CREATIVE COUNSELING TECHNIQUES
MARCH 24, 2015
WVDE REGIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR CONFERENCE
Dr. Bob Rubenstein, Professor
Dr. Lisa Burton, Associate Professor
Marshall University
Counseling Department
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES
•To focus the session
•To make concepts more concrete
•To heighten awareness
•To dramatize a point
•To speed up the counseling process
•To enhance learning because people are visual learners
•To enhance learning because people are experiential learners
8 COMMON MISTAKES OF COUNSELORS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Reflects much more than necessary
Listens to too many stories
Rarely interrupts the client
Does not focus the session
Waits too long to focus and funnel the session-- dawdles
Does not use theory--uses the "hope" method of counseling
Makes counseling boring--rarely uses creative techniques
Does not pay attention to client’s and his/her voice and face
WHY CREATE A VISION BOARD
• It is intended to inspire and focus goals by keeping them on display 24/7….365
days of the year.
• It assists students in clarifying for themselves what is most important to them.
• It keeps the WHAT right in front by focusing on the big picture of life.
• Helps to enhance the positive aspects about the student.
• Great way to set and visualize goals.
VISION BOARD IDEAS
Brave Girls
Information and Templates
http://bravegirlsclub.com/archives/4566
http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/pdfs/brave_little_girl_project.pdf
GREAT BLOG WITH IDEAS
http://entirelyelementary.blogspot.com/2012/08/beginning-of-year-theme-beyourself.html
This blog is great for links to resources for the words and phrases.
DIFFERENT PROPS
•Shield – person feels verbally attacked by others
•Filter – use when helping student not take things so personally – filtering out comments
•Cups – self-esteem, need for love, and personal worth cup
•Fuse - anger
•Rubber Bands – tension, trusting
•Balloons – anger or feelings being held inside
•Post-it Notes – insights in counseling are not sticking once they leave
•Money – self-worth
•Hammer – tendency to beat up on themselves or others
•Play-Doh/Rock – controlling anger, bullying, problems at home (some things in life we can control situations,
some times in life we can change the situation, and some times in life we can’t control situations.)
Memory Boxes can be used for grief. It is a nice way to remember someone and
compartmentalize the grief when it gets too overwhelming
THE ROAD OF YOUR LIFE
Art Therapy Intervention to represent one’s life like a road. “Imagine your life is like a
journey along a road. Draw a picture to represent what this road would look like.
Think about the important events that have happened so far and where you hope to
be heading.”
YOU ROCK
Give to students after individual sessions to take with them. Reminder
that someone thinks they “rock” and a reminder about the session
and what was discussed.
STRESS FIDGETS
$1 pool noodle + 1 serrated knife + 2 minutes = 52 stress fidgets.
DOOR DECOR
Post it notes and colorful paper – great way to stay positive and pass positive
thoughts to students
SOUNDTRACK OF LIFE
Create a soundtrack that reflects who they are and/or major events in their lives.
Ask students to do the following:
1. Make a list of significant events in your life.
2. Write down the names of five to ten songs that accompany those events.
3. Create cover art to accompany the song selections. This can be in the form of
drawing, painting or collage.
Have students share song list. Discuss the meaning for each song and its relevance to
the life event. It can help increase their ability to express their emotions, self-esteem,
and self-worth.
WORRY DOLLS
Great activity to help students make that struggle with anxiety and those that worry
too much. For example, if they are having trouble sleeping due to worrying, they can
tell the doll their worries, place it under their pillow and let the doll worry in place of
them for the night. https://gretchenmiller.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/worry-dollmuneca-quitapenas-how-to/
CONNECTING THE POSITIVES WITH A NAME
http://www.wordle.net/
BEING IN CHARGE OF YOURSELF
•Things you can control inside the hula hoop.
•Things you can’t control outside the hula hoop.
•Students must decide through your list or with the
issues they bring to you – if they can control it
or not.
Examples: school rules, their behavior, their feelings,
their attitude, their friends and their reaction
to friends.
COOL DOWN CUBES - ANGER
Plastic Ice Cubes about $4.00
Container and a Marker
Write down safe “cool down” strategies on each ice cube. For example: count to ten,
walk away, talk to a friend, take three deep breaths, etc. Leave a few black for
students to come up with new ideas.
You can even put them in the freezer for a bigger impact.
SELF-CONTROL BUBBLES
First, blow some bubbles and as expected let students pop them.
Then challenge the students to NOT pop the bubbles even if one lands on their nose.
Great way to introduce and work with students on self-control. It is important to stop
and think before you act or say something.
MAGIC WAND – SOLUTION FOCUSED
What if a magic wand was waved over you tonight as you sleep and this problem is
gone, what would be different about you in the morning?
Students are able to reflect on what their goals really is and then we are able to
work towards that goal.
CREATIVE INTERVENTIONS YOU HAVE USED
QUESTIONS
Dr. Bob Rubenstein
brubenstein@marshall.edu
Dr. Lisa Burton
burton15@marshall.edu