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 PRACTICECase study – Sarah E.Using drawings in clinical settingsWhy use drawings?Case study – Cheyenne R.Drawings can be reassuring Case study – Paul K.Case study – Alice W.Strengthening insight and problem solvingDisclosing temperamentCase study – Sam K.Identifying goals and motivationTalking through imagesVital pointsExpansion of interpersonal engagementStimulating inspirationCase study – Marcia T.Concluding remarksReferencesChapter 2: FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL DRAWINGSHistorical aspects of clinical drawingsImages of psychological maturationDevelopmental sequencesCognitive maturationCase study – Paul B.Emotional indicatorsCase study – James D.Symbols of mental illnessFreud and JungCreative pursuits in psychotherapyCase study – Elizabeth G.Art therapy as a disciplineInteractions of art therapy and psychologyCase study – Lakandra F.Case study – Charlotte P.Controversies in drawing interpretationFrom psychology to art therapy assessmentsSilver drawing testsDiagnostic drawing seriesThe person picking an apple from a treeEnhancement to assessmentCautionary talesConcluding commentsReferencesChapter 3: HOUSE-TREE-PERSON AND VARIATIONSHuman figures and everyday objectsHouse-Tree-PersonHouse drawingsCase study – Keli R.Case study – Karl C.The treeCase study – Sakura R.Case study – Sierra A.Human figuresCase study – Joseph S.Case study – Melissa B.Case study – Monique W.Kinetic house-tree-personCase study – Mandy S.Draw-a-person-in-the-rainCase study – Toni N.Family drawing proceduresDraw-a-familyCase study – Marla B.Kinetic-familyCase study – Arlene G. Family-centered-circleCase study – Eddie C.Mother-and-childCase study – Alice W.ReferencesChapter 4: ALTERNATIVE DRAWING DIRECTIVESBroadening the interpersonal encounterTimelinesCase study – Lauren F.GenogramsCase study – Nosian H.Family shieldCase study – Albert J.Draw your worldCase study – Amku L.Draw yourself with friendsKinetic school drawingsCase study – Kesandra B.Draw your "ideal" selfCase study – Carla S.Draw your (current) moodCase study – Consuela L.Defining and resolving problemsCase study – Alysha G.Before, during, and after crisesCase study – Loren Y.Ending remarksReferencesChapter 5: USING DRAWINGS DURING CLINICAL INTERVIEWSInformation gatheringCase study – Jacob D.Conducting an initial interviewCase study – Lori S.Behavioral observationsCase study – Eduardo L.Case study - Randall M.The crux of the interviewTypes of clinical interviewsIntake interviewsCase study – Marilyn C.Mental status examCase study – Breanna P. Trauma interviewsCAPSCase study – Kienna T.Trauma symptom inventoryCase study – Nina F.Trauma symptom checklist for childrenCase study – Leyanna G.Sexual abuse indicators in drawingsCase study – Louis T.Benefits and limitationsCase study – Cheryl N.Family evaluationsSharing of conflictsCase study – Jason A.An enhancement to practitionersReferencesChapter 6: COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONSCase study – Max T. Case study – Janette B.Psychological testing within the assessment processRequests from treating professionalsCase study – Carlos B.Responding to referral questionsCase study – Malcolm S.Identifying presenting problemsThe role of psychologistsCase study – Deborah M.Case study - Charles L.Puzzles that need solutionsPrinciples of psychological testingComponents of psychological evaluationsSelecting a test batteryIntellectual assessmentAcademic achievementNeuropsychological testingPersonality measuresBehavior rating scalesProjective techniquesDrawings in the test batteryCase study – Janice L.Case study – John R.The psychological reportSummaries of psychological evaluationsMarvin S.Allison T.Closing wordsReferences

"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