Title: Creative Counseling: 25 Expressive Play Ideas to Make Sense of Emotional Chaos

Presenters: Denis' A. Thomas, PhD, Catherine Stutzner, BSW, and Angelique Howington, BA

Description: Natalie Rogers, daughter of the late Carl Rogers, wrote, “What is creative is frequently therapeutic. What is therapeutic is frequently a creative process.” Expressive arts foster emotional healing, resolve inner conflict, and awaken individual creativity. Come learn creative techniques that foster stronger helping relationships, expedite the counseling process, and deepen the level of the therapeutic work. Leave with 25 ideas to use immediately.

Title: Creative Interventions for Use with Those Who Self-Injure

Presenters: Victoria E. Kress, PhD and Laurie M. Craigen , PhD

Description: In this session, attendees will learn about evidence-based counseling approaches counselors can use with those who self-injure. The session will provide creative, engaging, interactive, and experiential counseling interventions that can be used in applying evidence-based counseling approaches across counseling settings. Attendees will receive detailed directions for applying the activities.

Title: Creative Means to Therapeutic Ends: Techniques for Narrative Practice

Presenters: Christina Thaier, MEd and Megan Dooley, MSEd

Description: Interested in narrative therapy? Do you love the idea of story, and creativity in counseling, but aren’t sure how to put it into practice? Then this session is for you! Join in to hear more about narrative therapy and learn simple, yet powerful, creative techniques you can bring to your very next session. You’ll be re-storying before one can say “happily ever after.”

Title: Creativity to Make Counseling Better: The Brain Likes Novelty

Presenters: Ed Jacobs, PhD and Christine Schimmel, EdD

Description: This session is built on the premise that the brain likes novelty. Presenters will discuss and demonstrate more than 15 creative techniques that make counseling more engaging. The use of simple props, chairs, movement and a whiteboard will be presented. Much of the session will be short demonstrations of creative techniques to use with various populations. Attendees will walk away with ideas they can use the next time they conduct counseling.

Title: Humor, Health and Healing: When and How to Use Levity in Counseling

Presenter: Samuel T. Gladding, PhD

Description: The use of humor is like other counseling techniques: it can hurt or it can heal. This session will examine when and how humor can be used in counseling across the life span, considering multicultural factors and other variables, such as age, sexuality and ability. The focus will be on how humor can help clients in multiple circumstances broaden their perspectives, become more positive and lighthearted and find meaningfulness, balance and levity in their lives. Evidence-based research will be discussed as well as case studies.