Creative

Strategies
to Enhance Your Effectiveness as a
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
 Why Creative
Techniques?

2 Stone, 2009
THEORY AND CREATIVE
TECHNIQUES ADD IMPACT TO
SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS
BY
Increasing their effectiveness, which can
decrease time spent in responsive services
Creating a school-wide common language
Creating a common understanding of healthy
behavior among all stakeholders
Improving communication among students,
parents and staff
Adding energy
3 Stone, 2009
 Five Kinds of Creative
Counseling

Use of Props
Use of Chairs
Use of Movement
Use of Writing and Drawing
Use of Analogies and Fantasies

Application of these techniques

will enhance your effectiveness as a school
counselor
4 Stone, 2009
Impact Therapy (IT):
Creative Counseling Techniques (p. 3)

Four Ms of IT RCFF

Multi-sensory Rapport
Motivational Contract
Marketing Focus
Maps Funnel

5 Stone, 2009
 The Depth Chart

10
9
8
IMPACT 7
6
5
4
3
2
1

6 Stone, 2009
EIGHT COMMON MISTAKES
OF COUNSELORS (Jacobs, 1994)

1. Reflects much more

than necessary
2. Listens to too many 5. Waits too long to
stories focus/ funnel
3. Rarely interrupts the 6. Does not use theory
client 7. Makes counseling
4. Does not focus the boringrarely uses
session creative techniques
8. Does not pay
attention voice and
7 face Stone, 2009
IMPORTANT SENTENCES IN
COUNSELING (p. 7)

All behavior is purposeful

Thoughts cause feelings
Get your expectations in line with
reality
You teach people how to treat you
Life is a series of choices
8 Stone, 2009
 STAGES OF CHANGE (p. 9)
(Prochaska, Norcross & Di Clemente, 1994)

Pre-contemplation: Not even thinking about

changing

Contemplation: Thinking about changing, or

thinking about thinking about changing

Preparation: Getting ready to change

Action: Doing it; making changes
Maintenance: Working on it
Termination: All done; changed; different
9 Stone, 2009
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR
THERAPY (REBT p. 12) Ellis, 1962
Sustained negative feelings are caused by
what we tell ourselves about a situation.
REBT counselors use an ABC approach
A = the situation or person or event
B = the beliefs or self-talk about A
C = feelings and behavior

B causes C but most people believe that

10 A causes C Stone, 2009
REBT Ellis, 1962

REBT counselors often use a Not True/True grid

when disputing
Not True True
Its awful that I dont like when he acts this
he acts this way. way, but I can stand it.
I cant stand it!

Thoughts Cause Feelings!

Feelings Lead to Behaviors

11 Stone, 2009
REBT Ellis, 1962

REBT counselors teach & confront their clients

about self-talk
REBT counselors use phrases like It would be nice
or Its too bad. Clients use words like awful,
terrible, or horrible
REBT counselors look for shoulds, musts,
demands, commands
Peoples problems center around three musts:
I must
You must
The world must
12 Stone, 2009
Irrational Ideas
(p. 15 -20)

Common Irrational
Beliefs of Kids,
Parents, Teachers
REBT & Creative Techniques (p. 21)
(Jacobs, 1994)

Tapes/CD/Files Hammer
Cards Behind You
$1 bill Shield
LFT Filter
Blocks Cups
Coin flip Fuse
Balls Chairs
14 Stone, 2009
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS (p. 28)
(Berne, 1964)

Parent
Critical or Nurturing

Adult The Thinking Part

Child

Hurt Child or Fun Child

15 Stone, 2009
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
TECHNIQUES
Ego grams V

Chairs
Scripts you are living
Drama Triangle Girl
Drama
Four Life Positions:
Im not OKYoure OK P R
Im OKYoure not OK
Im not OK-Youre not OK
Im OKYoure OK
16 Stone, 2009
p. 35

Which Kid Are You?

17 Stone, 2009
 Creative
Techniques (p. 38 - 40)

Props
Chairs
Movement

Writing and Drawing

Analogies and Fantasies
PROPS
Shield 1 $ bill
Filter Post-it Pads
Coke Bottle Cards

Cups Tapes/CDs

Fuse Rubber bands

Beer Bottle Stacked dolls
Dolls In Face/Behind You
Plate Tigger/Eeyore

Hammer Backpack
19 Stone, 2009
CHAIRS
Goals

Trying to decide between two things

Distance

Representing ego states

Holding on to chair

Trying to sit in two chairs at once

Standing on chairs

Chair you no longer fit in

20 Stone, 2009
MOVEMENT
Standing on chair
Fear of change
Standing in corner
Circling drama triangle
Out the door
Feeling pulled
Evaluation of progress
Movement between chairs & walls

21 Going in circles
Stone, 2009
 WRITING AND DRAWING

TA drawings Lists

REBT disputes Powerful phrases

Stroke economy Board of directors

Ego grams Enmeshment

Home, school, friends 1 10 ratings

22 Stone, 2009
ANALOGIES AND FANTASIES

Pot bound: Plants need bigger pot

Gardening: Weed regularly
Learning a new language: Daily practice
Skiing: Start on easy slope
Dieting: takes time and focus
Movie: Cast/setting, wardrobe, etc.
Perspective: Depends on where you are sitting
Walls: Building them, taking them down
23 Stone, 2009
 Thanks &
Good Luck!

Contact Me:

Ed Jacobs
Ed.Jacobs@mail.wvu.edu