Liu Xiaoyu
About
Xiaoyu is an emerging art therapist who believes in the quiet power of creative presence.
Rooted in her training in fine arts and shaped by her work with children, she honours each person’s pace and lived experience. She is drawn to the ordinary moments where feelings can be held rather than fixed, and values a gentle, attuned approach to therapeutic work.
In the future, when Xiaoyu returns to mainland China, she hopes to walk alongside others through image-making and quiet companionship.
The therapist's identity in art therapy practice: A qualitative inquiry of culturally informed art therapy practice with children with special needs in a multicultural special needs education school in the context of Singapore
The aim of this qualitative, practitioner-based thesis is to explore the ways an art therapist’s professional identity is shaped by working with Chinese-speaking and English-speaking groups within a multicultural special education school in Singapore.
The research focuses on the relationship between the therapist's cultural identity, countertransference experience and professional positioning in cross-language and cross-cultural clinical practice. The study found that the professional identity of art therapists is not a fixed state, but a process of continuous negotiation in specific cultural and relationship situations.
In the Chinese context, the client's expectation of the role and structure of "teacher" has an important impact on the therapeutic relationship and the therapist's countertransference experience. As a transitional space, artistic creation supports clients to participate in therapy and also provides the possibility for therapists to maintain reflective professionalism.
Sewing Identity
Identity is made by sewing pieces together.
The seams remain visible.
At this stage, completion would be dishonest.
Professional practice
Xiaoyu completed her clinical placement in a school-based setting, working with children across a range of emotional and developmental needs.
Throughout her clinical journey, she collaborated with educators and caregivers as part of multidisciplinary teams, supporting children in both individual and small-group art therapy sessions.
She also has experience co-facilitating reflective art-based activities for peers, contributing to a broader understanding of art therapy with young populations.
Clinical internship
Low Yu Neng (Lyn)
Lim Yang-Shen
Chuang Ting-Yun
Nathanael Koh
Anandi Mehra
Tan Yun Yie, Elaine
