A Small Act of Creativity: Fostering Creativity in Clinical Social Work Practice

Abstract

A naturalistic view of creativity, as developed in scientific circles by those who adhere to quantum theory and chaos theory, suggests that the human mind is naturally creative and is made to create. Instead of utilizing extraordinary thinking process, a person creates by trying something new, seeing what happens, and responding accordingly (D. Bohm, 1998). This article explores the implications of a naturalistic view of creativity for clinical social work practice. The discussion examines useful treatment processes, primarily therapeutic conversations, which foster creativity in clients and families; a case example is included. Creating a context that fosters creativity in our clients requires professionals to revisit our attitude toward the unpredictable, perspectives about change, and views of client–social worker relationships.