Creativity in professional counseling: creative professional counselors’ perspectives

Abstract

The study of creativity has been a far-reaching research interest in many industries for over a century. The study utilized a grounded theory approach to explore the depth and perception of creativity within counseling. Limited research focuses on licensed professional counselors who are in practice and use a creative approach as part of their counselor identity. Reviewing several meta-analyses, the literature suggests that counselors in practice participate the least in counseling research. This qualitative study adds uniquely to the counseling literature that focuses on counselor approaches and methodologies. This study concentrated on the direct perception of the professional counselor’s creative approach, the development of their creative identity, and the meaningful processes that occur within their counseling relationships in practice. Twenty-one participants met the criteria and were interviewed to learn about the counselors' perceptions and ensure their voices were heard. The results of the study led to the development of a new theory for Expressive Counseling. The implications for counselor education and training and areas for future research are provided.