Whose Line Is It, Anyway? Using Improvisational Exercises to Spark Counselor Development

ABSTRACT

New counselors often struggle to respond to the unpredictability and ambiguity inherent in clinical interactions. Improvisational acting exercises can be used to help counselors-in-training become more comfortable thinking on their feet. By creating a safe environment for students to engage in extemporaneous expression, educators can model ways of developing rapport while helping students increase their sense of interactional self-efficacy. This article describes the benefits of using improvisational exercises in the classroom to encourage spontaneity, experimentation, and self-reflection. Example exercises that may be incorporated into counselor education courses are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Counselor education
• creativity
• creativity in counseling
• improvisation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Lawrence

Christopher Lawrence is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

Susannah C. Coaston

Susannah C. Coaston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Her research interests focus on wellness, counselor development, and creative teaching and counseling interventions.