Interpretation... a thorny issue

Hi there,

I doubt you will find many professional art therapists who would be willing or able to give you a "quick guide to interpretation" for the art of children.

First of all, I am a professional art therapist with a specialty working with abuse survivors. I avoid interpreting the art of my clients, as cultural and personal associations with colours and imagery vary so widely as to make interpretation extremely unreliable. The best and most revealing interpretation is the clients own. I ask the person who created the art what they think it means for the most reliable and respectful interpretation.

The house-tree-person test is used to some extent by art therapists for assessment, but was designed by a psychologist for use as a standardised projective test. I personally do not use it, and do not recommend its use by other than a professional therapist specifically trained in and experienced with its use.

Children who have been abused have already had their boundaried violated. Although it may be frustrating to wait for them to trust you with their stories rather than coming up with educated guesses from their art-work, the results, I feel are, therapeutically, worth it.

Replies:

House-Tree-Person Drawings, by C. Harrington, 7/8/97 What was I thinking??, by G. Greene, 7/9/97 you were thinking with your heart..., by mary chapman, 7/12/97 Working with at risk and abused children, by Sophia Kelly DVATI, 7/12/97

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