Each volume in this unique series presents 52 innovative, field-tested, and ready-to-use exercises for mental health professionals who work with any type of group in any type of setting. The exercises are designed to help group members develop interactive skills, motivate individuals with poorer verbal skills to contribute to group discussions, and encourage group cohesiveness. The variety in these exercises makes them relevant for every stage of group development. Complete directions for the group leader are included with each exercise. These techniques have proved effective for all ages, from children over six to adolescents and adults.

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.

It is no easy task to find a teaching technique that can truly change the course of a child with special needs. Thirty years ago, when Janet Tubbs began working with children who had low self-esteem and behavioral problems, she developed a successful program using art, music, and movement. Believing that unconventional children required unconventional therapies, she then took her program one step further—she applied it to children with autism, ADD/ADHD, and Asperger’s Syndrome. Her innovative methods and strategies not only worked, but they actually defied the experts. In this new book, Janet Tubbs has put together a powerful teaching tool to help parents, therapists, and teachers work with their children. Creative Therapy for Children with Autism, ADD, and Asperger's ​​is divided into two parts. Part One provides an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders and introduces and explains Janet’s novel approach to teaching. Her goal is to balance the child’s body, mind, and spirit through proven techniques. Part Two provides a wide variety of exercises, activities, and games that are both fun and effective. Each is designed to reduce hyperactivity, increase and prolong focus, decrease anger, develop fine motor skills, or improve social and verbal skills. All are part of a program created to help these children relate to their environment without fear, anxiety, or discomfort. A child may appear stubborn and difficult, but that doesn’t mean that the child isn’t intelligent, curious, or creative. With the right treatment, such a child can be reached, taught, and set on the road to improvement. The lessons provided in this book may be just what you and your child have been waiting for.

In The Creative Therapist in Practice Hillary and Bradford Keeney present a radically innovative approach to the practice of therapy. Combining improvisational performing arts, action-oriented cybernetics, and ecstatic healing traditions, therapy is re-imagined as a creative transformative art. The book demonstrates the principles of creative therapy through numerous transcriptions of sessions conducted by the authors. It guides practitioners in conducting a three-part therapeutic performance: beginning with therapeutic techniques that broaden the context, igniting a session to creatively "cook," and finally concluding with a creative prescription for change that can be incorporated into the client’s daily living. As well as tracing the historical development of creative therapy, chapters explore what is possible for the future of therapy when practitioners leave behind conventional models and theoretical interpretations. Applying case examples of creative therapy to a wide range of presenting concerns, The Creative Therapist in Practice will be relevant to clinicians working across the field of mental health, including licensed psychotherapists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. Filled with inspiring anecdotes, unique interventions, and fascinating case illustrations, it will benefit anyone looking to become more naturally improvisational and wake up the creative life force in their sessions.

Keeney has presented keynote addresses to audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Japan, Central and South America, and Australia. He is also the author of several classics in the field of psychotherapy. The methods outlined in this book can be applied to any therapeutic orientation. Therapy must be creatively alive for it be be engaging and effective.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1. A short story of art therapy practice in the United States / P. St. John. 2. The theory and practice of Jungian art therapy / H. Mazloomian. 3. The assessment attitude / A. Mills. 4. Individual art therapy with resistant adolescents / S. Boyes. 5. Art therapy within an interdisciplinary framework: working with aphasia and communication science disorders / E. G. Horovitz. 6. The history of play therapy / M. D. Barnes. 7. Theoretical perspectives of play therapy / J. A. Thomas-Acker and S. S. Sloan. 8. Combining play and cognitive interventions in the treatment of attachment disordered children / K. O'Connor. 9. Play therapy assessments / C. E. Myers. 10. Expressive therapies with grieving children / H. R. Glazer. 11. Moving with meaning: the historical progression of dance/movement therapy / L. D. Nemetz. 12. Theoretical perspectives in D/MT: visions for the future / S. C. Koch. 13. The Kestenberg movement profile / S. C. Hastie. 14. Assessment in dance/movement therapy / R. F. Cruz. 15. In-schol dance/movement therapy for traumatized children / R. Kornblum and R. L. Halsten. 16. Meditation and movement therapy for children with traumatic stress reactions / D. A. O'Donnell. 17. The history of music therapy / J. Bradt. 18. Music therapy theoretical approaches / A. M. LaVerdiere. 19. A mosaic of music therapy assessments / E. B. Miller. 20. Empowering women survivors of childhood sexual abuse: a collaborative music therapy - social work approach / S. L. Curtis and G. C. T. Harrison. 21. Music therapy with inner city, at-risk children: from the literal to the symbolic / V. A. Camilleri. 22. Ancient and modern roots of drama therapy / S. Bailey. 23. Drama therapy theoretical perspectives / Y. Silverman. 24. The use of role-play as an assessment instrument / T. Rubenstein. 25. Dramatherapy and refugee youth / Y. Rana. 26. Psychodrama still growing and evolving after all these years / K. Carnabucci. 27. Poetry, the healing pen / M. Alschuler. 28. The therapeutic value of poetry / N. Leedy. 29. Creative connections / M. P. Hand. 30. Ethical delivery of creative therapeutic approaches / K. Larson.

Communication and Aging: Creative Approaches to Improving the Quality of Life provides an overview of alternative approaches used to improve the quality of life of individuals with long-term chronic communication diseases associated with aging and neurogenic diseases. This text examines how professionals can inspire and develop programs that allow patients to live successfully with their disorders. -- from back cover.