Towards a deeper integration of creative methods in counselling: some thoughts about frameworks for practice

ABSTRACT

Creative methods in counselling are generally regarded as adjunctive techniques and procedures. In this paper I advocate for a deeper integration of creative methods within counselling and propose that one way forward would be to develop more inclusive frameworks for this practice. To this end, I consider some of the ways clinicians and theorists, particularly from the creative/expressive arts therapies, have sought to develop integrative approaches for imagination-based therapeutic practices. This overview also pays attention to attempts within talking therapies to develop more descriptive/functional models for the use of mental imagery that allow an integration across theoretical orientations. Some of the most relevant models and theoretical positions are then discussed in the light of their potential to inform frameworks for the use of creative methods in counselling.

KEYWORDS:

• Expressive arts therapies
• creative methods
• inclusive frameworks
• talking therapies
• imagination-based methods

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Valerie Thomas, BA (Hons.) PG Dip Couns., MA Couns. & Psychotherapy, DPsych, is a counselling practitioner, supervisor and trainer. She was formerly a Senior Lecturer with lead responsibility for the counselling programmes at Anglia Ruskin University, UK. She has specialised in therapeutic applications of mental imagery for many years, and is now developing its use as a creative reflective practice for research and creative work-related processes.