“It was an eye-opener to witness how art therapy empowered (individuals) to feel more in control over their situations by being given a safe space to express themselves."

What drew you to intern at The Red Pencil Singapore, and what was your role during your internship?

I was drawn to The Red Pencil Singapore (RPS) because of their mission to support underprivileged and vulnerable individuals through creative arts therapy. I felt that this was incredibly meaningful as I believe in the importance of making mental healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone. Also, as a psychology graduate, the idea of using art as a psychological intervention was intriguing to me. I was eager to learn more about how art therapy can effectively improve people’s wellbeing.

How did your experience as a Programmes intern influence your personal or professional development?

My experience as a Programmes intern has been valuable to my professional development, serving as my first step into the working world. For instance, I gained more insights about working in a team when helping to playing the supporting role in the execution process of art therapy programmes effectively. I observed how my colleagues collaborated to ensure that the content of art therapy sessions was tailored to the specific needs of different demographics, and even secured funding for underprivileged clients. Then, I worked with them to ensure the timely arrival of art materials and carefully managing the correct quantities needed for each session. This experience as an intern helped me to understand the importance of coordination and communication in achieving shared goals in the workplace. I believe that this meaningfully added to my professional development as an aspiring psychologist who wants to deliver psychological interventions for underprivileged communities.

Can you share a memorable project or task you worked on during your time at The Red Pencil Singapore?

A particularly memorable task involved engaging with beneficiaries during workshops and events. I was responsible for ensuring the art therapists had sufficient materials for each session and providing any additional support they needed. It was my first glimpse into what art therapy sessions are like, and I could see how the beneficiaries gradually opened up through the art-making process. From being quite reserved and shy at the start, they became more confident of themselves and even proud of the artwork they created. Most importantly, they utilised the artmaking process as an outlet for their innermost thoughts and emotions.

What skills or knowledge did you gain or improve upon during your internship, and how did you see them benefiting your future career?

During my internship, I was tasked to research on the feasibility and benefits of art therapy programmes for various age groups. Through this experience, I was able to hone my research skills, particularly in evaluating qualitative research papers, as art therapy is primarily assessed through qualitative methods. I also learnt how to integrate and synthesise information across various research papers to inform how RPS can design programmes that are culturally relevant to the Singaporean context.

What did you learn about art therapy and its impact on people in need?

I learnt that art therapy bridges the gaps in traditional psychological interventions by offering a non-verbal and non-threatening outlet for individuals who struggle to express their emotions, or are unable to communicate verbally. For those in vulnerable communities, expressing complex emotions and thoughts through words can be particularly challenging due to circumstances, such as trauma. Art therapy then creates a safe space for individuals to process their feelings in a way that feels less intrusive and threatening.

For individuals who are non-verbal or who have difficulty communicating verbally, art therapy serves as a vital tool for self-expression. In contrast, conventional methods such as talk therapy may not be as effective for these individuals, as they are often unable to convey their true feelings and experiences through conversation alone. Art becomes a universal language, providing a therapeutic pathway for emotional healing.

How has your experience as an intern shaped your future career goals or aspirations?

My experience as a programmes intern has deepened my passion for working with children and their families from underprivileged backgrounds.

The programmes team works hard to ensure that the art therapy sessions are age-appropriate and tailored to meet the specific needs of the clients, creating a safe and supportive environment to facilitate healing and recovery. Observing how the team effectively designed and delivered these sessions—and seeing the positive impact on clients—reinforced for me on how early intervention can empower children and build their psychological resources.