School
of Creative
Industries

Ong Leng Hong

Ong Leng Hong

MA Art Therapy
2018 — 2020

Staying true to her inner calling to pursue her passion, Ong Leng Hong relinquished an illustrious military career in 2018 to take up the MA Art Therapy Programme. She enjoyed the two-year self-discovery and learning journey. Her exposure working at a community hospital and counselling centre had provided her numerous opportunities to conduct individual, group, and community-based art therapy sessions with older adults to improve their well-being. She worked passionately with them to reawaken their innate creative abilities and foster their artistic interests. Having gone through the therapeutic benefits of art-making personally, she firmly believes in the healing power of art therapy.

Work

Spontaneity

Yarns and beads
20.5 x 20.5 cm
2020

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Thesis abstract

Towards creative ageing: the impact of community-based art therapy group with older adults in Singapore

This thesis aimed to examine the creative ageing climate in Singapore and its impact of community-based art therapy group with the older adults to improve their quality of life. A qualitative practitioner action-based research methodology was applied to a single art therapy group comprising six weekly 120-minute sessions with 12 Chinese female older adult participants who were well-function, in a community setting. The findings showed that older adults have the creative potential, and the positive impact observed were improvement in social connection, self-esteem, mood, mental stimulation as well as cognitive performance. The research revealed that the active role of facilitator equipped with professional skills and knowledge and the culturally relevant creative adaptations for the older adults were critical contributing factors to the success of the sessions. It highlighted the health and policy implications, recommendations for future research on the exploration of more sustainable creative adaptations. The thesis concluded by asserting the potential and opportunities for art therapists in contributing to the creative ageing movement in Singapore.

Work experience

2019 – 2020
Art therapist intern at a counselling centre
Provided art therapy interventions for older adults at individual, group, and community level.

2019 – 2020
Art therapist intern at a community hospital
Provided art therapy interventions for older adults undergoing medical rehabilitation care.