The Creative Therapist
The Art of Awakening a Session

In The Creative Therapist, Bradford Keeney makes the case that "creativity is the most essential aspect of vibrant, meaningful, and successful therapy." No matter what therapeutic orientation one practices, it must be awakened by creativity in order for the session to come alive. This book presents a theoretical framework that provides an understanding of how to go outside habituated ways of therapy in order to bring forth new and innovative possibilities. A basic structure for creative therapy, based on the outline of a three-part theatrical play, is also set forth. With these frameworks, practical guidelines detail how to initiate and implement creative contributions to any therapeutic situation.

Erickson, Preface. Introduction: Therapy: Dead or Alive? Part I: Bringing it Forth. Theatre of Creative Transformation. Three-act Therapeutic Performances. In-and-Out-of-the-Box Musings. Part II: Awakening a Session. "Man of Plenty." "A Night in the Love Corral." "Weight-ing to Leave." "Cody." "Pea Shooter Love." "Seaman's Song for His Son." "Spiritual Eyes for Trance." "Making the News." "Magmore." Part III: "Therapy of Therapy." Christine Apple Nut's Theatre of Therapy. The Psychoanalyst Who Wanted to be a Priest. Funny Medicines for Children. Absurd Action Koans for Therapists. The Therapeutic Crossroads.

Bradford Keeney, PhD, is presently Professor, Department of Transformative Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, and Clinical Director, Center for Children and Families, Monroe, Louisiana. He has served distinguished careers as a social cybernetician, systemic therapist, anthropologist of cultural healing traditions, conversation analyst, improvisational performer, and creative consultant. Kenney has directed several doctoral programs and has worked at some of the most highly respected psychotherapy institutes, including the Ackerman Institute, the Karl Menninger Center, and the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic at the University of Pennslyvania. He is the originator of several orientations of psychotherapy and the inventor of a reserach method that discerns pattern in conversation ("recursive frame analysis"). Kenney presently is utlizing what he has learned from the arts and sciences across diverse cultural traditions to explore uncommon creativity in psychotherapy and the transformative arts.