1st Edition

Using Drawings in Clinical Practice Enhancing Intake Interviews and Psychological Testing

By Gerald D. Oster Copyright 2016
    202 Pages
    by Routledge

    202 Pages
    by Routledge

    Clinicians are always in need of enticing techniques to engage clients on a daily basis, especially those who are nonverbal or initially opposed to feedback. Using Drawings in Clinical Practice provides a rich variety of drawing directives to enhance the diagnostic process. In this highly illustrated text, clinicians will discover the tools they need to interact effectively with their clients. The book places special emphasis on intake interviewing and psychological testing, where the potential for uncovering hidden conflicts and therapeutic direction is especially poignant. Case studies provide a comprehensive overview of how to introduce simple drawings and gain remarkable insights. Using Drawings in Clinical Practice is a crucial guidebook for professionals who seek new ways to facilitate meaningful communication and interactions in their practice settings.

    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

    Biography

    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.

    "Using Drawings in Clinical Practice is a gift to the field. Through a comprehensive approach describing the use of drawings as aids in the cognitive and emotional understanding of clients in mental health practice, Oster provides a valuable counterpoint to highly structured diagnostic and treatment systems that often are unable to provide an in depth understanding of clients' inner lives. This important book should be of value to a diverse group of mental health practitioners."

    —Stewart Gabel, MD, former chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Children's Hospital Colorado

    "Gerald Oster has written a comprehensive and expansive book that can be used as a teaching tool for mental health professionals and students. The case studies are personalized, pertinent, and thought provoking. The drawings tangibly display worries and concerns so they can be evaluated for the benefit of healthy therapeutic interventions. Throughout the book, Dr. Oster describes methods all mental health professionals can utilize in their everyday practice. From introduction to evaluation to closing, this book gives in-depth insight."

    —Marcie Brooks, MA, LPCC, therapist in private practice and adjunct faculty at Southwestern College

    "As a psychologist using drawings mainly with my PTSD/DID clients, I appreciate this book’s coverage of reasons to use art forms, case vignettes, historic background, and resources. Therapists of all experience levels will find Using Drawings in Clinical Practice useful; it has encouraged me to offer drawing to my adult clientele. Thank you, Dr. Oster!"

    —Joan M. Offerle, PhD, Austin, Texas

    "Gerald Oster has written a richly detailed and highly accessible guide to generating and making strategic use of images in assessment and therapy, regardless of one's theoretical orientation. This thoughtfully constructed text empowers clinicians to compassionately elicit drawings and verbal metaphors to support efficient rapport building, emotional expression, and perspective taking. Clients of all ages and diagnostic histories can benefit from these simple, brief approaches and the conversations that ensue. Plentiful case illustrations aid the reader's learning."

    —Joshua Semiatin, PhD, clinical psychologist, Baltimore, Maryland

    "Gerald Oster's Using Drawinsg in Clinical Practice... provides strong support for the use of these drawings when working with challenging clients, and he argues that projective drawings help in developing more accurate treatment recommendations for the client... Oster includes rich case examples and sample drawings to enhance his discussion of these tools... Oster provides numerous drawing tasts taht will be useful to clinicians looking to connect with clients and aid in gathering data to inform treatment."

    --Meera Rastogi, University of Cincinnati, PsycCritiques