Faced with challenging economic times, contemporary clinicians require assessment tools which can accelerate the therapeutic process and facilitate brief psychotherapy. This text introduces graphology, or handwriting analysis, which has been used clinically in Europe for decades alongside other projective techniques. In Clinical Graphology: An Interpretive Manual for Mental Health Practitioners, this clinical application becomes accessible. The text provides a compelling rationale for the clinical evaluation of handwriting and demonstrates how therapists can access rich personal data by examining clients’ graphic behaviors. The text is designed to systematically present clinical graphology in theory and practice. A review of the literature demonstrates that the clinical use of graphology is consistent with the tenets of clinical practice. Graphological interpretive theory is presented in detail, providing a theoretical understanding of those graphic features which are meaningful indices of psychological phenomena. In this context, the inherent congruity between graphological and psychological theory is explored. Diverse handwriting samples, including many of contemporary public figures, illustrate graphic phenomena while demonstrating and encouraging the graphologist’s unique type of visual acuity. To facilitate the reader’s ability to synthesize graphic traits into a holistic personality profile, an interpretive schedule is provided which summarizes graphic indices and their interpretations. A method of assessing handwritings is provided which permits a degree of standardization and so facilitates research. Using this text, readers can integrate graphological theory and cultivate interpretive skills. Providing a comprehensive treatment of the psychology of handwriting, this volume includes a discussion of caveats which guide the clinical use of graphology as well as research considerations and guidelines for sharing graphological findings with clients. To date, clinicians in North America remain unaware of the merits of graphology usage although they continue to seek out methods of assessment which will facilitate their clinical efforts. This volume will demonstrate graphology as a tool which can be applied by those with virtually any theoretical orientation or practice model, speaking to the interests of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, art therapists, vocational counselors, pastoral counselors, and naturopaths, and paraprofessionals. Contents: Foreword by Lois Vaisman MSW, LCSW. Preface Introduction What Is Graphology? Theoretical Postulates of Graphology What Graphology Measures Chapter 1. Graphology in Psychotherapy Graphology as a Therapeutic Tool Graphology and Brief Therapy 2. On Seeing and Knowing: An Overview of the Graphologist’s Craft Guiding Principles Gestalt. Polarity Symbolism Neurobiology 3. Anatomy of the Page The Horizontal Plane Leftward and Rightward Movements in Handwriting Past, Present and Future in Handwriting Orientation to the Right or to the Left Spacing Speed Slant Formation of Individual Letters Signature The Vertical Plane Spacing Interlinear Spacing Size of Letters The Third Dimension Primary Pressure Secondary Pressure 4. Anatomy of the Stroke Graphic Styles Circular Connective Forms Mixed Forms of Connections Disconnection Style Value Rhythm Symmetry Originality Regularity Speed Legibility Determining Legibility Developmental Level 5. Symbolism in Handwriting Identity and the Signature Symbols Denoting Human Interest Symbols Denoting Talents, Proclivities, and Interests Symbols Found with Some Frequency in Handwriting Idiosyncratic Symbols Found in Handwriting Idiosyncratic Patterns of Movement Other Symbols with Specific Clinical Significance 6. Analyzing Handwriting Securing Appropriate Handwritings for Assessment Preparation of the Handwriting Sample Steps Involved in Performing a Graphological Assessment Assessing Overall Impression Microanalysis Interpretation of Graphic Indices Using the Graphology Assessment Form A Note about Skill Acquisition Graphology Assessment Form 7. Guidelines for Sharing Graphological Findings with Psychotherapy Clients Presenting the Graphological Findings The Format of Feedback How to Share Findings with the Client The Dialogue Individual Considerations 8. Researching the Clinical Use of Graphology Using a Qualitative Research Design Annette Poizner and Mary Alice Guttman Research Design Participants Procedure Client Procedure Data Collection Emergent Themes from Interviews with Clients Curiosity Accuracy Affirmation of Personal Strengths Other Themes Emergent Themes from Interviews with Therapists Interest Validity of Profiles Personal Affirmation Self-Reflection Therapists’ Perceptions of Graphology’s Use Validating Therapeutic Insights about Clients’ Problems Providing an External Perspective Discussion Epilogue Appendix A: Graphological Interpretation Schedule Appendix B: Demonstrating Graphological Assessment Macroanalysis of Jane’s Handwriting Sample Microanalysis of Jane’s Handwriting Sample Synthesizing All Graphic Features and Interpretations Review of Feedback Session Bibliography Index
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