2009). In supervision, the boundary between supervisee and client is examined, as well as the boundary between supervisee and supervisor. In exploring these dynamics, the supervisee gains awareness and becomes more creative (Pack, 2009). At times in supervision, the supervisor may also focus on assessing the supervisee’s diagnoses, the treatment plan, and

psychoeducation about specific issues. However, perhaps the most important elements are to help the supervisee define the use of self in therapy and teach a process orientation that facilitates clinical and personal growth (Harman & Tarleton, 1983). In supervision, a Gestalt approach emphasizes experiential processes that confluent or ual functioning (Kaplan et al., 1985). Thus, Gestalt supervision is a process-oriented model that encourages the supervisee to experiment and try new interventions as a way to be flexible with clients. In this process, the supervisor helps the supervisee look at boundary disturbances such as the use of projections, retroflections, and confluence that may be blocking the case (Harman & Tarleton, 1983). The use of expressive interventions such as role-plays (role-playing the client) or objects (to represent supervisee and client) can assist in providing insight and a different perspective about the case, enhancing awareness in the here and now. Additional benefits are that the use of expressive art interventions can enhance the learning experience, provide selfawareness and clarity to the supervisee’s use of theory, and facilitate the use of clinical skills (Bratton, Ceballos, & Sheely, 2008). In the context of supervision, the ultimate goal is to help the supervisee experience, organize, and express how he or she feels about self, the client, and the relationship in the present moment, while helping him or her develop inner guidance and gain clinical competence.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS INTERVENTIONS

Expressive arts interventions can facilitate the understanding of the case and the professional development of the counselor. Experiential activities, a right brain focus, provide an opportunity to express the self and experience various emotions. They provide safety and structure as well as decrease the anxiety that supervisees sometimes feel when looking at their own clinical work. The supervisor can choose to focus the supervision on client-centered issues, therapist-centered issues, or process-centered issues (Lahad, 2000).

Expressive Arts Perspective

Literature abounds regarding the effectiveness of expressive arts work with clients in the counseling process (Gladding, 2005; Malchiodi, 2003). One would expect the same to be true in the area of supervision, yet the scant literature that exists demonstrating or exploring its use is relegated to clinical observations, case examples, and application (Malchiodi, 2005). What has contributed to this deficit? Could it be supervisors’ hesitancy to include expressive arts in their work with supervisees? To shed light on what has prevented the infusion of expressive arts in supervision, Lahad (2000) asks these questions: “Why are we so perplexed in the face of imagination? Why are we so defensive and apologetic in supervision when we share our non-logical thinking, circular perception, images, smells, inner pictures, metaphors, and lateral thinking?” (pp. 12–13). In supervision, supervisors are found to respond in the way they were supervised, including the ongoing lack of creativity in expression. Lahad (2000) suggests that the use of the right hemisphere of the brain, particularly involving imagination, can easily be married in supervision with the more often focused on left hemisphere processes of thought and logic. Given the parallel processes that exist in the work of a supervisor and supervisee when compared to the work of counselors and clients, the suggestion has been made by many authors to use expressive arts in clinical supervision, aiding in supervisees’ self-awareness, because they are known to benefit clients’ selfawareness in therapy (Gladding, 2005; Lahad; Oaklander, 2007). Bratton et al. (2008) assert, “the use of expressive arts with supervisees can enhance the supervisory experience by fostering self-awareness, enhancing client conceptualization, encouraging exploration and clarity of supervisees’ theoretical framework, and facilitating development” (pp. 211–212) of clinical skills. Expressive arts has several specific characteristics that are not often found in strictly verbal therapy/supervision approaches: self-expression, active participation, imagination, and mind–body connection (Malchiodi, 2005). Lahad (2000) notes that it is the engagement of the right hemisphere of the brain in accessing emotions, thoughts, creativity, and experiences that can facilitate a supervisee’s self-expression or self-awareness, critical to personal growth and

professional development. Active engagement in “creative and playful supervision can help supervisees acquire their own therapeutic identity, develop their own internal supervisor, achieve a sense of personal autonomy, and become empowered as therapists” (Stewart & Echterling, 2008, p. 283). The use of imagination in clinical situations can allow for alternate understandings of client process and progress, freeing the counselor to try more creative approaches in his or her clinical work with clients. Malchiodi (2005) points out that the mind– body connection is ed by the creative process of making art being related to health and wellness, as evidenced by the classification of art therapy as a mind–body intervention by the National Institutes of Health. Art is understood to elicit a relaxation response or mood-altering effect that alleviates stress, helpful for supervisees working to increase their proficiency in providing counseling services to clients while under supervision. A supervisor can choose to focus clinical supervision on client-centered issues, therapist-centered issues, or process-centered issues (Lahad, 2000). Depending on the need present in the supervision session, expressive arts interventions can facilitate understanding of the client’s case presented for supervision, the ongoing personal growth and professional development of a counselor or supervisee, or the supervisory relationship. Oftentimes, when a supervisee reports feeling “stuck” in his or her work with a client, the inability to look at the presenting issue from another angle contributes to the ime. Expressive arts interventions “provide different ways of looking at things, strengthens the supervisee’s feeling of resourcefulness; and through it they find a new sense of control” (Lahad, p. 15). Experiential activities, having a right brain focus, provide an opportunity for supervisees to express the self and experience various emotions involved in their work with clients. They provide safety and structure as well as decrease the anxiety that supervisees sometimes feel when looking at their own clinical work. The benefit of using alternate methods of expression that do not rely on “either verbal language or narrative discourse” (Estrella, 2005, p. 187) is the ease that supervisees report they feel in expression of thoughts, emotions, or problems involved in counseling. Malchiodi (1998) asserts the nature of expressive art activities is such that they “can generate self-esteem, encourage risk taking and experimentation, teach new skills, and enrich one’s life . . . Making something with one’s own hands and realizing that one can make something unique- is a powerful experience with undeniable therapeutic benefits” (p. 14). These powerful experiences are beneficial to the professional development of a

supervisee learning to work with new and complex client problems. The relationship between the counselor and supervisor is one that should involve, from the beginning, a discussion of responsibilities, expectations, and expressive arts interventions to be used in supervision. This will help to begin the process of forming a working relationship that is “an authentic encounter, a dialogue, a creative process that is experiential rather than interpretive. Both the therapist and the supervisor participate in a mutual exploration and learning process” (Resnick & Estrup, 2000, p. 130). A supervision relationship that is collaborative, rather than purely hierarchical in nature, can work to foster successful resolution of supervision relationship problems. Fall and Sutton (2004) call attention to a supervisor modeling the process of recognizing the conflict, giving name to it, and processing it in such a way that both individuals feel free to express feelings, thoughts, and phenomenological experiences that demonstrates the Gestalt approach to supervision that is “responsible, honest, direct, and authentic” (Malchiodi, 2003, p. 63).

LIMITATIONS OF EXPRESSIVE ARTS INTERVENTIONS

As with any approach, there are limitations to consider in the use of expressive arts in supervision. Malchiodi (2003) devotes sections in her text demonstrating how expressive arts has been beneficial to clinical and nonclinical client populations consisting of adults, children, adolescents, families, couples, and groups. Malchiodi (2005) asserts supervisees must be mindful that expressive arts approaches may not be suitable for all clients in these populations. Clients who believe they will be unable to produce something creative, who are hesitant to share about themselves, or who are expecting to be in a less active–participant role, may not be suitable candidates for this work. Although supervisees are not expected to be resistant to participation in the process of supervision, those supervisees who have had previous artistic training may have difficulty with activities where the focus is on the process, rather than the artistic product, as is regularly the case in the following interventions. Similarly, supervisees who have not received additional training in expressive arts modalities are cautioned against using expressive interventions experienced in supervision without fully understanding the appropriate use and processing with clients.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS INTERVENTIONS IN SUPERVISION

Supervisors can easily find detailed descriptions of expressive arts activities, but their use in supervision relies heavily not only on the presentation or direction of a particular activity but also on the supervisor’s processing of that activity with the supervisee. Bratton et al. (2008) suggest guidelines to be used in processing expressive arts activities in supervision, varying according to the level of control held by the supervisee over what is shared about the activity:

Level 1: Supervisor encourages supervisees to describe/share their creations: “Tell me about your (scene or drawing or creature).” Level 2: Supervisor tentatively shares her observation of the process/creation: “I noticed that Pegasus and the fairy seem very connected- and they both have wings and seem kind of sad.” Level 3: Supervisor invites supervisees to enter into the metaphor they have created: “Pretend that you are the fairy (client) and tell Pegasus (supervisee) what you need.” Level 4: Supervisor encourages supervisee to personalize the metaphor: “As you think about how you described Pegasus, does anything fit with how you see yourself?” (p. 217)

Assessing the developmental skill level and readiness of the supervisee along with the strength of the supervisory relationship will allow a supervisor to ascertain which level of processing is warranted with each expressive arts activity used. Given the wide-ranging nature of interventions that encom expressive therapies, this chapter will focus on four specific expressive arts interventions

that can be used when supervising from a Gestalt perspective: the use of drawings, the use of clay, experiential role-plays, and the use of objects. Each intervention can be adapted from an individual supervision focus to that of a group supervision focus.

USE OF DRAWINGS

Drawings allow supervisees to facilitate communication and offer a visual to express what is sometimes difficult to verbalize. For instance, artwork may provide a picture of what may help them manage anxiety, direction, and goals in their work with clients, or how the client may begin to find solutions. Malchiodi (2005) refers to the experience of the use of art as healing and a way to bring self-understanding and behavioral changes. At times, the supervisor may use drawings to represent what he or she hears the supervisee saying during supervision (Fall & Sutton, 2004). This helps illuminate the message shared in supervision and speeds the process of coming to a resolution or the next step in handling a client issue. Lahad (2000) presents a color, shape, and line activity whereby the supervisee is asked to represent relationships in a client’s life through the drawing of shapes and lines using color. The processing of this exercise included the supervisee filling in a “color chart” where he or she gave descriptions of each person’s selected color according to the ideas indicated in the chart: “first association, tempo, weight, animal, season, clothing, and scenery” (p. 27), along with exploration of how each color affected his or her work with the client and her family. Haber (1996) also reminds us that the use of art changes the medium in supervision and provides different perspectives. Gladding (2005) offers two examples of the use of drawings: helping a client to alter his or her perception of a problem from being insurmountable to manageable, and helping a supervisee assess his or her own mental health by identifying strengths as well as defeating statements and behaviors. Lahad (2000) also describes the use of drawings when problem solving with a supervisee. The supervisee is asked to draw three pictures: one of the client’s current problems, one with the problems solved, and ultimately one picture of what happens before the resolution. Fall and Sutton (2004) describe the use of artwork in accomplishing important functions of a supervisor, from assessing the supervisee formatively, serving in a ive capacity, to an istrative capacity. Supervisees were asked to draw a picture indicating where they saw themselves in relation to becoming a professional counselor. The bridge of life (Casado-Kehoe, 2006) activity

presented at the end of this chapter sheds light on the processing of this type of professional growth and development activity. Other directives include asking the supervisee to draw his or her best and worst supervision experiences and to draw “helping hands” that demonstrate who has helped him or her get to his or her current position, as well as who he or she have helped along the way (Stewart & Echterling, 2008).

USE OF CLAY

Clay serves as another material often used in expressive arts interventions. Gladding (2005) noted the infrequent use of clay because of its manipulation difficulty and messiness. Over the years, new versions of claylike materials have been developed, as seen in Bratton et al. (2008) who describe the ease of use of Play-Doh and Model Magic in a similar fashion as clay. Manipulation of this artistic medium allows for creative expression by the supervisee, through sensory experiences and a cathartic release of feelings. If the supervisee is anxious, the use of clay can reduce anxiety and help bring insight. Supervisees feel empowered because the final product, using clay, is entirely in their hands; that is, they are in complete control of the clay (Gladding, 2005). In supervision, clay may be used to create symbols that facilitate the development process and help the supervisee to use his or her senses in symbolic expression of his or her thoughts, emotions, expectations, and needs. In their supervision of play therapists in training, Bratton et al. (2008) describe an activity where supervisees participating in group supervision use clay to create a creature or animal that represents them. Once completed, the supervisor processes with each supervisee by asking: “What is your animal/creature good at? What is hard for your creature to do? What kinds of things does your creature like to do? What does it wish it could do? What does it wish is did not have to do? What does your creature need? What keeps your creature from getting what it needs?” (Bratton et al., p. 219). Follow-up discussion of needs in supervision are facilitated through the previous answers given by each supervisee. The possibilities of directions given by supervisors in the use of clay are limitless. Additional examples of use of sculpting are creating a sculpture that represents the supervisee as a counselor, creating a sculpture of a part of the supervisee that is anxious about clients, creating the wall that is felt between the supervisee and his or her client, and asking supervisee to create the family he or she is working with to explore family dynamics (Malchiodi, 2005).

ROLE-PLAY

The use of role-plays allows for opportunities to test out new behaviors and to explore hidden aspects of the supervisee as well as the client. Gladding (2005) points out that the use of drama helps focus on communication and the roles individuals may play in life. While acting, the supervisee gains awareness of what may be going on with the case as well as how he or she comes across and impacts the client. At the same time, when using dramatic techniques, the counselor may be more aware of a range of feelings he or she is experiencing in and out of the counseling session. Harman and Tarleton (1983) discuss boundary disturbances in counseling relationships and how supervisees may find themselves to be ineffective in counseling when they are too similar to their clients, or when they are having feelings, usually negative, that the supervisee is not verbally expressing. Role-playing in this situation, using Perls’s empty chair technique, helps bring these situations and emotions to light, facilitating an honest exploration of what is occurring in counseling, and where to go next on the part of the supervisee. Melnick and Fall (2008) remind us of Perls’s focus on Gestalt techniques, particularly creative experiments, where the supervisee is asked to try something in that moment of supervision, for the purpose of increasing awareness. Group supervision allows for more than just the supervisor’s reaction to a counselor’s role-play, so “if the group is bored when a therapist . . . role-plays his patient, it is almost certain that the therapist himself (perhaps unconsciously) is bored with the patient” (Mintz, 1983, p. 20). Furthermore, asking the supervisee to become and role-play the patient allows for a more-in-depth presentation and understanding of the client, reveals what the counselor really feels toward the client, highlights the client’s feelings, and the therapist may become “aware that the patient has touched an area of insecurity or pain which the therapist has not completely resolved” (Mintz, p. 23). As a follow-up, Mintz allows the opportunity to test out new behaviors that may be seen as solutions to the ime, and reports that clients typically respond favorably to counselors experiencing this type of role-play. Variations on the role-play technique can also include asking the counselor to

role-play the client talking with a friend about therapy and its progress, and roleplaying the client’s feelings not being expressed in counseling (Mintz, 1983). Stewart and Echterling (2008) highlight the playful nature of role-play in supervision with the activity called tag team role-playing. Building on the therapeutic nature and strength of relationships found in groups, supervisees are called on to help each other by jumping in or “tagging out” when a supervisee needs help in the role-play. Supervisees are encouraged to role-play not only positive outcomes in counseling but also situations they fear the most, creating an opportunity to practice responses before the situation occurs in session.

USE OF OBJECTS

Objects or miniatures can easily be used in the supervision process, serving as an alternative method of conceptualizing cases, discussing counselor development, or planning for treatment interventions with clients. Small objects, including buttons, rocks, marbles, buckles, shells, beads, character miniatures representing various ethnicities and cultures, animals, coins, or any other small object that is readily available can be used for this approach. Stewart and Echterling (2008) propose the use of objects in supervision to discuss valued qualities in the supervisory relationship. Supervisees are directed to select an object or symbol that represents this quality and speak to the object’s representative qualities. Lahad (2000) also proposes using objects to conceptualize cases by including various family that form part of the client’s life represented as objects to help understand the relationships and family dynamics. The objects can serve as metaphorical symbols that may also contain deeper meaning about the client and family. The supervisor may also ask the supervisee to place or select an object representing self to discuss clients’ perception of the therapist. Haber (1996) also concludes that these metaphorical objects may serve as a way to represent the different parts of the counselor–client relationship. Furthermore, Lahad refers to the use of small objects and their positioning to represent a story, also called a spectrogram. The use of small objects in the spectrogram signifies various individuals, relationships, group structures, or perspectives in a given situation. The person working with the objects is asked to move the objects around in such a way that a picture can also be gained from the placement and movement of the objects, yielding awareness and new perspectives about the case. Supervisees can also be asked to take the perspective of another in this scenario, moving objects according to how that person may view the given situation.

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Expressive Arts Interventions

BRIDGE OF LIFE

Montserrat Casado-Kehoe and Kathy Ybañez

Indications: This activity is appropriate for supervision sessions in which you want to explore how supervisees feel about their professional life accomplishments and goals and what helps them in that process.

Goals: To enhance self-awareness, identify accomplishments and coping mechanisms, explore feelings, and build self-esteem

Modality: Art

The Fit: The purpose of this activity is to help the supervisee recognize accomplishments and coping resources and explore feelings about self and professional life. This activity can be used individually, in dyads, or in a group setting in supervision. This activity is inspired by another activity, “bridge drawing,” which focuses on allowing the client see where he or she is in the bridge and where he or she is moving (Hayes, 2006). However, the bridge of life (Casado-Kehoe, 2006) focuses on looking at the bridge as a metaphor for where the supervisee is in life, looking at what he or she has accomplished up to this point (past and present), and what lies ahead that he or she is planning to achieve (future goals). At the same time, the drawing also identifies the pillars of resources that the supervisee has used to help him or her get where he or she is in life. Individually, the activity can be used to help the supervisee gain awareness of what he or she has accomplished, a moment to pause and reflect on self, and build self-esteem. In dyads or in group, the activity can also be used at the beginning of the supervisory process to enhance group awareness and cohesion, assist in creating goals, and help develop self-confidence. However, it can also be used at the end of supervision to celebrate accomplishments, focus on strengths, and foster self-esteem. Artwork serves as a form of nonverbal communication of feelings, thoughts, and worldviews (Malchiodi, 2005). Drawings can allow supervisees to create a visual picture to encourage processing of feelings and enhance personal awareness. The use of art, specifically the drawing, becomes a vehicle of communication that focuses on the here and now. Gestalt therapy emphasizes the relevance of the I–Thou relationship, one that promotes dialogue in the here and now as a way to create growth of awareness (Pack, 2009). Ideally, the supervisor wants to create this kind of relationship in supervision so supervisees can learn, grow, and flourish. The use of creative interventions such as the bridge of life facilitates that kind of dialoguing that is genuine, caring, and accepting between the supervisor and the supervisee(s). In Gestalt therapy and supervision, the use of processing helps one develop awareness, and gain an understanding of self and others (Harman & Tarleton, 1983). Processing is a big part of what the supervisor does after the creation of the drawing as a way to promote growth and self-understanding.

Populations: Clinical supervisees; Groups/individuals/dyads/triads

Materials: White or colored paper, colored pencils, crayons and markers, or paints. You may also use relaxation music to promote a relaxation response and encourage focusing on the activity.

Instructions:

Invite the supervisee to draw a bridge. This is his or her bridge of life (professional). Ask the supervisee to place himself or herself somewhere in the bridge to represent where he or she sees himself or herself now. Ask him or her to reflect in the drawing what is behind him or her, particularly the things he or she has accomplished professionally. Also, ask him or her to pay attention to what lies ahead of him or her, professional or personal goals he or she has. Ask him or her to pay attention to what s him or her, what gives him or her life, what has helped him or her get here. Allow plenty of time for the supervisee to draw the bridge of life. While he or she draws, you can have music playing in the background. Ask him or her to title his or her bridge of life drawing ( i.e., “Guided by light”). After the supervisee has finished drawing, process the drawing with questions such as Can you tell me about your drawing? Where are you in this bridge of life? What is behind you? What have you accomplished? What is ahead of you professionally? What goals do you have? What emotions come up when you look at the drawing? How do you feel about yourself? How does your body respond? What sensations do you have? Any awareness? Any words of wisdom the drawing is giving you? Note the dynamics that are present in the process. As your supervisee shares the meaning of the drawing, reflect back what has been shared and emphasize strengths and accomplishments to foster self-esteem in the supervisee.

Figures 12.1 and 12.2 show examples of the bridge of life.

CREATING A FOUND POEM

Christine McNichols

Indications: Supervisors may wish to use this technique if supervisees are experiencing a lack of clear counselor identity, a lack of empathy for a client’s situation, or frustrations concerning the counseling relationship. Supervisors may also use this intervention to encourage reflection, promote personal wellbeing, or help reauthor negative supervisee narratives.

Goal: To foster supervisee growth and insight

Modality: Writing

The Fit: Counselors in training create narratives that describe and explain who they are as counselors and how they view their clients. This process usually occurs through interaction and dialogue between the supervisor and the supervisee. Editing and helping to reauthor these narratives are the major goals of narrative supervision (Carlson & Erickson, 2001). Having a supervisee create a found poem helps the supervisee reflect on who he or she is as a counselor as well as how he or she views, thinks, and feels about his or her work with clients. This reflective process may help supervisees gain different perspectives, change negative views or opinions, and gain new meaning or insight.

Populations: Clinical supervisees; Groups/individuals/dyads/triads

Materials: Pens, paper, and highlighters

Instructions:

Distribute materials to supervisees and write a prompt on the board dealing with what you would like the supervisees to focus on such as “When I think about my client and his or her situation I feel . . .” Or “As a counselor I am . . .” Or “During the counseling session I feel . . . when . . .” Give supervisees 10–15 minutes to journal using the prompt. Encourage them to write openly about what they are experiencing. When they are at a stopping point, ask the supervisees to put down their pens and pick up a highlighter. Ask supervisees to highlight words or phrases in their journal entries that they feel have special meaning or stand out to them. Once the supervisees have completed this task, they are asked to take the highlighted words from their journal and turn them into a poem. Not all the words must be used. It may be helpful for some to first create a separate list of the words or phrases they would like to use and then arrange them into a poem. Supervisees are then asked to volunteer to share their poem by reading it aloud to the group. Debrief and process the experience of writing and sharing the poem and explore any insight that may have been gained. Discussion questions may include What was the experience of writing a poem like for you? Did anything surprise you about what you wrote in your journal or poem? If so, what is it? What insight did you gain about yourself or your client from completing this exercise? How will this insight change the way you view yourself as a counselor or how you work with this client?

COLLAGE (CASE) CONCEPTUALIZATION

Mardie Howe Rossi and Karen L. Mackie

Indications: Appropriate for clinical supervisors who wish to facilitate the development of case conceptualization skills

Goal: To develop new perspectives on client issues and clarify the steps and interventions needed to facilitate change

Modality: Art

The Fit: The use of the expressive arts is multicultural, holistic, and nonlinear, and shows promise as a supervision method (Lahad, 2000; Lett, 1995; Levine & Levine, 1998; Neswald-McCalip, Sather, Strati, & Dineen, 2003). Diversity is increasing among students, clients, and faculty, which requires creative supervision and counseling practices to meet their needs (Henderson & Gladding, 1998; Kim & Lyons, 2003). There is an increased need for experiential methods, including expressive arts, in counseling supervision (Bratton et al., 2008; Grant, 2006). Expressive arts therapy facilitates the development of self/other awareness, new perspectives, and healing and growth (Atkins & Williams, 2007; Knill, Levine, & Levine, 2005). These goals are congruent with the goals of counseling supervision.

Populations: Clinical supervisees; Groups/individuals

Materials: Various magazines that include ethnic and racial diversity, various age groups, and subject matter; assorted collage materials such as feathers, colored paper, markers, paints, stickers, ribbon, buttons, printed materials, photographs, and quotes; scissors, glue sticks, and large paper or poster board (12 × 18 in.)

Instructions:

Invite supervisee to select a client case on which he or she would like to focus for this session. Instruct the supervisee to fold the large paper into thirds. On the first section, have the supervisee write the word “Problem.” Ask the supervisees to create a collage about the client and their issues. Suggest that they use words and pictures to create a picture of the client’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; cultural contexts of the client or their issues; their history; and relationships. Instruct supervisees to focus on what the client has told them and what they have perceived, intuited, or come to understand. When they are finished with the first section, have them move to the third section, and write “Solution” at the top of the page. Instruct them to make a collage that depicts the problem solved from the client’s perspective, as well as their own. When the third section is finished, ask the supervisees to write “Goals and Interventions” on the top of the paper. Ask them to imagine what interventions would be needed for the client to move from the first collage “Problem” to the third collage “Solution.” Ask them to include client behaviors, thoughts, feelings, and counseling interventions. When all the sections are finished, process the activity by asking each student the following questions: What was it like for you to participate in this exercise? Did you find this activity helpful? In what ways? Did you learn anything new about your client, and/or working with your client? What can you take from the exercise that will help you in working with your client? What did you learn about yourself? Would this exercise be helpful for your client to do? These questions can also be answered through a reflective paper or journal-writing activity after the supervision session.

FINDING MY VOICE

Allison L. Smith and K. Hridaya Hall

Indications: The activity is designed for counselor trainees or supervisees who are experiencing anxiety related to working with clients or apparently hindered or immobilized in implementing new supervision or skills. It also can be beneficial for trainees of supervisees who desire a shift from a contemplative to a more active stage of change (e.g., supervisee who expresses verbally that he or she desires to use more confrontation skills but has struggled to take action).

Goal: To gain confidence in working with a challenging client or presenting concern

Modality: Drama

The Fit: The purpose of this expressive arts intervention is to counseling trainees in reducing anxiety related to their work with clients and increasing their flexibility in trying on new ways of being with clients. The activity does so by highlighting through enactment the contradictory voices that may be keeping the person stuck or paralyzed. It is an application of Hal and Siddra Stone’s (1989) seminal work, voice dialogue, with counseling trainees.

The activity fits with Gestalt theory because it invites creative adjustment to one’s environment rather than acting from stereotyped patterns (Polster, 1999). Also, the activity fits with Gestalt theory because here-and-now enactment and experimentation with the counselor is used to facilitate greater integration and wholeness (Polster & Polster, 1973; Yontef, 1993). Finally, the activity fits with Gestalt theory because it serves to individuals in shifting from a perception of being stuck to greater awareness, , and experimentation (Perls, Hefferline, & Goodman, 1951)

Populations: Clinical supervisees; Groups/individuals

Materials: Seating that is flexible for rearranging during the activity

Instructions:

When it is evident that an issue is present that could be explored using a dialogue, the supervisor will explore the issue with the supervisee. Possible facilitation questions might include the following: It seems like we keep coming back to your desire to be more direct with clients but it is not happening, what do you think is getting in the way? It seems like you’re feeling really paralyzed or stuck in your work with this person. You seem pulled, on the one hand, you’re generating several possibilities for your work with this client, but on the other hand, you’re already convinced they are doomed to fail. What are some of the things that you’re saying to yourself related to your work with this person? Invite the supervisee to participate in an experiment to explore the hesitance/stuckness. Begin with the supervisee in a central chair that represents the face he or she normally shows to the world (in Stone’s work this is referred to as the aware ego state). From here, have the supervisee identify a dominant voice that seems to be operating in his or her clinical work (perhaps a perfectionist, a judge, a scared child, a critic). Ask the supervisee to shift his or her chair to a slightly different location, close his or her eyes, and internally align, embody, or act himself or herself as if he or she is that voice and only that voice. When he or she is fully in role, invite him or her to open his or her eyes and begin to interview this voice. You will ask questions and offer reflections and summaries of what you are hearing. Potential questions you may ask include the following: Can you tell me about your name and role in [supervisee’s name]’s life (refer to the supervisee in the third person and address the voice as a separate entity)? What are your concerns about [supervisee]’s life? Are there things that [supervisee] does that irritate or frighten you? How do you operate, or let him or her know what you want? What

do you think about his or her counseling? How do you influence his or her counseling approach, way of being in class/group/supervision? Is there something you’d like him or her to hear from you? Is there another player/voice that you are aware of that [supervisee] listens to sometimes that you really don’t like? Summarize what you have heard from this voice and what this voice will want and need before thanking this voice and inviting the supervisee to move the chair back to the central location and assume his or her normal way of being. Summarize to the supervisee what you heard the voice is saying. Invite the supervisee to imagine what the opposite voice might be. When the supervisee is ready, invite him or her to move the chair to a new location, close his or her eyes, and get in touch with that voice. When the supervisee feels he or she has embodied that voice, invite him or her to open his or her eyes and speak only from that voice’s perspective. Repeat Steps 6 and 7 with this voice, being sure to attend to how this voice is impacting his or her work with clients. Invite the supervisee to move back to his or her original location now to sit opposite from where the two voices had sat, perhaps next to you. Ask the supervisee to try to hold the two opposite energies experienced and summarize what the voices said. Possible facilitation questions include, What are you aware of as you sit here? How was it for you to hear those differing perspectives? Does one or the other tend to take over the reins more often? How do you feel about that? What does any of this have to do with your work here with me in supervision, or with your clients? How do you see yourself moving forward in your work with clients given what you know now?

USING SANDTRAY IN SUPERVISION

Kristi Perryman and Angela L. Anderson

Breathing in the Sea Air—Introduction: The supervision process for counselors can feel stressful and full of anxiety, more like merging into rush hour traffic than a tranquil walk on the beach. The use of a sandtray process (sandplay) in supervision can help focus the process and promote growth for both supervisors and supervisees. The techniques offered in this chapter help structure the supervision session so that both participants are invited to engage in a playful yet meaningful process as they metaphorically “breathe in” the sea air on their journey down the beach of counselor development.

Taking Your Shoes Off—Rationale: Contemporary sandplay techniques were developed as a counseling modality based initially on the work of Margaret Lowenfeld (1979), who developed the world technique in the 1920s in London. Lowenfeld became aware that children often were not able to verbalize their feelings and instead wanted the child to show her rather than tell her about their inner experience. Lowenfeld credited the children with the development of her world technique as a model, as she focused on the value of play. Much of our current understanding has evolved from the efforts of Dora Kalff (1980/2003), a Swiss Jungian analyst who is credited with coining the term sandplay. Kalff and others have noted that adults also responded well to the symbolic representation of sandplay, finding that “the same developmental processes occurred as in children, indicating that sandplay operated on a quite primitive level of the unconscious” (Weinrib, 1983, p. 8). Both Lowenfeld and Kalff were interested in giving symbolic and creative expression to internal and external meanings. Kalff, in particular, noted that potential in sandplay, prompting various applications and modalities that have developed based on the foundation of this work (Armstrong, 2008; Carey, 1999; Oaklander, 1988; Turner, 2005).

Counselor Development and Supervision: Counselor-trainee supervision may focus on didactic teaching, technical skills, self-awareness of the trainee, increased understanding of the client, and/or process of the supervisory and counseling relationships. Arguably, all of these are important elements of supervision (Bernard & Goodyear, 2004; Campbell, 2000; Falender & Shafranske, 2004). According to Keller (2008), “counselor development is an evolving process of self-exploration, awareness of personal issues and biases that can affect the counseling relationship, and enhancement of counseling skills” (p. 14). Developmental models (Stoltenberg, McNeill, & Crethar, 1994) presume that the process of becoming a counselor is essentially a process that will result in the continued development of the counselor with experience, as the supervisee expands his or her knowledge and skills through both clinical experience and supervision. Counselor-trainees’ needs in supervision change as the trainee grows in knowledge, skills, and awareness. In Bernard’s (1997) discrimination model, the components of supervision include process and intervention skills (therapeutic responses), conceptualization skills (knowledge), and personalization skills (awareness and personal development). Bernard proposes that supervisors assume different roles throughout the supervisory relationship. Thompson (2004) also discusses the complexity of counselor development. Namely, counselors-in-training transition between different stages of competency and confidence prior to achieving counselor readiness. In Stage 1 (dependency), the counselor-intraining is highly motivated yet lacks basic counseling skills. In this stage, counselors-in-training are preoccupied with learning skills necessary to become a competent counselor. In Stage II (trial and turbulence), the counselor-in-training experiences anxiety about shifting his or her view of the counseling profession from a cognitive framework to an experiential process. To lessen the anxiety, he or she will often rely heavily on the expertise of his or her counseling supervisors. The counselor-in-training will become involved in many interpersonal and intrapersonal experiences, and toward the end of the stage, he or she will begin taking on counselor roles. In Stage III (growth), the counselor-in-training has a deep knowledge of counseling skills and theory and strives to further enhance counselor efficacy. All of these areas are accessed in sandplay process, depending on the developmental level of the counselor-trainee. Some have quipped that there are likely as many models of supervision as there are supervisors (Campbell, 2000;

Falender & Shafranske, 2004 ). It is our presumption that supervisors have appropriate training in supervision models and adhere to a consistent approach to which these techniques can be applied. In this chapter, we presume that the counselor-trainee is a developing and self-actualizing being, and that counselortrainee awareness is a key component to unlocking the facilitation of the counseling process. We presume that as trainees progress, there will be a transition in complexity from a more didactic, skill-based focus to a deeper knowledge of application of counseling skills and use of the self (counselor) in the therapeutic endeavor. Sandplay has been recommended as an effective modality for supervision in a limited number of studies (Markos, Coker, & Jones, 2006/2007; Markos & Hyatt, 1999), although the professional counseling literature is sparse in its description of the use of expressive techniques in supervision, specifically sandplay. In this chapter, we highlight the importance of the value of modeling, parallel process, and increasing awareness by engaging in experiential learning. Focusing on process in supervision will raise the personal awareness of the supervisor and the counselor leading to more healthy interactions, which will ultimately benefit the most important person in the triadic system—the client (McBride, 1998). At the level of training when supervisees are applying their acquired academic knowledge to the actual process of counseling clients, supervision strategies shift accordingly to optimize growth. Because the expressive and creative arts are nonthreatening, they offer a natural transition to the deepening of the supervision process. “[S]tudents would excel in practicum experiences if they were given the opportunity for expressive freedom within a safe environment” (Markos et al., 2006/2007, p. 6). On a cautionary note, however, expressive techniques are also extremely powerful in a way that is not immediately understood. This process often taps into the unconscious, allowing those feelings under the surface to emerge in a concrete way. Once exposed, the supervisor can gently midwife the process of growth. In a chapter entitled, Midwives of Consciousness: Supervising Sandplay and Expressive Art Therapists, Morena (2008) writes, “Professional mentoring or supervision is the way therapists learn to apply academic knowledge to concrete situations. It is a complicated process that involves establishing a ive relationship, sharing information, and modeling effective interventions and communication” (p. 191). Another benefit of using sandplay as a supervision modality is in introducing

counselor-trainees to sandplay as a strategy for their own counseling work. When using expressive arts, it is particularly important that students experience the projective process prior to using it with a client. Through their own experience in the sandtray, counselor-trainees gain awareness of their own projections and introjects, correct those perceptions, and learn to sense a deeper potential of the therapeutic relationship. Because this occurs within an environment of unconditional positive regard with the supervisor, trainees sense the applicability to their own client work, underscoring the parallel process.

Footprints In the Sand: Using Sandtray in Supervision:

General Guidelines:

Supervisors should be aware of the developmental level of the trainee and modify these instructions accordingly. Start with a clean tray with smoothed sand. Figures should be neatly arranged by theme and accessible to the supervisee. Supervisors must to ask permission prior to touching the tray or any objects in it. that the power of sandplay, like other expressive techniques lies in its ongoing process. It taps into vital themes and growth edges in the supervisee’s process, some of which will not be readily apparent. Supervisors should be mindful of creating a holding environment for this process to begin and to encourage the counselor-trainee to continue the exploration beyond the supervision session through journaling, and so forth. Supervisees should not be present when the sandtray is disassembled. Clean-up is not their job!

Introductory Phase (Person Centered):

Choice points for supervisor: Specific client session Identified supervision issue or growth edge of counselor-trainee Recurrent themes or blocks with specific client(s) Unrecognized counter-transference Anxiety or resistance Begin with relaxation or centering exercise. Invite counselor-trainee to choose items that represent all aspects of the client situation, therapeutic ime, theme or personal growth edge (supervisor may prompt further as processing time continues). Facilitator’s language and response should be neutral and invite the trainee to take control. Avoid using descriptions such as “what you like.” If counselor-trainee asks for guidance, respond with a neutral nondirective answer that places focus back to him or her. When supervisee is placing items in the sandtray, remain silent and attentive, allowing him or her to work in his or her free and protected space. The supervisor notices the order, placement, movement, and both his or her own and the supervisee’s emotional responses to the process. When tray is complete, supervisor may begin processing.

Working Phase (Combined Person Centered and Gestalt):

The supervisor’s role is to maintain a safe working environment and resist the urge to interpret, label, or guide. Allow a person-centered emergence. First, ask how the counselor-trainee feels as he or she views his or her tray. At a pause, or when the trainee makes with the supervisor, ask if the tray is how he or she wants it. Reflect his or her descriptions, statements, emotions, and feelings. Ask him or her to tell a story about what is happening in the sand, and how he or she feels. Ask if he or she is in the story, and invite him or her to add something to represent himself or herself if not. If the supervisee is talking about someone or something else that is not there (the supervisor, etc.) ask him or her to add a figure to represent this thing or person and add it to the sand. Invite him or her to “be” each figure as he or she plays out the story. It is important to that this step should include all objects (animate and inanimate alike; i.e., What are the stairs saying?). With resistance to speaking for objects, be gently persistent, But if they could speak, what would they say? Gently explore incongruent statements. Additional process questions, to be used when the supervisor senses trust and appropriate timing: Is anything familiar about these feelings . . . statements for you?How do you feel when you look at it now? With permission, turn the tray to different angles, asking the supervisee to signal you when some new awareness emerges, or to see the “point of view” of a figure across the sandtray, What does it look like from here?

Culminating Phase (Person Centered):

Counselor-trainees are likely to signal some discomfort with the placement of objects in the sand as they describe relationships and become aware of their own counter-transference. Supervisors should prompt the supervisee to make needed changes to make the story “look the way it needs to look.” This is often a very powerful moment, and the counselor-trainee may sigh deeply or may engage deeply with the objects, almost as if the supervisor is not present. Change and fluidity are important, and help the supervisee to realize a sense of control. to use person-centered skills to continue holding the free and protected space and to reflect the process without interfering. Allow the supervisee to again describe the new story from a first-person perspective. It is important to encourage “ownership” of the story and its changes, by following his or her pace and being attentive. Again, turn the tray if it seems appropriate. In powerful supervision sessions, the supervisor may be represented in the story, sometimes being left out of the sandtray. This represents an opportunity to address the gestalt of the supervisory relationship as it relates to both the client work and the counselor-trainee’s development in the here and now, modeling parallel process and the importance of all aspects of the triadic relationship. Ask how he or she feels about the sandtray now. Photograph the tray, asking the supervisee from which angle it is most meaningful. Encourage the supervisee to allow this process to continue working and recommend journaling or other avenues to continue processing either individually or in future supervision sessions. to allow the counselor-trainee to leave the room before disassembling

the tray.

Counselor-trainees may reach a plateau while they process their new perceptions or awareness. Although there may be an immediate and profound impact in the next client session, it may subside for a few weeks as they continue to integrate. Supervisors should be aware of this developmentally appropriate process, and, in response, may alternate modalities of supervision to accommodate the supervisee’s learning.

Ethics: Being Mindful of Marine Life and Avoiding Jellyfish: Supervisors should abide by their professional guidelines for practice (ACA Code of Ethics for counseling and ACE Code of Ethics for counselor supervision). The International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) publishes its own guidelines for therapy, resulting in therapists being guided by up to three codes of ethics: state regulations, professional codes of ethics, and Sandplay Therapists of America (Hegeman, 2008). We highlight some specific ethical considerations for using sandplay and other expressive techniques in supervision.

Training: As always, supervisors and counselors should avoid using techniques for which they are not adequately trained. Although training in the use of sandplay is available at various professional conferences and in some commercial offerings, according to Hegeman (2008), there were only 100 certified U.S. clinicians in the 2006 International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST). Supervisors should obtain adequate training and seek consultation when needed. In addition, effective sandplay supervisors should have a high tolerance for ambiguity, a deep trust in the self-actualizing capacity of their trainees, and strong clinical and supervisory skills and training.

Consideration of “Self in the Sand”: The sandtray, as with other expressive modalities, represents an extension of the participant’s self, and should be regarded with the same respect and care as the supervisee himself or herself. It is not always apparent to the supervisor how identified the counselor-trainee is with his or her objects in sandplay, so a cautionary reminder is suggested for the supervisor not to touch or engage without asking.

Displaying Images: Photographs and descriptions of sandplay should be protected just as therapy case notes. Avoid the temptation to display images of sandplay supervision or to use without permission.

Boundaries/Dual Relationship Considerations: Boundaries are easily blurred when working with supervisees on the edges of their own personal development. Often the same awareness that blocks the supervisee is an issue that would be better served if the supervisee were to seek personal counseling. Supervisors should monitor this potential for an exploitative dual relationship and not attempt to provide personal counseling. “This caution is particularly important when the objective is increased self-awareness” (Newsome, Henderson, & Veach, 2005, p. 154).

Resistance: Counselor-trainees experience resistance in supervision for various reasons: fear of being judged, internalized expectations, intimidation, fear of failure, and discomfort with trusting themselves and their own innate process, among other reasons. Although sandplay is an excellent modality for addressing resistance because it is nonthreatening and projective (it is easier to talk about things in the sand than inner process of the self), supervisors should also keep in mind the importance of using the resistance trainees may express by choosing the timing of sandplay until trust is developed.

Expediting the Self-Awareness Process: Expressive techniques expedite the process of self-awareness and, as such, are likely to blur the edges between supervisory process related to the client and personal process of the counselortrainee. This potential is heightened when using projective and expressive techniques (Perryman, Blisard, & Cantrell, 2009). Supervisors should be aware of their own boundaries and limitations of the supervisory process.

Diverse Populations: Several considerations are relevant to diverse populations, from selection of objects included in sandplay to cultural implications for individual supervisees. Supervisors should be mindful of the figures selected so that they are representative of a wide range of cultural themes, including race/ethnicity, age, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation, and gender. Supervisors may be aware of limited and often stereotypical figurines available (i.e., culturally inappropriate dress in Native American figurines). We advise having various representations of multicultural figures. Sandplay themes may be interpreted differently based on cultural meanings and these should be clarified with the supervisee. Placement of shelving should be accessible to those in wheelchairs or with other physical limitations.

Contraindications: Not all students will be well suited for sandplay as a supervision modality. For some, this may be an issue of timing—supervisors should that the development of trust is crucial before embarking on sandplay. Trainees who are at a very early level of their own counselor identity development or those whose maturation is insufficient may not be able to engage deeply enough for a meaningful sandplay experience. In addition, students whose sensory capacities are fragile might find the process overwhelming. In such cases, limiting the number of figures or even modalities available is a recommended strategy. These trainees may be better served through other supervision strategies. Some counselor-trainees may be very resistant to the process with their resistance often rooted in deep inadequacy or fear of loss of control of the process (Boik & Goodwin, 2000). For some, this is a repeat of the role of child in their growing-up world and it triggers responses of fear. If these trainees are able to develop trust with the supervisor and embark on a sandtray, this can be addressed by them through the ability to change, resulting in a certain healing or cathartic process.

Purposeful Supervision: Supervisors should have the activity prepared and allow plenty of time for the activity and process. Because sandplay can be very personally engaging and can tap deeply into the supervisee’s process, adequate time should be allowed for the counselor-trainee to emerge from the work and be able to process sufficiently before reing their daily activities.

Making Footprints in the Sand—Conclusion: Supervisors of counselortrainees have an opportunity to not only impact the life and development of the future counselor they supervise but also, by extension, all of the clients they will someday serve. This ripple effect should inspire supervisors to be creative and to explore ways to deepen the growth process of both themselves and their supervisees. This chapter outlined a model for structuring supervision so that both participants emerge with increased self-awareness and more open to the process. As we continue our journey down the beach of counselor development, we note that the sets of footprints in the sand are often indistinguishable—the client’s, the counselor-trainee’s, and those of the supervisor. Because we are all experiencing the waves of humanness together, the growth of any one of us impacts us all, and the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.

A PICTURE AND A THOUSAND WORDS: COUNSELING THEORY STUDENT MANDALA COLLAGE

Angela L. Anderson and Kristi Perryman

Indications: This semester-long activity is designed to assist counseling students develop a thorough understanding of the theories presented throughout the course.

Goal: To engage students in the concepts of various theoretical orientations of counseling and to allow students to provide a visual representation of their own developing personal theory

Modality: Art

The Fit: One of the major challenges in teaching counseling theories is to help students relate to the material in a personal and applied way. Students must be taught to be more than “consumers” of facts about the therapeutic process and to engage them in an active process of critique, dialogue, exploration, selfawareness, and finally, development of their own delivery system of counseling. Current literature stresses the evolution of therapy to a more integrated approach in an increasingly pluralistic world (Downing, 2004; Lampropoulos, 2000; Wilber, 2000). Parrot’s (1993) assertion that students should be taught “skill in theorizing” would the use of critical thinking and expressive skills in developing a student’s integrative approach. The authors are interested in presenting information in an experiential way and giving students an opportunity to explore meanings through visual and artistic processes. As Robbins (1994) describes, “[T]he image pulls together many levels of the psyche and can make a more accurate and complex statement of cognition than any verbal interpretation” (p. 41).

Populations: Counselors-in-training; Groups/individuals

Materials: Posterboard or heavyweight drawing paper (18 × 24 in.); a variety of magazines; markers, crayons, oil pastel crayons. For each group mandala or theory, draw a large circle on the paper and hang on the wall for each student to contribute their image.

Instructions:

After completing relevant readings for each theory, ask students to identify and bring to class a small image (a magazine cutout, clip-art, photo, etc.) that represents the theory or a significant aspect of the theory from their perspectives as well as a reflective journal entry that addresses the resonance or personal experiences they have with the theory or its concepts as well as describing the ways in which their image relates to the theory. During class, ask each student to explain their image choice and its connection to the theory while attaching the image to a large posterboard mandala, creating a “group” image. In a group discussion of the mandala, explore concepts that were represented by multiple images or students, note concepts that were omitted from the mandala, and explore any new connections/understanding students experience through the activity. You may want to reiterate specific aspects of the theory and to make use of teachable moments to clarify the material covered prior to the class meeting. As each new theory is covered, a new mandala will be created using this process. At the end of the semester, ask students to retrieve their own individual contributions from each week’s mandala and to create a “personal theory” mandala. Let students know that they may use all, part, or none of their images from the semester. Ask students to create a final response paper that describes their image and its relation to their personal theory.

REFERENCES

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Additional Clinical Uses of the Expressive Arts

This chapter will briefly describe the theories and techniques of adventure therapy, child-centered play therapy, and sandplay.

ADVENTURE THERAPY

Mark Gillen

Historical Origins of Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy, or therapy in an outdoor setting, has many origins. Williams (2000) described the first evidence of adventure therapy after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. After buildings at the Agnew Asylum were destroyed, Williams described how patients were forced to live in tents, set up on the asylum grounds, and assisted in the reconstruction of the city. The staff was surprised to find that many of the patients showed immediate and remarkable changes in their behavior. There has been a long history of providing therapy using camping and other outdoor experiences to maladjusted children. Specialized camps, like the University of Michigan Fresh Air Camp, offered controlled experiences, creative learning opportunities, real living situations, and excitement without the client reverting to antisocial behavior (Morse, 1947). Such camps also provided therapists an opportunity to observe clients for a continuous period. However, most researchers agree that adventure therapy evolved from the Outward Bound tradition (Russell, 2001). Outward Bound, a term used to designate the leaving of a safe harbor for a journey into the unknown, originated with Kurt Hahn, an educator, to promote inner qualities of survival. Hahn sought to accomplish this by enhancing emotional and physical ability to deal with stressful events (Pommier, 1994). In the 1960s and 1970s, Outward Bound gained a reputation as an alternative treatment to incarceration for delinquent adolescents. Early researchers of adventure therapy posited that change occurred because of Hahn’s orientation toward character development (Russell, 2001).

Defining Adventure Therapy

The definition of adventure therapy has continued to evolve through the years. Many definitions developed from the idea that adventure therapy was the use of traditional therapy techniques in a wilderness setting with therapeutic intent (Russell, 2000). Davis-Berman and Berman (1993) ed this definition when they described adventure therapy as planned and systematic use of traditional therapy in an outdoor setting. Pommier (1994) stated that adventure therapy combined experiential learning with therapy. The author stated that adventure therapy occurred when clients were integrated into unique environments as participants, where the activities were real and the information gained was present and future-oriented. Pommier stated that adventure therapy was an intervention that presented clients with activities that challenged dysfunctional behaviors and rewarded change. Adventure therapy has also been defined as an active approach that included behavioral change, adventure activities, and unique outdoor settings as the therapeutic milieu (Gillis & Simpson, 1991). Alvarez and Stauffer (2001) agreed that adventure therapy was any intentional use of adventure tools to guide change toward therapeutic goals. Itin (2001) added another layer to the definition of adventure therapy stating that adventure-based practice included change directed at the meta-process level, as well as concrete behaviors, cognitions, and feelings. Itin contended that therapy only began when counselors focused on the unconscious and relevant historical issues.

Components of Adventure Therapy

Beyond the definition lay the attributes or components of adventure therapy which include effective processing with clients, immediate and direct consequences for behavior, and behavior reinforcement that occurs in a unique learning environment (Pommier, 1994). Adventure therapy usually incorporates phases through which clients make progress and during which accomplishment of tasks related to future goals is made possible (Russell, 2001). Kiewa (1994) stated that in effective adventure therapy, clients must first do something and then reflect on it. Kiewa believed that client tasks must have meaningful reality, the consequences must be clear, trust must be included as a component of growth, the client must have choices, and there must be an environment where success is possible. Pommier (1994) synthesized the components of adventure therapy into experiences where clients (a) confronted fear, (b) experienced trust, (c) received immediate, concrete , and (d) experienced consequences. Activities that required the engagement of clients were seen as essential change elements of adventure therapy. What were oftentimes perceived as high-risk activities by the client were actually contrived situations where the perception was greater than the actual risk (Mitten, 1994). Mitten contended that the use of high-risk activity, such as rock climbing, may have enhanced one’s self-esteem; however, it may also have led to negative outcomes if the emotional stress caused by the activity led the client to make poor judgments. Likewise, activities with higher perceived risk increased the dependency of clients on leaders as opposed to ing self-efficacy (Mitten, 1994). Alvarez and Stauffer (2001) declared that activities should be based on an assessment by the therapist and that these adventure therapy activities create corrective life experiences. Alvarez and Stauffer stated that a counselor must assess the strengths and limitations of the client and plan activities that could be learned and transferred into other parts of the client’s life. An important step in this process was the framing of treatment goals (Marx, 1988). Marx stated that treatment-goal planning or behavioral contracting assisted the client and the counselor to clearly communicate their expectations, as well as develop

behavioral tasks. Activities and consequences may be core elements of adventure therapy; however, their effectiveness was suspected without an empathic connection to staff (Russell, 2001). Counselors in the outdoors have practical skills that clients required, including knowledge about how to stay warm, to cook, to backpack, to canoe, or to stay safe when crossing a river. These skills and the interactions between clients and staff allow for the formation of a powerful therapeutic alliance (Williams, 2000). Each adventure therapy program differed in the way that adventure therapy is used. For example, Outward Bound used the natural environment to individual learning. The components that they used were physical activity, intentional use of stress, group work, and the strengthening of cause and effect relationships through the acquisition of new skills (Doud, 1977). The Outward Bound model placed the client in a unique physical and social environment in which he or she was expected to examine problems, solve problems, and repeat learned behaviors (Kiewa, 1994). Characteristics of this approach included group processing, incremental challenges with high-perceived stress, and therapeutic techniques used in a wilderness environment (Russell, 2001). Another commonly imitated adventure therapy program has been known as adventure-based counseling. This holistic counseling milieu included behavioral, affective, and cognitive experiences. It is characterized when clients participate in activities that encourage physical and emotional trust building. This behavior leads to goal setting, challenging situations, and continuous to the participants regarding their behavior (McNamara, 2001; Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988).

Theory and Practice

Gillis and Simpson (1991) described successful adventure therapy programs as those focused on a target group; aimed to promote long-term change; provided an opportunity for the learning of new coping skills; strengthened interactions with home, school, and community; and collected rigorous analytical data. Combs (2001) established that changes in client behavior occurred, but research has been confounded by variables influencing empirical evidence. For example, adventure therapy often takes place as a part of a larger therapeutic environment, such as long-term residential facility or day treatment program where the efficacy of an adventure therapy program can be difficult to establish. There are also concerns about the analytical rigor of adventure therapy programs. Mitten (1994) stated that there were no set standards for processing in adventure therapy, no body of research that identified how changes were made, for whom the changes could be predicted, or the duration of the changes. Parker (1992) agreed that the empirical for adventure therapy was hindered by poor controls, inadequate sample sizes, insufficient follow-up, short treatment, and a lack of theoretical models. Researchers of adventure therapy may also have contributed to the lack of analytical rigor. Investigators may have become so invested in the process of adventure therapy that they assumed outcomes related to treatment effects (Parker, 1992). Levitt (1994) ed this contention and stated that those who love the environment and argued for its benefits might hope that there is something inherently unique that caused favorable effects. Researchers may also have focused on outcome variables to the detriment of the theory behind changes within adventure therapy (McNamara, 2001). Another concern was the lack of research on the ways in which adventure therapy actually promoted change in the behavior of adolescents (Russell, 2000), the most commonly studied adventure therapy population (McNamara, 2001). Adventure therapy seemed to work with clients who had experienced trauma (Mitten, 1994), exhibited conduct-problem behaviors (Pommier, 1994), or

suffered from lack of trust, interpersonal problem-solving deficiencies, depression and anxiety (Williams, 2000). However, more research was needed to define the underlying basis for change within this population when treated in the outdoors. Researchers agree that physically demanding and stressful situations seem to growth and interpersonal effectiveness, trust enhancement, and an internal locus of control (Doud, 1977; Mitten, 1994; Parker, 1992; Russell, 2000). Whatever the type of adventure therapy adopted by a counselor, it should have included a theoretical basis with clear assumptions and outcomes (Russell, 2001). Theory was intended to inform practice. Without a working theory as a guide, important decisions were made with less skill and less effect (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988).

CHILD-CENTERED PLAY THERAPY

Charles E. Myers

Child-centered play therapy (CT) is based on “an encoming philosophy for living one’s life in relationships with children” (Landreth, 2002). This core philosophy is built on the fundamental belief that all people, children included, have an innate capacity for growth and healing with an inherent inner wisdom to enact and to direct this process. Although children possess these innate abilities, life experiences may significantly interrupt their natural capacity for healing (Perry, Pollard, Blakely, Baker, & Vigilante, 1995). Children are relational beings and having healthy relationships with significant others is important to them. CT therapists recognize the importance of these two principles and strive to develop a safe and nurturing environment based on a genuinely accepting, caring, and trusting relationship.

Historical Development of Child-Centered Play Therapy

CT evolved from the work of Virginia Axline (1947) who developed nondirective (humanistic) play therapy based on the client-centered tenets espoused by her mentor, Carl Rogers (1957/1992). Her approach is based on a belief that the natural healing process of children is central to individuation of self and the development of basic self-esteem. Axline (1969) recognized that the play of children holds meaning and that children need to feel understood and accepted. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the feelings and experiences children express through their play and reflecting that understanding back to them. The works of Guerney (1983) and Landreth (2002) contributed to the further development of today’s CT.

Foundations of Child-Centered Play Therapy

CT is founded on the belief in the importance of play and relationships in the lives of children. Play is the central activity of childhood (Landreth, 2002). Children use play to explore, organize, and understand themselves, their relationships with other people and the world around them. CT therapists recognize play as being the most natural mode of communication of children. Ginott (1982) asserted toys are the words of children, and play is the symbolic language in which children communicate. Children naturally express their inner experiences and beliefs through play and activity. The right and importance of play for children has been widely acknowledged by many, including the United Nations (United Nations General Assembly, 1990) and the American Association of Pediatrics (Ginsburg, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications, & American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, 2007). As early as the 1700s, play was recognized as being important in the healthy development of children (Rousseau, 1762/1979). The quality of the play of children has been shown to have a direct effect on their cognitive, affective, and social development (d’Heurle, 1979). Play is considered by many as the most developmentally appropriate learning strategy in working with children (Bredekamp, 1987; Erikson, 1963; Montessori, 1964; Piaget, 1952). At the heart of CT is the belief that healing occurs in the context of a caring, therapeutic relationship between the child and the play therapist. Rogers (1951) outlined six necessary and sufficient conditions for change. These conditions occur when two persons, a child and a play therapist, meet in psychological , in a therapeutic relationship (condition 1). The first person, the child, is in a state of incongruence (condition 2). The second person, the play therapist, demonstrates genuineness within the relationship (condition 3), experiences unconditional positive regard for the child (condition 4), and possesses empathic understanding of the child’s internal perceptions and communicates this experience to the child (condition 5). The child perceives the play therapist as being real, warm, and accepting (condition 6).

Developed on Rogers’s (1957/1992) six conditions, CT is built on a philosophy of attitudes and behaviors in living one’s life in relationship with children (Landreth, 2002). CT therapists hold a deep and abiding belief in the ability of children to constructively self-direct their play in ways that are both healing and meaningful to them (Landreth & Sweeney, 1997). The goal of the play therapist is to relate to children in ways that will release their inner directional, constructive, forward-moving, creative, and self-healing power.

Core Concepts of Child-Centered Play Therapy

Core concepts of CT are found in the personality theory of Rogers’s (1951) person-centered approach, the healing power of the therapeutic relationship, and in the developmental responsiveness of play in helping children.

Personality Theory CT therapists endeavor to develop a relationship facilitative of a child’s inner emotional growth and self-perception. The importance of a child’s selfperception is highlighted by Landreth’s (2002) statement, “how a child feels about herself is what makes a significant difference in behavior” (p. 60). Based on Rogers’s (1951) client-centered play therapeutic constructs, CT therapists recognize the importance of the child’s self-perception and how this perception is the child’s reality. CT personality structure is built on three central constructs: (a) the person, (b) the phenomenal field, and (c) the self (Landreth, 2002; Rogers, 1951).

Person Children are much more than physical bodies defined by their behavior. The person of a child encomes all aspects of his or her being: feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and physical being. Children view their lives and the world around them through a perceptual lens they have developed from their phenomenal field or total experience. Based on their perceptions, children react to the world around them as a complete, interacting system reaching for self-actualization. Children strive for growth and autonomy. Through this process, children attempt to satisfy their perceived needs in the best manner they know (Landreth, 2002). CT therapists recognize and honor a child’s total self and actively work to develop a safe and nurturing environment to facilitate a child’s innate drive for

self-actualization.

Phenomenal Field A child’s phenomenal field consists of everything a child experiences, consciously and subconsciously, externally and internally. A child’s reality is based on perceptions of self, of others, and of the world one lives in. Whether or not these perceptions are accurate, they are reality for the child. CT therapists recognize the importance of understanding the children’s world as seen through “their eyes” and accepting their perceptions as their reality (Landreth, 2002).

Self As children interact with significant others in their lives (e.g., mother, father, teachers) and their own phenomenal field, they begin to differentiate some experiences as their own, developing a sense of self. Children start to realize they experience some things differently than others do. Through this awareness, children develop a need for positive regard and a need to be accepted. Children begin to perceive themselves as being judged by others and fear the loss of their positive regard. These perceptions may lead children to believe that for others to love and to find them worthy, they have to behave, believe, or feel a certain way, even if it is not congruent with their image of self. When children strive for these “conditions of worth” (Fall, Holden, & Marquis, 2004) or conditional positive regard, they experience incongruence between their true selves and the selves they believe they need to be in order to be accepted. This incongruence creates psychological stress and pain. CT therapists recognize the need of children for positive regard and the importance of congruence and strive to provide unconditional positive regard for the children they serve.

Healing Relationship Rogers (1957/1992) contended significant change only occurs within a relationship and that the relationship is the catalyst for therapeutic change. CT therapists create accepting, nurturing environments, facilitating change, and

healing, which allow children to grow. Experiencing the core conditions of an accepting relationship frees children’s self-expression and ability to grow. New experiences formed through the therapeutic relationship help children to increase their levels of self-understanding and self-acceptance. Axline (1950) stated that children are able to explore who they are within the therapeutic relationship and are able to express themselves through their play, increasing their selfknowledge and using their capacities in more effective ways. CT therapists strive to communicate four basic messages to children: “I am here, I hear you, I understand, and I care” (Landreth & Sweeney, 1997, p. 44).

Developmental Responsiveness It is critical for child therapists to approach, to understand, and to treat children from a developmental perspective (Landreth, 2002; Moustakas, 1955). CT is a therapeutic approach responsive to the developmental needs of children (Axline, 1969; Guerney, 1983; Landreth, 2002), providing children opportunities for growth, mastery, and healing (Bratton, Ray, & Landreth, 2008). The play-based approach of CT is rooted in Piaget’s (1952) theory of cognitive development. Children differ from adults in how they understand, process, and communicate information. Adult therapy is heavily dependent on Piaget’s formal operational stage, being abstract and sophisticated, whereas the communication of children is concrete and simple (Sweeney, 1997). Children use symbolism through their play and activity to express their internal frames of reference about themselves, about others, and about the world around them. Play and verbal language are contrasting forms of communication. When a therapist insists children communicate their experiences, feelings, and thoughts cognitively and verbally, he or she is essentially asking children to translate their symbolic experiences into the therapist’s preferred medium of communication. This is similar to asking adult clients with only rudimentary knowledge of Spanish to share their deep feelings, inner thoughts, and intimate experiences solely in Spanish (Myers, 2008). CT therapists understand the importance and purpose of play in the lives of children. Children naturally communicate through play, which provides them a concrete means to express their inner world. Play is essential to the healthy

development of children, being effective and facilitative in their growth and healing. CT is a developmentally responsive approach to the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children (Landreth & Sweeney, 1997).

Issues and Concerns Appropriate for Child-Centered Play Therapy

Play therapy has a seven-decade, research-based, established history as an effective approach to treating a wide range of presenting concerns of children. Bratton, Ray, Rhine, and Jones’s (2005) meta-analysis of 93 controlled outcome studies (1953–2000) ed the effectiveness of play therapy with a large mean effect size of 0.80, showing play therapy to have a large treatment effect in addressing the concerns of children. They found an even larger mean effect size of .93 for the 73 studies using humanistic/nondirective approaches, such as CT. Play therapy has been demonstrated to be an effective, developmentally responsive approach to working with children, addressing presenting concerns in the affective, behavioral, educational, physical, and social realms. CT has been shown to be helpful in treating children presenting with emotional concerns such as trauma and loss, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and low selfesteem. CT has successfully been used to treat behavioral concerns like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, anger, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. CT has been found to have positive outcomes in education, increasing reading skills and cognitive dimensions. CT has been useful in meeting the unique needs of children with physical and medical concerns like sensory integration and terminal illness. CT has been demonstrated to help children struggling with social concerns like familial and peer relations and adjustment to life changes like divorce and global concerns like war and natural disasters. The Association for Play Therapy’s (n.d.) Web site offers a continuingly increasing library of “mining reports,” brief papers on current research on several play therapy issues. In summary, CT therapists trust in the inner direction of children for selfactualization and place the focus of treatment on the child rather than the problem (Landreth, 2002). Therefore, their treatment goals are general. CT therapists strive to provide a ive and understanding relationship, removing emotional blocks, and freeing children’s inner direction for positive growth. CT therapists use the natural mode of communication, exploration,

and discovery of children to help them grow and heal. Through play, children open a window to their inner world, their reality. We are able to see and understand how children view themselves and what is important to them. CT therapists recognize the value of play and the importance of a caring relationship in treating children. True change occurs when we honor childhood and the child.

SANDPLAY THERAPY

Suzanne Degges-White

A Brief History of Sandplay

Sandplay is a therapeutic intervention that allows individuals to articulate their current concerns or problems in a symbolic, nonverbal manner. As its name implies, sandplay involves the use of a tray of sand and the placement of small figurines into the sand by the client. This form of therapy relies on a client’s intuitive knowledge and the counselor’s belief that clients enter the counseling process already possessing the solution to their concerns although they may not yet be aware of this yet. The process of sandplay is typically likened to the archetypal “hero’s journey” (Campbell, 1973) in which an individual travels an unfamiliar and foreboding route into a place of transformation. In 1911, H. G. Wells wrote a book, Floor Games, which described the activities in which he and his children involved themselves while playing together on the floor with small toys. This was the basis for some of the earliest sandplay practitioners. Early professionals who used such a method include Dora Kalff, Margaret Lowenfield, Charlotte Buhler, and Erik Erikson (Mitchell & Friedman, 1994). Through a friendship with C. G. Jung’s daughter, Kalff began work with Jung and this influential collaboration defined Kalff as the first Jungian sandplay therapist. She believed that through sandplay, the unconscious could be made conscious. Jungian sandplay therapists view the “hero’s journey” as a trip into the deepest level of the unconscious where clients are able to create a “constellation of self” tray and then travel back up to the everyday world of reality and life (Mitchell & Friedman, 1994). This process is seen as the vehicle through which healing through sandplay occurs. Kalff (1980/2003) described this process as a three-part journey in which clients would create trays that followed this pattern: (a) animal–vegetative, in which the figures chosen reflected a primal world; (b) conflict/battle, in which a confrontation occurred between the figures chosen; and (c) conflict resolution, the final stage in which the client created a “constellation of the self” and experienced a “birth” of his or her ego, similar to individuation, and then made his or her way back to the “real world” or “collective.” The process of the journey itself is believed to promote emotional

and psychological healing.

Materials

The minimum basic materials needed for sandplay include a container to hold the clean sand and a collection of figures to be placed in the sand. The ideal size of sandtray is 30 in. × 20 in. × 3 in., with the bottom and sides painted blue. Although sandtrays may be ordered from specialty vendors, counselors may also make use of repurposed plastic storage bins of the appropriate size. The selection of figures should encom as many ethnicities, races, gender, and religious belief systems as possible for diverse clients to successfully choose the most relevant figurines to express their thoughts and feelings. Depending on the setting in which a counselor is working, the therapist can offer clients objects representative of that particular milieu (i.e., adhesive strips and syringes if you work at a hospital or medical setting; miniature desks, and blackboards in a school setting, etc.). As a minimum, objects and figures should include the following categories: animals (wild, forest, domesticated, prehistoric, fantasy, and farm); birds; insects; sea creatures; half-human/half-animal (mermaids, centaurs); reptiles and amphibians; monsters; eggs and food; fantasy figures (witches, wizards, kings, and queens); plants; rocks, shells, and fossils; mountains and caves; volcanoes; buildings; barriers; vehicles; people; fighting figures; spiritual (such as priests, Buddha, crucifix, etc.); and any additional figures you would like to add (Amatruda & Simpson, 1997). A camera should also be available to record each sandtray created by a client over the course of therapy.

The Process

Both adults and children can benefit from this adjunctive therapy, which calls on the active imagination to express with symbols that is difficult to express in words. Sandplay has been compared with the dream process in that the images that appear are not the product of conscious thought. Sandplay techniques allow clients to explore issues at their own speed and without having to use direct verbal exploration of the concern. This benefit is especially appreciated when younger clients do not have the necessary vocabularies to discuss their concerns or feelings. Children who are victims of various types of abuse can use sandplay figures to directly, or indirectly, act out their feelings and trauma. Even adults who are struggling with communicating deep-seated feelings, conflicts, and experiences successfully use this type of therapy to explore these issues. Clients typically create a new tray each session and their creations reflect their progress through symbolic selection and placement of the figures used. As the counselor first introduces clients to this medium, they are shown the figurines and the sandtray and invited to “create a world in the sand.” As a client works, it is important that the counselor merely acts as witness to the process—it is not advisable to ask questions regarding the client’s choice or placement of figures as he or she works. The first tray created by a client often holds not only part of the problem, but also part of the solution (Amatruda & Simpson, 1997). It is important to reflect on all the materials that the client presents during each sandtray, both verbal communications and nonverbal. For instance, counselors should note which objects go in first, which are removed before the tray is set, and which objects are picked up, considered, and placed back on the shelf. Much information can be gleaned from the client’s physical movements as well as his or her activity level during the creation of his or her tray. Some practitioners suggest not asking a client direct questions about his or her finished creation, whereas others invite clients to tell them about their work as they create the tray or when they have completed it. Children frequently narrate their activities and the activities of their figures as they create their trays. After a client leaves the session, it is useful to

take a photograph of the tray, in addition to any sketching of the tray done during the session so that a record of the client’s work exists. It is also essential that the client’s tray not be disassembled until after the end of the session and after the client has departed. The image reflects the “work” the client is doing, and to disassemble the tray in front of the client is perceived as undoing the work of the client’s session. Because the process of creating each sandtray is perceived as the therapeutic process, it is not necessary to interpret each sandtray created. In fact, interpretation of a sandtray can be as multifaceted as there are counselors. It is wise to that our own interpretations are just that—our own interpretations and they may not necessarily reflect the client’s meaning or intentions. As you review photos of a particular sandtray, new understandings and symbolism of particular elements of the tray may arise. There are numerous books available on symbolism (i.e., Cirlot’s [1971] A Dictionary of Symbols) to help with interpretation of sand work, but the process itself can lead the client to transformation without outside interpretive works being consulted (Amatruda & Simpson, 1997). Some clients may use the sandtray as an anchor for the counseling process and return to it at each session whereas others may simply create a single sandtray at the start of their work. It provides a space for depth work and metaphor to arise and allows even the most nonverbal clients a means of communicating from a deeply personal level.

REFERENCES

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Appendix: Summary Chart of Expressive Arts Activities

The following chart lists all of the activities within this book, organized by expressive art modality and then by chapter so the reader can quickly find all activities involving art, bibliotherapy, drama, and so forth.