Creative Pedagogy: Infusing the Ways Paradigm in a Foundational Course

ABSTRACT

The relationship between theory and intervention in counseling is complex, raising an interesting dilemma in counselor education. How do counselors in training learn to be grounded in a theoretical framework while maintaining the necessary flexibility and resources to adapt interventions to client need? This article presents a creative pedagogical model which allows counselor educators to scaffold guiding theory development for CITs through use of the Ways Paradigm in the foundations of counseling course. The nuances of who we are as counselors, our primary guiding theory, and the need to be flexible in intervening are highlighted. Examples of the course schedule, assignments, and student feedback forms are included. Counselor education programs can easily implement the creative model presented utilizing the Ways Paradigm. Future directions regarding use with school counselors in training and supervision are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Pedagogy
• counselor education
• ways paradigm
• guiding theory development
• counseling
• creativity
• creativity in counseling

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Dr. Amy Barth for feedback on previous drafts.