"What's wrong with me?" Trauma, resilience, and the creation of art: An unusual response to the Rorschach...

This workshop explores the Rorschach findings of a 63-year-old woman with a history of complex trauma. Struggling with distress, self-criticism, and disconnection, she sought to understand her challenges—including the possibility of Autism. Her

assessment journey, framed by the question “What’s wrong with me?”, highlighted the therapeutic potential of collaborative assessment.

While multiple methods were used, the Rorschach uniquely captured her experience, presenting challenges such as excessive verbalization and hyper-focus on visual details. Notably, her artistic renderings of the inkblots provided a more

coherent expression of her inner world than her verbal responses.

The presenters will discuss how the test deepened diagnostic understanding and revealed unexpected resilience. Participants will explore trauma’s impact on Rorschach responses, the role of collaborative assessment in fostering insight, and how artistic expression can enhance clinical understanding and engagement.