Phuong-Anh Lam

Project title: Transformational integration

Within my undergraduate degree in Counselling, I had encountered the power of art therapy as an open door to self-reflection, creativity, and insight. Starting this Masters’ program has led me on the start of a new adventure of art expression and its use in therapy and mental health wellness. This process of discovering and learning was both deeply confronting and fulfilling which has facilitated my personal, spiritual and professional growth on many levels.

My research a heuristic exploration of the emergence of individual symbolism and its function in the process of the integration of professional and spiritual identity. During the art making processes at the very beginning of this research journey, the symbolism of a red sash had emerged within the creative process of an art directive entitled “The Hero’s Journey”. The emergence had sparked a deeper curiosity into the personal significance of this symbolic object, which led to the research question of its integrative significance within my spiritual identity as a Christian and my professional identity as an art therapist.

The research project involved exploring the symbolic significance of the red sash. This personal symbolism is therefore represented and expressed in a variety of art works with the use of acrylic and oil pastels and water paints. The main themes of empowerment, transformation and identity are represented within the art works. My connections to the pieces are very personal as at the heart of my art works are the facets of my spiritual and professional identities.

My experience creating them were challenging yet fulfilling as they led me to face head on my creative weaknesses, accept a finished product as a reflection of a part of myself and ultimately brought me into greater insight towards my spiritual and professional integration.