The CTAC Psychosocial Assessment

For Later Childhood and Adolescence

Purpose

• Gain perspective of the child’s

world

• To learn more about how and what they perceive what has happened and what is happening to them now

Procedure

• Depending on age, developmental ability, history of trauma

• May be via Play, Projective Drawings, Physical Activity to obtain comfort and trust

• Creation of a collaborative, shared experience

Directed Assessments Include

• Interview

• Play (Castle or Playhouse and People-Figures and Objects)

• Physical Activity (Playing catch or “basket-Basket Ball while sitting and conversing)

• Draw A Person

Interview

Explore range of emotion

When does he feel good, bad, etc

Describe a time she felt good, bad, worried etc– Use 0-10 range of feeling, 0 equals no feeling, 10

equals the most (mad, sad, worried etc) he can imagine.

What did she do when she felt this?

Interview

Use information he would expect the interviewer to know, i.e. Had to leave foster home.

Explore what these events were like.

Projective Drawing: Draw A Person Test

“I’d like you to draw a picture of a person. It can be anyone you like, real or pretend, doing anything you would like. The only rule is that it is a whole person, instead of a stick person”

Allow for the picture to be drawn without interruption, unless they begin conversation.

If picture takes a long, long time use judgement as to beginning the rest of the interview.

Projective Drawing

• When done, ask for narrative.

• The most important information is – Who the person is – How old the person is– What the person is doing “in the picture” and – How he is thinking or feeling “in the picture”.

• With smooth transition, use the drawing as springboard to talking about self.

Three Wishes

• If you had three wishes, what would you change about your life to make it better

• Avoid asking what three things would you wish for– Family things different/better.

• Consider developmental issues and adjust directions, i.e. had all the power in the world, had a fairy godmother

Parent or Self Rating Scales

– Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

– ADHD Rating Scale

– Sensory Profile

– Child Sexual Behavioral Inventory (CSBI)

This presentation is part of a comprehensive professional education and training project created by the SW Michigan

Children’s Trauma Assessment Center funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Department of

Health and Human Services which funds the National Children’s Trauma Stress Network