Creativity and Family Counseling: The SCAMPER Model as a Template for Promoting Creative Processes

This article describes the nature and importance of creativity in family counseling and factors such as divergent thinking that are a part of the creative process. The SCAMPER model of creativity is then introduced as an atheoretical and practical way of helping clinicians, especially less creative or beginning therapists, shortcut the lengthy procedures involved in being creative as well as remembering aspects essential in working creatively with families. Each of the letters of the SCAMPER acronym stands for a way family counselors can work to bring creativity into their sessions and thus promote change. The advantages and limitations of the SCAMPER model are also examined.