Expressive Arts Therapy Case Sharing: Balance between giving to others and fulfilling personal needs
Expressive Arts Therapist: Liz Tong
Service User: KIT
KIT often feels annoyed when others' work performance fails to meet standards. She finds herself unable to stop thinking about these workplace issues, which has even led to insomnia.
Additionally, KIT described how, since her mother’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, she has become the sole recipient of her mother's emotional demands, frequently enduring emotional blackmail. While she understands her mother’s psychological needs, she also desperately craves her own personal space. This contradiction, coupled with an intense sense of guilt, prevents her from balancing what she gives to others with her own needs, ultimately hindering her from decisively maintaining her personal boundaries.
Experiencing Personal Boundaries Through Movement
I guided KIT to open her arms and feel the edge of her personal boundary. Within her own space, she initially felt safe and comfortable. However, when she noticed that her boundary felt as fragile as a bubble, she became nervous.
Liz: "What if you could change the material and thickness of this bubble?"
KIT chose to transform the bubble into glass. She explained that it was important for her to be able to see outside and stay connected to others. This adjustment left her feeling much more secure.
Using Painting to Reflect on the Interaction Between the Inner and Outer Worlds
Afterward, I guided KIT to explore the relationship between her external environment and her inner world using mandalas. She realized that although the pressures outside her boundaries stemmed from people, her sense of security also came from relationships. This insight prompted her to reflect on how she navigates interpersonal dynamics and the underlying inner needs driving her behavior.
Strengthening Inner Strength
Because KIT is accustomed to prioritizing others, much of her own inner world remains unfamiliar to her. In future sessions, we will continue to cultivate her self-awareness and self-love. By deepening her inner strength and self-understanding, she will be better equipped to withstand external demands and pressures.
***Client has given consent to share photos of artwork and the therapy process.
