Assessing what is needed and what is feasible

One of the first things dyadic art therapists will do is get a better understanding of the child’s needs.

This gives the therapist

• an indication of how best to meet those needs

• clarity about what might be feasible with a given family

There will be a number of factors - and possibly limitations - which will impact on how the therapist decides to proceed. For example, assessment procedures may be influenced by work settings. These work settings may have set assessment procedures. Sometimes during an assessment the therapist may have concerns about safeguarding the child.

Achieving the goal

Details about the steps therapists take to achieve this goal, can be found in the next stage of the manual, Steps.

Steps specific for this goal include

• observing and formulating

• determining dyad specific goals

• reviewing work and gauging goals