There are several different types of projective .com/psychology/assessing-and-diagnosing-abnormality”>tests. They can all help a .com/psychology/psychological-therapies”>therapist discover hidden issues that could be bothering a client. Some are easier to score! Some issues could be in the unconscious and the client is unaware due to .com/psychology/psychodynamic-theories-of-abnormality”>denial or .com/psychology/stress-disorders”>trauma. Talking is a great way to find out what is going on with a person in counseling. I have never been a fan of the “Freudian” type of .com/psychology/psychological-therapies”>therapy. My approach is behavioral and developmental. I often use the Sentence Completion Test, which is referred to in the Hogan (2007) book.

The Sentence Completion Test requires the student to finish incomplete sentences. It’s really easy to give, assuming that the .com/psychology/treating-children”>child (or adult) is willing. Often adolescents tell me, “Forget it!” Then I offer to write it out for them. On this test, I usually read the student’s responses and look for a common “theme” present in their life. They might say, “My mom should….she should not have left me.” Then later in the test they might say, “When I am a parent I would…. never leave my kids.”

The kids I work with seriously answer that way on a test. It makes it clear what issues they need support in at school and home. It seems like a deceivingly simple test, but it can be very revealing.

What kind of projective test do you feel would reveal the best information?