Date of Award
4-1981
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Mari Fleming
Second Advisor
Wendell Rivers
Abstract
This paper presents the development and application of the Ongoing Art Therapy Interview (OATI), a structured approach designed to assess and support patients in a psychiatric day hospital setting. The OATI combines the therapeutic and diagnostic dimensions of art therapy by integrating artwork with guided interpersonal dialogue. It is informed by Harry Stack Sullivan’s interpersonal theory of psychiatry, particularly his diagnostic framework for understanding patient experience, communication, and relational patterns.
The study outlines the theoretical foundations of the OATI, its practical procedures, and its role as both a therapeutic intervention and an evaluative tool. In this model, patients produce visual artworks during structured sessions, which are then used to facilitate discussion with the therapist. These interactions allow for deeper insights into patients’ emotional states, defenses, and interpersonal orientations. The OATI is situated within the context of a psychiatric milieu treatment program, emphasizing the role of art therapy in ongoing assessment and treatment planning.
A detailed case study illustrates the method’s clinical utility. The subject, a woman with a history of paranoid psychosis and residual schizophrenia, engaged in a series of OATI sessions. Analysis of her artwork and interviews revealed recurring themes of fragmentation, suspicion, and guarded communication, which gradually shifted over time to reflect increased openness and integration. The case demonstrates how the OATI can capture subtle changes in mental state and interpersonal functioning that might not be fully evident through traditional clinical interviews alone.
The findings suggest that the OATI contributes meaningfully to multidisciplinary psychiatric treatment by bridging the expressive and diagnostic domains. It highlights the potential of art therapy not only as a creative outlet but also as a structured, ongoing means of understanding and tracking psychiatric patients’ progress.
Recommended Citation
Ware, Vivian A., "The Ongoing Art Therapy Interview Process in a Psychiatric Milieu" (1981). Theses. 1513.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/1513
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