Expressive Arts Therapy Case Sharing: Women Growing Up in Patriarchal Family
Expressive Arts Therapist: Liz Tong
Service User: Yat
Women who grow up in patriarchal families often experience feelings of neglect, injustice, powerlessness, and insignificance. Yat accumulated deep resentment due to her family's generational preference for sons. Because her family consistently denied this bias, she was left unable to voice or process her feelings. Consequently, she developed a complex love-hate relationship with her mother—desperately wanting to distance herself, yet unable to let go.
Using Sound to Connect with Inner Needs
During the session, I noticed Yat’s inner conflict and invited her to select an instrument to help her connect with her inner needs. Yat chose the ocean drum, and the sound immediately brought to mind images of ocean waves.
Yat: "The waves push them away."
Liz: "Well, it pushes something away. Do you want the waves to push away your mother, or do you want to push away the bad memories and feelings?"
Yat: "The memories and feelings."
I then asked Yat if she had ever felt her mother’s love while growing up, and she immediately recalled a few distinct moments. I guided her to become aware of this love within herself and to notice her internal body sensations. As Yat wept, her posture appeared much more relaxed, and I felt that her tears released a significant amount of her inner struggle.
Later, through clay work and drama enactment, Yat was able to safely express her suppressed anger and resentment.
***Client has given consent to share photos of artwork and the therapy process.
