Teaching a Course on Creativity in Counseling: Ideas for Counselor Educators

Abstract

This column is designed to underscore relationally based creative teaching practices used by counselor educators in the classroom. Our intention is to provide examples of novel, innovative ways for counselor educators and students to deepen their learning while collaborating toward a spirit of connection and cooperation. If you have implemented a creative teaching method or if you have adapted an existing method that you would like to share with readers, please follow submission guidelines in the author information packet available at http://www.creativecounselor.org/Journal.html

The benefits of creativity in counseling have been proclaimed by authors; however, training on creativity is sparse. Some literature exists on ways to implement a course on creativity in counseling, and certain counseling programs have incorporated classes and workshops on creativity in master's-level counseling programs. Still, there has been a call for more detailed descriptions for teaching the arts in counseling. In addition, bridging the gap between academia and creativity has been cited as an important consideration for educators interested in creativity in counseling (Carson & Becker, 2004). This article is an answer to the call for more detailed descriptions for teaching creativity in counselor education. As well, it details how to bridge the gap between academia and creativity.

Keywords:

• creativity
• counselor education
• creative approaches
• teaching

Notes

¹Submission from Ryan Mahler's Creative Resource Notebook, 2007. Reprinted with permission.