Children in Distress: A Guide for Screening Children's Art

Children who have been traumatized but cannot talk about their experiences, either because they have pledged their silence or because they do not know the words, subconsciously call for help through their art.

The authors have developed a simple, one-page art screening form for use with the "human figure drawing" (HFD) and the "kinetic family drawing" (KFD), which has brought a standardization to the interview of these children and the interpretation of their art. This is invaluable to front-line clinicians, private practitioners, trauma centers, child protective services, and the legal system.

Linda Peterson lives in Reno, Nevada; Milton Hardin, in Tucson, Arizona.