Expressive Arts Therapy Case Sharing: Treating Childhood Trauma
Expressive Arts Therapist: Liz Tong
Service User: Yat
When Yat previously worked in a one-person company, she experienced symptoms of depression and panic attacks, such as loss of appetite, slow reaction time, feeling extremely lonely, and believing that she was the only person left in the world. Sometimes she would be so afraid that she could hardly breathe and her heart raced. Yat recalled immigrating to a western country as an Asian child . She experienced discrimination, exclusion, and even physical attacks from her classmates. As she couldn't speak English at the time, she couldn't tell her teachers, and her parents were at a loss for how to help. The profound loneliness, sadness, helplessness, depression, and fear she endured as a child continue to impact her today.
Connecting with imagination to heal childhood trauma
I invited Yat to choose a protector from her past to accompany her in exploring this memory. She invited a former colleague she had known for many years who had supported her through many emotional turmoil. I also reminded her that things were different back then; as an adult, she had many friends who supported her, and I was also in the room with her.
I took her back to her childhood to do something for little Yat , she imagined herself holding little Yat and comforting her.
Yat : "You're not alone, I'm here with you. It's only temporary; you'll have many friends in the future."
Yat imagines herself and her friend playing with little Yat, punishing the bullies, explaining the situation to the teacher, and asking the teacher to arrange a special English class for her and to protect her.
Drumming releases anger
She was happy when she imagined herself punishing the bullies. She said she felt like clapping her hands. So I took out a hand drum and played along. The sound reminded her of fireworks, she said it felt very liberating . She said she saw little Yat smiling and felt her chest warm up, her shoulders felt lifted and supported.
After venting, she thought about how other immigrants might have had similar experiences, and she forgot that there were also Asian children from other classes playing with her at the time. I felt that her understanding had become more comprehensive. She said she felt relieved and her loneliness had lessened considerably. I asked her to write a few words to represent this process. She wrote down a few words describing her feelings, explaining how she went from feeling lonely and sad at the beginning to feeling relieved and happy at the end.
Drawing promotes reflection
From the list of words, she chose "happy" and drew a picture of herself and her friend holding young Yat’s hand, describing the scene as warm and cozy. She also mentioned her ongoing studies in Early Childhood Education, noting that this experience has deepened her understanding of children's needs; for instance, she now visits and comforts children who are being ostracized. I reflected that this experience seemed to have given her both a deep desire to care for children and the capacity to understand and respond appropriately to their needs.
Y: It has become my mission.
She naturally sat up straighter while discussing her mission. She shared that she now understood this experience much better, leaving her feeling less confused and disoriented. By gaining clarity on her own emotions, she felt less resentful and more empathetic. I observed significant growth in Yat over the course of these two therapy sessions; through her speech and actions, it was clear that both her mind and body were fully present and far more grounded than before.
Summarize the Meaning and Internal Transformation of Trauma
I asked Yat to imagine how she would feel if she were working for a one-person company today.
Yat: "It still feels boring, but it’s not as scary as it used to be."
When asked how she typically handles boredom, Yat recognized that she deeply enjoys interacting with others. She noted that even within a one-person company, there are still plenty of people nearby, leading her to realize she could be more proactive in communicating with those around her.
I reminded her that while she had experienced about two years of social exclusion, she had also maintained many meaningful friendships throughout the rest of her life. She realized that she actually possesses strong social skills, and it appeared this past hardship had caused her to cherish relationships more deeply, driving her to actively develop her social skills.
Yat then described a physical sensation of support in the center of her body. Recognizing her genuine enjoyment of human connection, she concluded that she should pursue career paths that involve regular interaction with people. By understanding her own preferences, she felt her professional direction had become much clearer.
Yat: "I am feeling more grounded now."
***Client has given consent to share photos of artwork and the therapy process.
Participant Responses
