Intake & Presenting Somatic Complaint
Shubhika Singh & Bankey L. Dubey
(SIS Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, (2020):27:2, 112-115).
The Somatic Imagery Test (SIT- online version) was administered to a 54 years old female to understand her personality and inner cry, if any. The inkblot images were helpful to bring out high dissatisfaction and poor interpersonal relationship with her partner, mild depression and suppressed hostility with lots of unprocessed unconscious material that aided the process of therapeutic intervention. The responses were analyzed using content analysis and psychoanalytical interpretation.
Introduction:
The Somatic Inkblot Series (SIS) is a semi - structured, projective, diagnostic procedure and is an adjunct to psychotherapy. It is structured by a sequential presentation of intentionally designed and field-tested inkblot-like images. These images demonstrate typical and atypical response potentials. The somatic inkblots procedure is projective because it is based on spontaneous, individually generated responses to semi-ambiguous figures, which elicit intra psychic associations specific to the pers
The Projective Stimulus & Subconscious Projection
The present case study analyses the responses of a female client who approached one of the authors (SS) for psychotherapy. She was administered the Somatic Imagery Test (SIT) - the online version (www.Dubayhealingcenter.com), to find out the unprocessed unconscious material having clinical significance.
Image 1: “looks like a child holding” indicating her need for support and a kind of insecurity. On interaction she accepted that she still needed support from her family.”
Clinician Decoding & Subconscious Dynamics
The Somatic Imagery test (SIT) is a short version of 30 somatic images for quick assessment. It is designed for self-administration after supervised instruction. The test is also used as “Group administered test”. The subject is asked to go to http://dubeyhealingcenter.com and follow the instructions “Most people find this test fun and interesting. First, please relax, and prepare to enjoy. Please write each in terms of what they resemble or look like to you. Different people see different things in the inkblots. It is important to write whatever the inkblot looks like to you. Please include everything you see even if it reminds you of something remote, vague, highly personal or even potentially embarrassing. Please include everything you see with as much detail as possible. Also include any outstanding emotional reaction that you might feel in responding to these images”. The test may take about 30 minutes to complete. Please be assured that there are no right or wrong answers.
Mental health professionals with training and experience in projective techniques will have little difficulty integrating the scoring and charting conventions used with the SIT. Inkblot Personality Test: Understanding the Unconscious Mind (Dubey, et al, 2019, Cassell and Dubey, 2003), can be a resource for increasing one’s skill in the interpretation of responses on Somatic Imagery test. Since the procedure conceptually taps into the same stream of imager
Treatment Intervention & Longitudinal Recovery
Intervention Strategy: SIT diagnostic assessment followed by cognitive and psychodynamic therapeutic intervention.
Longitudinal Outcome: Resolution of acute somatic complaints and successful integration of affective boundaries.
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