1st Edition
Creative Mindfulness Techniques for Clinical Trauma Work Insights and Applications for Mental Health Practitioners
Using evidence-based creative mindfulness techniques (CMT), this book acts as a useful guide for clinical mental health practitioners seeking to build resilience levels in clients recovering from trauma. It examines the effectiveness of the CMT approach, providing applicable art therapy techniques to enhance the therapist’s toolbox for clinical effectiveness.
Combining a psychodynamic and neurobiological clinical lens, this book helps practitioners recognize and utilize creativity in dealing with trauma exposure, its cultural considerations, and its consequences on the individual, family, and the system. It also provides insights into the neurophysiological impact of mindfulness techniques on the brain. Chapters explore the clinician’s role in the treatment of trauma, wellness, and the building of resiliency, creativity, and alternative approaches to changing neural pathways, positive psychology, and more. A collection of narrative case studies and guidance for specific activities to be used with diverse clients ensures easy practical usage of the theories explored.
Clinical mental health practitioners who work with clients suffering from PTSD, clinical trauma, stress, and anxiety will find this book essential. Readers may also be interested in Healing from Clinical Trauma Using Creative Mindfulness Techniques: A Workbook of Tools and Applications, which can be used on its own or as a companion to this book.
Biography
Corinna M. Costello, Ph.D., LCMHCS, ATR-BC is the director of student support and a core faculty member of clinical mental health at The Family Institute of Northwestern University. Dr. Costello also practices art therapy. She contributed chapters for The Neuroeducation Toolbox and Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. She has also written and presented extensively on PTSD, anxiety, resiliency, mindfulness, and art therapy.
"An excellent text for clinicians, students, and educators. This timely text will expand one’s clinical repertoire to approach traumatic injury using creative and mindful approaches. The author's fusion of psychoanalytic conceptualization with creative, brain-based interventions is fresh and engaging. Clients needing to heal from complex trauma deserve our very best work – using this text enlarges one’s clinical ability to facilitate healing and wholeness. These texts are valuable additions to the libraries of clinicians, students, researchers, schools, and organizations involved in any aspect of trauma work."
Stephannee Standefer, Ph.D., LCPC, Associate Program Director, Counseling@Northwestern"Costello provides a thoughtful and thorough look at addressing the vastness of trauma and social justice inequalities with Creative Mindfulness Techniques (CMT) specific to clinical trauma. This text provides incredibly meaningful and practical ways to prepare and support mental health counselors and counselors-in-training to be aware and intentional when considering CMT for all aspects of clinical trauma."
Tonya Davis, PhD, LCPC (IL), (she, her, hers), Clinical Training Director/Core Faculty, The Family Institute at Northwestern University"This text is a comprehensive resource for clinicians working to expand their understanding and practice of creative mindfulness techniques, including meditation, journaling, and art-making. Creative Mindfulness Techniques for Clinical Trauma Work offers a multifaceted context to these critical practices, providing extensive evidence to support their inclusion in our work with clients. Dr. Costello has woven the theoretical and practical information together to create a timely and necessary handbook for the professional mental health clinician working today."
Amy J. Seitlin, ATR-P, LCMHCA
