Creative Therapy in Challenging Situations

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.

Michael F. Hoyt, Ph.D., is a psychologist based in Mill Valley, California. He is the author/editor of numerous publications, including Single-Session Therapy by Walk-In or Appointment; Brief Therapy and Beyond; and Therapist Stories of Inspiration, Passion, and Renewal. Monte Bobele, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. He is the co-editor of Single-Session Therapy by Walk-In or Appointment and When One Hour is All You Have, and the author of numerous other publications.

Acknowledgments About the Contributors 1. "You Said What?": Introduction and Invitation, Michael F. Hoyt and Monte Bobele 2. The Accidental Drug Dealer, Andrew T. Austin 3. A Different Kind of Education, Bob Bertolino 4. On a Small Island Off the Coast of Texas, Monte Bobele 5. A Violent Life: Using Brief Therapy "Logics" to Facilitate Change, Flavio Cannistrá 6. Transforming Trauma and the Migration of Identity: Accepting the "Call" from Outside the Cave, Jim Duvall 7. Heating Up to Cool Down: An Encountering Approach to Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Brief Therapy, Douglas Flemons 8. Looking "Outside the Box" for Client Strengths, Joseph A. Goldfield 9. The Rock-n-Rollers Remixed: Back to the Future, Shelley Green 10. Going "One-Down", Michael F. Hoyt 11. "No Way - You Gotta Be Kidding!": Using Ordeals to Promote Problem-Stopping, Michael F. Hoyt 12. However Great the Question, It's the Answer That Makes a Difference, Chris Iveson 13. 120 Centimeters from Sainthood, Hillary Keeney and Bradford Keeney 14. Random Effects of Ambiguity Along the Pathway Toward Health, David V. Keith 15. When Impatience Gets the Best of Me, Jeffrey Kottler 16. The Single Stroke: What Makes "Zingers" Zing?, Michelle Ritterman 17. Our Clients Are Able and Strong: MRI Problem-Solving Brief Therapy in Action, Karin Schlanger and Esther Krohner 18. Frida Kahlo is Sassy, Clara Haydee Solís Ponce and Pedro Vargas Avalos 19. Beyond Reason and Insight: The 180-degree Turn in Therapeutic Interventions, Terry Soo-Hoo 20. They Said What?: Themes and Lessons, Michael F. Hoyt and Monte Bobele Index