"Family Snapshots" are 100-words-or-less descriptive memories of times in the lives of families that highlight poignant moments. They complement other exercises within a family counseling course, including the use of genograms. Modeled after the "Washington Post Magazine"'s series "Life Is Short: Autobiography as Haiku," these snapshots give…

In humorous moments, family counselors and families often learn a lot about themselves and their relationships. This article focuses on the importance of levity and learning within family life and family counseling through the use of a series of vignettes drawn from the author's own experiences. (Author)

Examines rationale, methods, strengths, and limitations of using fiction in training family counselors. Suggests that using novels, essays, poems, and extended metaphors is a nonthreatening means of teaching human nature and values. Discusses bibliotherapy as a counseling intervention. Describes and evaluates a teaching model utilizing fiction.…

Describes the nature and importance of creativity in family counseling and factors such as divergent thinking that are a part of the creative process. Introduces the SCAMPER model of creativity as a practical way of helping clinicians shortcut the lengthy procedures involved in being creative as well as remembering aspects essential in working…

Addresses ethical issues in the engagement and termination phases of marital and family therapy. Engagement phase must examine commitment to systemic intervention versus serving motivated clients. Termination phase must examine client's and therapist's ways of managing readiness, prematurity, and follow-up. Proposed solutions are suggested. (ABL)

Describes the humanistic content and integrative nature of a course on imagery and metaphor in individual, group, and family counseling. (Author)

This paper focuses on two aspects inherent in working with families--fantasies and realities. A brief discussion of family life in the United States at the end of the 20th century is included at the outset with the intention of identifying who families are before making a diagnosis or intervention. The author encourages counselors to recognize the…

Surveyed 274 counselor education chairpersons concerning current status of marriage and family counseling in counselor education. Respondents indicated that marriage and family programs are growing in popularity, identified courses frequently employed in counselor training, discussed accreditation of marriage and family counseling programs.…

Although both poetry and music have been used as therapeutic tools in individual and group counseling, few counselors use the techniques in combination. Poetry therapists tend to follow either the strucutred approach of Leedy, in which poems are used as treatment, or the less structured approach of Lerner, in which poems are used as medium. Music,…