INTERVIEW WITH VIVYAN YEO

What does Art Therapy mean to you?

Art therapy is a space to be myself. In short, it helped me remember that the younger me – someone who is unafraid to explore, fail, and try again – is still me. To be honest, I think a lot of us have been shaped and moulded by society to fit in. We have been taught to push away parts of ourselves. Art therapy is a place to rediscover those parts and live a more authentic life.  

 I first discovered art therapy when I was working as an art curator and writer. I came across an artist who also identified as an art therapist. I remember thinking, ‘what is this buzz word?’. A few years later, when I was feeling a little lost, I found myself remembering that moment and googling that exact phrase ‘art therapist’. It sounded just like what I was looking for.  

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

My background is in the fine art world, where I designed art exhibitions showcasing artists and ideas. A big part of my job was giving tours to visitors from all walks of life. Through these tours, I found out that many people connected deeply to the artworks and found themselves emotionally moved. Artworks are such a rich source of meaning, whether it was contemplating heartbreak, rejoicing successes, mourning the loss of a loved one, remembering home, and so on. Soon, I realised that these conversations with visitors were my favourite part of the job. 

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

While I was pursuing my Master’s in Art Therapy at LASALLE College of the Arts, The Red Pencil (Singapore) (RPS) visited our classes twice: once in my first year to welcome us into this world of art therapy; and once in my second year sharing about how they can support us as we move into the working world. I truly appreciated their visits, as it made me feel that art therapy can indeed grow strong in Singapore. After all, RPS has been around for 14 years to date, and have always been championing this profession.

What is the greatest joy of being an art therapist? 

It has been my greatest joy to journey with clients. Seeing them learn about themselves and heal from emotional wounds makes the journey absolutely worth it. Their bravery, vulnerability, and humour have inspired me greatly. 

“We have been taught to push away parts of ourselves. Art therapy is a place to rediscover those parts and live a more authentic life.  

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)? 

My most unforgettable moment was during a group art therapy session in a Secondary School. A female client proudly showed me a picture book that she made during the sessions. It depicted a Toyol, a ‘bad’ mischievous spirit in Malaysian folklore, who was happy in his pink land. She explained that she often hung out with a group of friends who other people thought were ‘uncool’. As such, people had a bad impression of her and she felt like a Toyol. However, in her story, the Toyol is happy because she knows who she is and she stands by her own choices.  

To me, her art book and explanation showed deep reflection and self-understanding. Her story is about staying strong through challenges, through a meaningful personal symbol of the Toyol. What I will always remember is her smile while she was sharing her book. You can tell that the work meant a lot to her.  

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?   

One challenge is that many people do not know about art therapy. As such, conversations often centre around explaining what it is and debunking myths. This can also happen when applying for mental health professions. There is quite a bit of work to do in terms of educating others. While a challenge, it is also a wonderful opportunity to share about this important work. I know of a few wonderful art therapists who manage to incorporate art therapy into organisations that did not previously have such services.  

One big misconception about art therapy is that an art therapist does not need special qualifications. This is a dangerous idea because there have been people who acted as art therapists but have no actual educational background. As a result, malpractices occurred, causing clients to be overstimulated, triggered and harmed. A key part of the compulsory master’s in art therapy training is on creating psychological safety. This is no small matter when dealing with mental health.  

" It has been my greatest joy to journey with clients. Seeing them learn about themselves and heal from emotional wounds makes the journey absolutely worth it.“

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

Art therapy has taught my clients to truly value themselves. I once had an adolescent client under Child Protective Service who had an eating disorder. She always drew herself and her family as stickmen. Although her family was abusive, she would depict her home as a happy family. Through art therapy, she eventually managed to paint herself with flesh, wearing clothes, and in a thriving garden. Her family members were not in the painting. It was an amazing moment where she voiced that her previous artworks were just drawings of her ideal life, not her reality. By then, she was ready to focus on herself.