Objective. The article presents the results of three research works currently being carried out by the Laboratory of Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy researchers of the Psychological Institute of the Russian Academy of Education. These studies aim to investigate various aspects of helping practices: (1) the professional competencies of counselling psychologists, (2) the specifics of the psychology of communication in logopsychotherapy, and (3) existential Self of teenagers in artlogotherapy. 

Results. The first direction emphasizes that there are many models of professional competencies of counselling psychologists and psychotherapists, accepted by various professional communities and schools of psychotherapy. Relying on such models simplifies assessing the development of competencies in students during the learning process and in practitioners with increasing work experience. The authors present the results of developing their theoretical model of the competencies of psychologists-consultants. 

The second direction focuses on the fact that one of the most important competencies that a specialist in the helping professions must possess to be effective in communication is the ability to inspire confidence in his work. A study of the attitudes towards psychotherapeutic influence in the system of the family group logopsychotherapy is presented, which made it possible to identify the main two types of such attitudes: a setting for communication as a way to transfer the information and setting for trust in the methodology and the leader. The study also revealed a typology of attitudes towards the impact of a significant Other on the personality. 

The third research direction is represented by the discussion of a study on the existential self of a client personality in the artlogotherapy. It shows how the art-logo technique “Jewel” by T.A. Popova contributes to understanding by the client the value of his own life. The technique can be used from early adolescence. 

Conclusion. It is stated that the use of integrative methods combining several approaches is a promising direction of psychological counselling.

Background. Issues of adolescents’ self-determination in the process of their formation are of particular importance, since their solution determines success and competitiveness in adulthood. In this regard, the development and implementation of programs aimed at research and formation of professional and life meaning orientations is in demand by the specialists in educational and psychological practice.

Objective. The study had its purpose to assess the effectiveness of artlogotherapeutic methods in the formation of professional and life meaning orientations of adolescent personality.

Study Participants. The study involved 50 adolescents (26 boys and 24 girls) aged 13 to 15 years (M age = 14.04; SD = 0.84) from the general education schools of Krasnogorsk (Moscow region).

Methods. The study consisted of diagnostic and experimental (forming) stages. The diagnostics included “Life Meaning Orientations Test” by D.A. Leontiev, “Questionnaire of professional self-determination” by G.V. Rezapkina, “Motives for choosing a profession” by R.V. Ovcharova. The experimental group was engaged into vocational guidance and professional orientation classes using artlogotherapy techniques (8 classes of 2 hours each). Student’s t-test was implemented for the statistical analysis of obtained results.

Results. The implementation of the program “Creativity, profession, meanings” including artlogotherapy techniques in the experimental group led to a statistically significant increase in the level of life meaningfulness, the ability to control their life events and make important decisions. The use of creative techniques helped teenagers to change their ideas about certain aspects of professional life, adjust their primary professional choice, and also increase the priority of internal individual motivation when choosing a future career.

Conclusions. Artlogotherapy is an effective method that can be recommended for practice with adolescents to develop their professional and life meaning orientations.

Background. In the modern geopolitical situation, Russians increasingly show symptoms of life stress, which causes an increase in anxiety and depressive states, and the need for ecologic and effective forms of self-help, psychocorrection, psychological assistance, psychotherapy is growing. At the same time, the problem of using creative methods to provide assistance in various approaches to psychotherapy and psychological counseling is insufficiently covered in the literature. Despite the wide range of methods used, there is no holistic analysis of creative methods within the framework of various psychological paradigms.

Objective. To study the possibilities of applying creative methods of overcoming life stress within the framework of various psychological approaches and modalities in domestic and foreign scientific literature.

Methods. A systematic analysis of the literature in databases (PubMed, ELIBRARY, Google Scholar) was conducted using the keywords "creative method", "stress", "psychological counselling", "art therapy", "expressive therapy" and their combinations. The analysis included the articles on using creative methods in different types of psychotherapy, including art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and dance movement therapy.

Results. The analysis made it possible to summarize information about creative methods, the mechanisms of their impact, and the possibilities of applying creativity in accordance with the theoretical principles of the main psychotherapeutic approaches. It has been shown that art therapy using artistic means, music, dance-movement and drama therapy lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety levels. The use of a combination of creative methods and techniques related to other areas of psychotherapy, as well as integrative approaches, was also effective, in particular, for people suffering from migraines and pregnant women.

Conclusions. Creative methods have a significant potential in dealing with stress. Their use and integration into existing therapeutic approaches enhance the possibilities of psychotherapy. However, additional research is needed to expand the evidence base and determine the optimal ways to use them in dealing with stress.