Enhancing Self-Awareness Through Creative Experiential-Learning Play-Based Activities

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 colloborating 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.

Self-awareness is a critical component of developing counselors-in-training, as greater self-awareness increases empathy, congruence, and understanding of the client experience (Rogers, 1957). Creative activities used within counseling courses, such as a play therapy course, provide a medium for increasing students’ self-awareness (Bar-On, 2007; Lennie, 2007; Luke & Kiweewa, 2010). The purpose of this article is to provide examples of experiential play-based activities used in a play therapy course to enhance counselor self-awareness through reflective practice. Additionally, the activities discussed may also support increased self-awareness in supervision, individual counseling, and group counseling. Finally, the article provides descriptive support (i.e., journal quotations) for these activities.

KEYWORDS:

• play therapy
• counselors-in-training
• self-awareness
• creativity in counseling

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hope Bell

Hope Bell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.

Dodie Limberg

Dodie Limberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.

Lamerial Jacobson

Lamerial Jacobson is a Post Doctoral Associate in the Department of Educational and Human Sciences at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

John T. Super

John T. Super is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Human Development and Organizational Studies at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.