ABSTRACT
This chapter makes a strong case for why couple and family therapists should prospect for creative ideas and use metaphors from fields outside of the world of psychotherapy, from such diverse fields as art, architecture, film, theater, literature, philosophy, history, music, science and technology, and nature. Recent research on extra-neural resources indicates that creative ideas are often sparked in certain environments (situated cognition), while engaged in certain activities (embodied cognition), and in collaboration with others (collective intelligence), rather than being brain-bound. The author provides case examples of how therapists can tap creative ideas and metaphors from the fields of art, architecture, film, theater, literature, philosophy, history, music, science and technology, and nature to craft intriguing and bold questions and to co-design high-quality solutions with their clients. By doing so, therapists will expand their therapeutic range and use of themselves with couples and families. The chapter demonstrates the artistic dimension of couple and family therapy and how the sky is the limits in terms of the possibilities that lie outside of the field of psychotherapy. Finally, the chapter concludes with five idea-generating strategies therapists can use when feeling stuck, including tapping the expertise and collective intelligence of a consultation team of colleagues.
