top of page

Case Study: Balance between giving to others and fulfil personal needs

Expressive Arts Therapist: Liz Tong

Service User: KIT

KIT often feel annoyed because other people's work performance is not up to standard. KIT cannot stop thinking about it and even suffer from insomnia.

KIT described how, since her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, KIT have become the sole recipient of emotional demands, often even experiencing emotional blackmail. She understands her mother's emotional needs, but she also desperately needs her own personal space. This contradiction, coupled with a sense of guilt, prevents her from balancing giving to others with fulfilling her own needs, and hinders her from decisively maintaining her personal boundaries.

1.jpg
3.jpg
Experience personal boundary with movement

I guided KIT to open her arms and feel her personal boundary. She felt safe and comfortable In her own space. But when she noticed that her boundaries are fragile as bubble, she feels nervous.

 

Liz: What if you could change the material and thickness of this bubble?

 

KIT changed the bubble to glass. She said that it is important to see outside and stay connected. This change made her feel much more secure .

Using painting to reflect on the interaction between the inner and outer worlds

Afterwards, I guided her to understand the relationship between the external world and the inner world through mandalas. She realised that  though the pressures outside her boundaries came from people, her sense of security also came from relationships . This made her reflect on her ways of handling interpersonal relationships and the inner needs her behavior.

Strengthen inner strength

KIT used to giving to others, she has many unknowns about her inner world. We shall continue to increase her self-awareness and self-love in the future sessions. Only by increasing our inner strength and self-understanding, we can withstand external demands and pressures.

​

***The patient has given consent to share the therapy process.

5.jpg
Further Reading:
20250808_soulwell studio room photo.jpg
Individual Expressive Arts Therapy

Service Scope

  • Reduce emotional distress (such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.).

  • Treating psychological trauma

  • Dealing with relationship problems

  • Boost self-confidence/self-esteem

  • Managing academic/workplace stress

  • Promote parent-child relationship/communication

  • Enhance social skills

  • Increase self-awareness

bottom of page