“After learning about the significant impacts that The Red Pencil (Singapore)’s creative arts therapy programmes have on the individual, my passion towards clinical psychology has solidified, especially in the social service sector. “

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

I have always had an interest in both art and psychology, and when I chanced upon this opportunity, it immediately piqued my interest since it combines the two. After reading up more, The Red Pencil (Singapore)’s mission to empower vulnerable individuals also really resonated with me, and drew me to apply for the position so I could learn more about creative arts therapy, and how it differs from traditional psychotherapy.

At my time in The Red Pencil (Singapore), I was responsible for assisting with preparing logistics for art therapy programmes, preparing materials and write-ups for programmes, data compilation and processing, conducting literature reviews, among others.

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

My experience as a Programmes Intern definitely influenced my professional development by giving me insight into the world of clinical therapy and the sheer amount of backend work that goes into kickstarting a programme. I also got to see firsthand how the team collaborates within themselves as well as with various partners in order to organise a programme and ensure it flows smoothly, from securing fundings to figuring out the logistics of the programmes.

I think that my experience here has helped me understand the importance of collaboration and communication, and has greatly increased my appreciation for the amount of work that goes into just being able to kickstart a programme, especially in the non-profit sector.

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

I think a memorable task I worked on was conducting a literature review on how art therapy can improve resilience in older adults, as well as preparing its accompanying slides for a workshop. The research I did gave me the opportunity to learn more about the workings of art therapy, and the profound impact it can have.

I was also able to develop my research skills further, from being able to quickly pick out the more insightful articles to synthesising information in a concise and informative manner, as well as how to translate that information into an easily digestible manner for the everyday audience.

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

Aside from the research experience I stated earlier, my experience with The Red Pencil (Singapore), from assisting with programme logistics to data analysis to collaborating with the rest of my (very kind and passionate) team, has also greatly honed my administrative, organisational and collaborative skills, has helped me build a strong foundation that is transferable to both academic and professional settings in the future.

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

I think that one of the most memorable concepts of art therapy I learnt was about the triangular relationship between the therapist, client, and artwork – how it helps to facilitate conversation and encourage the client to open up more. As someone who struggles to express her own emotions, I felt that this structure would greatly help in making the conversation less ‘confrontational’ in a sense and enable me to feel more comfortable in opening up, not to mention how much it would help people in need who likely have various life challenges that are challenging to navigate or talk about.

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

After learning about the significant impacts that The Red Pencil (Singapore)’s creative arts therapy programmes have on the individual, my passion towards clinical psychology has solidified, especially in the social service sector. In the future, I hope to also be able to help and empower those in need in the way The Red Pencil (Singapore) has.