Art Therapy Assessment Report #1

Name: Gabriella
Current Age: 24
Referral: Voluntary
Test Administered: Bridge Drawing Assessment
Administrant: Nathalie Hemphill, art therapist-in-training
Date of Assessment: October 22 , 2018

Diagnosis
Uncomplicated Bereavement DSM-5 625.89 (F52.0)
Identifying Information
Gabriella is a 24 year old female that lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her mother. The art-
based assessment was administered in Gabriella’s fourth session at Tierra Nueva Counseling
Center on October 22, 2018. Nathalie, a practicum student and art therapist-in-training,
conducted the assessment and compiled this report on October 25, 2018.

Reason for Referral

Gabriella reports she sought out services due to constant crying and feeling depressed. Client
reports a lack of motivation to future-oriented activities and describes herself as “moody” but
also “numb” to her surroundings. Client reports she is sleeping more than usual and rarely has
desire to go out with friends and family; she expresses a lack of enjoyment in activities she once
enjoyed. She reports she “simply cannot feel in her relationships or she feels too much.” Client
reports an inability to express herself to those she loves, and feels overwhelmed often. Client
reports she is able to maintain her daily responsibilities including going to work and remaining
“professional.” Client reports she has noticed these symptoms and changes in her mood and
behavior since the death of her father one year ago. However, she reports she often has felt
depressed throughout her life. Gabriella reports her goal is to understand grief and acceptance
and be able to deepen relationships with others.

Background Information
Gabriella reports having a childhood filled with both positive and negative aspects. She reports
having a complicated relationship with her father and a relatively positive and healthy
relationship with her mother. Gabriella reports her father was an alcoholic and there was verbal
and physical abuse in her household that she witnessed often. Client reports her parents had
separated a year before her father’s death, which was due to cardiac arrest. Feelings of low self-
esteem and self-worth were mentioned, as she claims she feels a lack of interest in her own life.
Gabriella also expressed feelings of guilt regarding her relationship with her father, who she
feels she “could have helped but now it is too late.”
Gabriella is currently in a new relationship with her boyfriend, Christopher. She reports that they
fight often and “he simply does not understand her.” She reports that he “expects too much of
her.” She reports having a few close friends but no one she can talk to.
Gabriella has recently graduated from UNM with her bachelors degree but is struggling with a
loss of ambition for the future, unsure of what steps to take next. She currently works as a tutor
for children with intellectual disabilities. Gabriella expressed desire to take art classes.
Gabriella reports no history of diagnoses in her family, however no one has seeked services
before, and there is history of alcoholism. She reports no substance abuse. Gabriella expresses a
desire to learn about mental health including her own and her father’s and how it has affected
her.

Assessment Instruments and Procedures

The Bridge Drawing Assessment was administered with the instructions: “Draw a bridge from
where you are now and what you’re feeling to where you’d like to be in the future.” Gabriella
was offered her choice of paper size and art materials as a means of getting her freedom to make
a choice, thus furthering her capability for creative expression. The Bridge Drawing Assessment
was selected as a means for Gabriella to illustrate her relationship with her past, present, and
future, as well as provide an avenue for her to verbally and non-verbally express herself and
potential obstacle to her stated goal. The assessment was administered at the beginning of
session and we spent the entire hour discussing and processing her piece.

Behavioral Observations
During the assessment, Gabriella’s behavior was calm and collective, as in previous sessions.
She appeared to be quite pensive and quiet, but once she began to draw her demeanor changed.
She expressed interest in explaining her piece to me afterwards and even smiled throughout the
experience. This is consistent with previous sessions with Gabriella, as she demonstrates an avid
interest in creative expression.

Assessment Results and Interpretation

In her drawing, Gabriella used a wide variety of colors. The bridge starts at the left side of the
page and continues to the right of the page. The left side has black and white buildings and
stands in contrast to the right swirl of colors at the end of the bridge. The bridge appears
consistent and to have started beyond the left side of the page. Gabriella selected a 9”x12” sized
construction paper to work and and filled the entire page with color.
Gabriella’s drawing displays strong insight into her current mental state and what she would like
her future to look like, however there appears to be lacking insight about her past especially
regarding her family unit. The swirl of colors in the future appears to be a strength for Gabriella,
as she has stated they represent the “unknown” and desire for a “beautiful life.”

Summary
Gabriella is a 24 year old female who sought out therapy for depressed mood, lack of motivation,
and struggle with interpersonal relationships. Gabriella’s father passed away one year ago,
however she reports she has felt this way before his passing. Current life stressors are feeling
“numb” at her workplace and her new relationship with her boyfriend, Christopher. Gabriella
expressed a difficult relationship with her deceased father, which can be adding to the grief and
depression she feels. Gabriella appears to meet the symptoms for the diagnosis of Uncomplicated
bereavement, however with further exploration there is a possibility of major depressive
disorder.

Recommendations
Weekly art therapy sessions are recommended to support Gabriella express her feelings
regarding her grief about her father’s death. Because she responds well to the art making process,
Gabriella is recommended to explore a variety of materials to work with understanding and
processing her range of emotions. There will be special attention paid to the stages of grieving
and how they can differ individually and for her. Gabriella will be encouraged to talk about the
los and express her emotions related to them as well as coping strategies that are productive to
her well-being. Work will be focused on shifting Gabriella’s focus on her father’s life to her own
and how she can integrate this change. Because she mentioned feelings of depression before his
passing, will assess further for Major Depressive Disorder symptoms.
Furthermore in the future, couples counseling with Gabriella’s boyfriend will be recommended,
however not for a while. It is recommended that Gabriella focus on herself and her grief
processing first.