INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW TAN

What does Art Therapy mean to you?

Art therapy to me means the ability to see beyond words. I was first introduced to art therapy when I was doing my diploma in counselling. The lecturer introduced and demonstrated the gist of art therapy and allowed all of us to experience it during the lesson.  

When did you first realize that you wanted to be an art therapist? Was it your first career choice?  

After the demonstration of art therapy during my studies (diploma). It was one of the two master’s degrees I had planned to obtain when I decided to pursue in the mental health field.

How did you find out about The Red Pencil (Singapore)?  

Red Pencil Singapore first made their appearance while I was doing my first year of art therapy.  

What is the greatest joy of being an art therapist? 

My greatest joy would be witnessing my client progress and becoming a new version of themselves. It is a reminder that I am doing my job correctly.  

“Art therapy to me means the ability to see beyond words…"

Can you share with us more about the greatest moment or most unforgettable experience you have had thus far working with The Red Pencil (Singapore)? 

The greatest moment is working with different clients and populations in different settings. Each moment has given me amazing experiences, learning moments with different populations Red Pencils has engaged with. The most unforgettable moment would be working with clients with multiple disabilities, where art therapy has taken a turn into working solely with different senses and relying on the client’s facial expression to roughly gauge their responses to the stimulus.  

What are some of the challenges you have experienced as an art therapist, and what do you think are some common misconceptions about art therapy?   

The most challenging I have experienced would be my gender. Due to the sensitive nature of the cases, some organisations would be more cautious with a male therapist. The most common misconceptions of art therapy are, art therapists teach drawing/painting, most of the time, the person does not work within the social service sectors, or have interaction with the sector, they would not know what art therapy is. My experience with different companies has shed some light on their understanding of the different mental health professionals currently in practice. 

" Art therapy is expressing yourself in a safe space, without the fear of right and wrong.

Playing and making sense of the world around you, where most of the time, overwhelming emotions can be explored, contained and released safely. “

From your experience, how do you think art therapy impacted the lives of your clients? 

I recently ended a cycle of art therapy with a client, she was a 13-year-old student who was referred to me for emotional work (trauma, bullying). I had the privilege to journey alongside her, watching her work through difficult emotions, making sense of the world around her and forming a new version of herself after the cycle ended. She looked brighter, too, when she came for her last session. This brightness is not the effect of lighting, nor make-up, but this brightness comes from within, a natural glow.  

How does being an art therapist affect your life? 

Being an art therapist has influenced how I look at things in different situations, asking more questions instead of accepting what was presented. It also brought my critical thinking to a different level, considering different variables before taking action.