ABSTRACT

Creative Therapy in Challenging Situations introduces readers to the innovative approaches that therapists sometimes take when standardized, paint-by-numbers routines don’t work. Each chapter presents the story of one or more difficult psychotherapy situations followed by the therapists’ descriptions of what they did and why, as well as the outcome that resulted. The authors and their stories span a wide variety of theoretical approaches and contexts, showing how clinicians can improvise beyond everyday scenarios and techniques. This collection of provocative, instructive vignettes from well-known practitioners often generates “You said what?!” reactions while encouraging readers to think creatively in the moment in order to reach healthy, innovative outcomes from the trickiest and most unexpected therapeutic scenarios.

chapter |5 pages

“You Said What?”

Introduction and Invitation

chapter |6 pages

The Accidental Drug Dealer

chapter |16 pages

A Different Kind of Education

chapter |10 pages

A Violent Life 1

Using Brief Therapy “Logics” to Facilitate Change

chapter |12 pages

Transforming Trauma and the Migration of Identity

Accepting the “Call” from Outside the Cave

chapter |10 pages

Heating Up to Cool Down

An Encountering Approach to Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Brief Therapy

chapter |11 pages

The Rock-n-Rollers Remixed

Back to the Future

chapter |10 pages

Going “One-Down” 1

chapter |8 pages

“No Way – You Gotta Be Kidding!”

Using Ordeals to Promote Problem-Stopping 1

chapter |9 pages

The Single Stroke

What Makes “Zingers” Zing? 1

chapter |11 pages

Our Clients Are Able and Strong

MRI Problem-Solving Brief Therapy in Action

chapter |16 pages

Beyond Reason and Insight

The 180-Degree Turn in Therapeutic Interventions

chapter |10 pages

They Said What?

Themes and Lessons