Learn More About How to Help Adults in Group Counseling Sessions

First Name: Maurice
Last Name: F.

Country: United States
Comments or Questions: Hi Dr.Stangline,

I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor who found your website and interested in using your ideas in a group session with adults. I am NOT an art therapist and I work in the substance abuse field and I'm interested in creative ways of doing this field of work, particularly, for clients who've been in treatment multiple times.

I am seeking a way that group sessions can be engaging and less boring to them.

If you are still helping professionals, I'd be interested in reading and using ideas from your eBooks.

Thank you for your encouraging words for this novice counselor in the field. I look forward to learning more!

Sincerely,

Maurice F. LMHC
 Fri Nov 06 13:15:00 2020

Hello Maurice,

Thanks for your email. My "Creative Group 101 eBook" has lots of creative ideas to use in the group session. It has a section on grief therapy. I will send you my free Grief eBook. It is just a small eBook, but I share this with clients and students. Also, it does not matter if you are an art therapist, play therapist, grief therapist, etc..

If you are licensed you can use art with therapy. Check out my "Beyond Art Therapy 101 eBook". Remember, art therapists use the same adage play therapists use.... If you use a toy you have to be certified as a registered play therapist. Art Therapists say,  "If you use crayons, or markers, you need to be an art therapist." I have talked to the past board president of my Licensed Professional Counseling Association and several of my old professors at Mercer University and they always say, "If you are a licensed therapist you can do anything..... just seek training!" Congratulations on doing the right thing by finding ways to fulfill your clients needs!

Just a note I started out in the substance abuse field at Ridgeview Institute in Atlanta and wrote my first eBook "Creative Counseling 101" because my clients needed so much more than the boring adult counseling groups we offered at the time. I would have repeat clients come into the group and say, "We have done this activity before!" You are off to a great start!

My eBooks were basically started because I wanted to help the adult clients in adult group counseling sessions.

See the link below to more training opportunities on my website and continue to seek training in the areas your clients need. Good Luck!

https://www.creativecounseling101.com/all-creative-counseling-eooks-play-therapy.html

Sincerely,

Dr. Michelle Stangline

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.