Article archive / July 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 7. Source pages: 9.
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Garner, licensed clinical psychologist in Baton Rouge, is founding the Rorschach Institute, to be established on July 4, 2016. Dr. Garner noted that this is the “first ever” institute of its kind in Louisiana and at least four Professional Level Charter Members (psychologists) have already committed to the effort.
“A few psychology students and psychiatry residents are showing interest,” said Dr. Garner. He explained that the purpose of the Rorschach Institute will be to “promote visibility, excellence, and training in personality assessment, particularly with the Rorschach-Technique.”
The only other time the name “Rorschach Institute” was used was when the famous Rorschacher, Bruno Klopfer, MD, started an organization under the same name in the mid-1900s, Garner said. “He is also the Herr Doctor who later sponsored our own renowned Doctor Susanne Jensen to come to the USA, if I am not mistaken.”
Dr. Garner said, "There are very few psychologists in Baton Rouge who understand how to use the instrument and who understand its empirical validity and clinical utility. Those few in Baton Rouge who do know the craft and science of this kind of clinical and integrative personality assessment are moving towards retirement,” Garner said, “and I feel like making a contribution and passing on the craft to competent hands.”
Dr. Garner has served as the training director of the psychology internship program at the mental health service, Louisiana State University. He noted that helping to teach others the art and craft of this instrument and also of integrative assessment, is important.
“In general, there is now a gross training void in this clinical area,” Dr. Garner said. “The Rorschach Institute will endeavor to promote skills in what it first meant to be a clinical psychologist, going back to Rapport, Gill, and Schaffer at the original Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, a virtual mecca of mental health in its time,” he said. “Our roots are important for more than mere historical reasons.”
Many think the Rorschach is a "projective" test, said Dr. Garner. “It can be. But, primarily, if used right, it is a perceptual- performance test. It is a standardized sample of behavior, a work sample.”
While the subjective tests like the MMP2 and the PAI provide an organized and valuable view of the patient’s view of themselves and correlate well with DSM diagnosis type (like an good interview will), explained Garner, the Rorschach data get at how well the person will perform in life. It gets at judgment, reality testing, thinking problems, affective regulation, coping deficits, etc.
The Rorschach can also get at more therapy-relevant data. The combination of the two kinds of instruments is powerful, he said. Dr. Garner said that the main goal of the Rorschach Institute is to promote competence with the Rorschach itself. However, integration of measures is the key and to use one measure alone is ill- advised, he said.
Those interested in joining this effort are invited to contact Dr. Garner at cdgarner69@gmail.com for more information.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.