Using Drawings in Clinical Practice

Gerald D. Oster, PhD, has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings for more than 35 years. He is currently providing therapy and assessment services in private practice; he also supervises graduate students in psychological testing. In the past, he held the titles of clinical associate professor of psychiatry and psychology internship director. He has co-authored numerous books and professional publications, including Using Drawings in Assessment and Therapy: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals.

Chapter 1: DRAWINGS IN EVERYDAY PRACTICE

Case study – Sarah E.

Using drawings in clinical settings

Why use drawings?

Case study – Cheyenne R.

Drawings can be reassuring

Case study – Paul K.

Case study – Alice W.

Strengthening insight and problem solving

Disclosing temperament

Case study – Sam K.

Identifying goals and motivation

Talking through images

Vital points

Expansion of interpersonal engagement

Stimulating inspiration

Case study – Marcia T.

Concluding remarks

References

Chapter 2: FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL DRAWINGSHistorical aspects of clinical drawings

Images of psychological maturation

Developmental sequences

Cognitive maturation

Case study – Paul B.

Emotional indicators

Case study – James D.

Symbols of mental illness

Freud and Jung

Creative pursuits in psychotherapy

Case study – Elizabeth G.

Art therapy as a discipline

Interactions of art therapy and psychology

Case study – Lakandra F.

Case study – Charlotte P.

Controversies in drawing interpretation

From psychology to art therapy assessments

Silver drawing tests

Diagnostic drawing series

The person picking an apple from a tree

Enhancement to assessment

Cautionary tales

Concluding comments

References

Chapter 3: HOUSE-TREE-PERSON AND VARIATIONSHuman figures and everyday objects

House-Tree-Person

House drawings

Case study – Keli R.

Case study – Karl C.

The tree

Case study – Sakura R.

Case study – Sierra A.

Human figures

Case study – Joseph S.

Case study – Melissa B.

Case study – Monique W.

Kinetic house-tree-person

Case study – Mandy S.

Draw-a-person-in-the-rain

Case study – Toni N.

Family drawing procedures

Draw-a-family

Case study – Marla B.

Kinetic-family

Case study – Arlene G.

Family-centered-circle

Case study – Eddie C.

Mother-and-child

Case study – Alice W.

References

Chapter 4: ALTERNATIVE DRAWING DIRECTIVESBroadening the interpersonal encounter

Timelines

Case study – Lauren F.

Genograms

Case study – Nosian H.

Family shield

Case study – Albert J.

Draw your world

Case study – Amku L.

Draw yourself with friends

Kinetic school drawings

Case study – Kesandra B.

Draw your "ideal" self

Case study – Carla S.

Draw your (current) mood

Case study – Consuela L.

Defining and resolving problems

Case study – Alysha G.

Before, during, and after crises

Case study – Loren Y.

Ending remarks

References

Chapter 5: USING DRAWINGS DURING CLINICAL INTERVIEWSInformation gathering

Case study – Jacob D.

Conducting an initial interview

Case study – Lori S.

Behavioral observations

Case study – Eduardo L.

Case study - Randall M.

The crux of the interview

Types of clinical interviews

Intake interviews

Case study – Marilyn C.

Mental status exam

Case study – Breanna P.

Trauma interviews

CAPS

Case study – Kienna T.

Trauma symptom inventory

Case study – Nina F.

Trauma symptom checklist for children

Case study – Leyanna G.

Sexual abuse indicators in drawings

Case study – Louis T.

Benefits and limitations

Case study – Cheryl N.

Family evaluations

Sharing of conflicts

Case study – Jason A.

An enhancement to practitioners

References

Chapter 6: COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

Case study – Max T.

Case study – Janette B.

Psychological testing within the assessment process

Requests from treating professionals

Case study – Carlos B.

Responding to referral questions

Case study – Malcolm S.

Identifying presenting problems

The role of psychologists

Case study – Deborah M.

Case study - Charles L.

Puzzles that need solutions

Principles of psychological testing

Components of psychological evaluations

Selecting a test battery

Intellectual assessment

Academic achievement

Neuropsychological testing

Personality measures

Behavior rating scales

Projective techniques

Drawings in the test battery

Case study – Janice L.

Case study – John R.

The psychological report

Summaries of psychological evaluations

Marvin S.

Allison T.

Closing words

References