Creative Breakthroughs inTherapy: Tales of Transformation and Astonishment brings together nineteen of the world's most prominent and creative therapists and researchers, taking professionals inside each contributor's creative innovations in theory and technique.

Designed for all therapists who wish to communicate their therapeutic messages creatively and effectively, authors Jeffrey Kottler and Jon Carlson invite you to be inspired from the observations of your peers and consider how these approaches might be applied to your own work.

Drawn from real-life cases, contributors share stories of their most creative breakthroughs, demonstrating out-of-the-box thinking that freed them to create alternative ways of meeting their clients? needs.Creative Breakthroughs in Therapy: Tales of Transformation and Astonishment will motivate you to experiment as an agent of change, exploring new, creative ways to make a difference in people's lives, with wisdom from some of the world?s foremost authorities including:

Stephen Lankton, Bradford Keeney, Sam Gladding, Steve Madigan, Michael Yapko, Scott Miller, Jeff Zeig, Judy Jordan, Robert Neimeyer, Laura Brown, Bill O'Hanlon, Cloe Madanes, Len Sperry, Fred Bemak, Nancy McWilliams, Nick Cummings and Alfonso Montuori

The stories in this book represent seminal cases in which eminent practitioners in therapy and related fields express their own unique voices as clinicians. The book focuses on what led each clinician to a creative breakthrough and identifies the common variablesacross all the storiesthat might promote innovation in the future. Their experiences will inspire every therapist to discover their own creative path.

Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD, is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Governors State University and a psychologist with the Wellness Clinic in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In addition to serving as the long-time Editor of the Family Journal, Jon is the author of forty books includingThe Intimate Couple andInclusive Cultural Empathy.

Preface vii

1 A Personal Introduction to Creativity in Therapy 1

2 Stephen Lankton: Ambiguity, Relevance, and the Creeping Devils 13

3 Bradford Keeney: Creating Nonsense through Connections of Love 31

4 Sam Gladding: Being Unstuck without Becoming Unglued 51

5 Stephen Madigan: Therapy as Community Connections 65

6 Michael Yapko: You Dont Learn This Stuff in Graduate School 81

7 Scott Miller: I Have Creative Clients 101

8 Jeff Zeig: A White, Fluffy Cloud and a Dissociative Moment 117

9 Judy Jordan: What about Love? 133

10 Robert Neimeyer: A Little Hug from Heaven 143

11 Laura Brown: Working in a Box 163

12 Bill OHanlon: Falling on Your Face 175

13 Cloé Madanes: A Trilogy of Courage 189

14 Len Sperry: Accessing the Creative Self 205

15 Fred Bemak: Getting People Up Off the Floor 217

16 Nancy McWilliams: The Wisdom of Not Knowing 231

17 Nick Cummings: A Narrative History of Creativity in Action 237

18 Alfonso Montuori: Creative Inquiry and Discovering the Unforeseen 245

19 Some Creative Themes 257

20 Clinical Applications 271

References 2950