We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anny Liu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

During my internship as an art therapy intern at an outpatient substance abuse treatment center in the Bronx, New York, I embarked on a journey that profoundly shaped my understanding of both art therapy and human resilience. One particular story stands out as a testament to the transformative power of creativity and connection.

I developed a weekly emotion-regulation-themed art therapy group because I often heard clients express feeling “all over the place” and emotionally and physically dysregulated when they came to the program. The group curriculum is based on attachment theory in substance dependency, which argues that individuals with past interpersonal trauma are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders because they are unable to learn and practice regulatory skills from healthy social interactions with their caregivers or other intimate relationships.

The art therapy group has demonstrated advantages for individuals who experience frequent dysregulation by creating a safe environment, managing emotions through creative materials, improving client engagement, fostering social connections, and building frustration tolerance skills. Moreover, through my collaboration with the clients, I came to the realization that there is more to their identities as living individuals than the labels and challenges they face. When I shared about my internship, I frequently received responses like “oh, so you worked with crazy people and addicts.” However, that was not my experience with the clients, who are all living humans with their own unique goals and challenges, and ultimately the urge to express, grow, and form bonds with others, just like any other humans without these mental health labels. Engaging in art therapy provided them a chance to create, express, and build new connections with the community. I was deeply inspired by the art of the clients, which was deeply invested with personal emotions and experiences.

One of the projects I designed for the group was making a yarn doll, as many participants expressed that they enjoyed gifting their artwork to family members and engaging in artmaking with their children at home. The project was introduced to the group in response to the clients’ interest in family-friendly art projects. One client who participated in the project was a young mother who was fighting for her daughter’s custody at the time. Her court case was at the center of our discussion, given the pressure it placed on her. When I taught her how to make a yarn doll in our session, she created a purple fuzzy doll with googly eyes. She shared that the color of the doll is related to her daughter’s name, and she would give it to her daughter as a gift. I asked her, “If the doll could talk, what would it say?” She responded, “it would say, ‘You are doing good, your daughter loves you, and you will get her back’.” She then commented that the doll was also an encouragement doll for herself.

Inspired by my internship experience, I created a collage butterfly for my school exhibition. I used images of body parts and eyes to create the left wing of the butterfly to represent the feeling of dysregulation and the chaos of life that many clients shared with me. On the right wing, I used flowers, bright colors, and a hatching egg to represent the vitality of my clients. I named the work “Becoming A Person” as the butterfly’s two wings represent the complex nature of what it means to become a full person who can feel all over the place but also have the inner resources to move beyond it. Embracing all sides of our humanity enables us to fly.

Anny, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist and art therapist based in New York. I graduated from UC Irvine with bachelor’s degrees in Art and Psychology and Social Behaviors, and later obtained a MPS degree in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts.

With a focus on client-centered approach, I specialize in mental health counseling using creative modalities. In my art therapy practice, I aim to create a safe space for my clients to explore their challenges through reflective art-making. I currently work at an outpatient mental health clinic in Flushing, NY. I offer psychotherapy and creative art therapy services to multicultural immigrant families and children, guiding clients in the exploration of personal identity and self-expression through the creative process..

In addition to my clinical work, I am also dedicated to promoting mental health awareness in Asian communities by hosting art therapy-inspired open community workshops. These workshops aim to foster community cohesion and provide a space for individuals to engage in self-care and self-exploration outside of traditional clinical settings.

I also want to share that I became an art therapist because I see the power of art in facilitating non-verbal communication, which I’ve found to be especially beneficial for individuals struggling with language barriers and verbal expression. As a bi-cultural individual whose first language is not English, I found artmaking extremely therapeutic for me to cope with the loneliness I experienced when I first moved to the US.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and knowledge, I believe that prioritizing our own mental health and practicing self-care daily is paramount for success in the mental health field. As mental health workers, we are often deeply invested in providing the utmost care and support to our clients. However, it’s essential to recognize that neglecting our own well-being can detrimentally impact our ability to effectively serve those in need.

In such a demanding and stressful field, it’s easy to overlook our own mental health needs. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that maintaining our own emotional and psychological balance is not only beneficial for ourselves but also for the quality of care we provide and the relationships we build with our clients.

Personally, transitioning into a full-time art therapist has meant navigating a delicate balance between professional responsibilities and personal passions. While I may not have as much time to dedicate to making art and nurturing my identity as an artist, I make a concerted effort to carve out moments for self-expression and creativity.

Even amidst the busyness of my professional life, I prioritize planning and setting aside time for artistic endeavors that bring me joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s dedicating a few hours to painting, sketching, or engaging in any form of creative expression, these moments of self-care rejuvenate my spirit and reinforce my connection to my artistic identity.

By honoring my own need for self-care and creative expression, I not only safeguard my mental well-being but also enhance my ability to empathize with and support my clients. Ultimately, fostering a healthy balance between professional obligations and personal fulfillment allows me to approach my work with authenticity, compassion, and resilience.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Reflecting on my journey thus far, if allowed to rewind time, I would undoubtedly choose the same path that led me to become an art therapist. Despite the myriad challenges inherent in this profession, my unwavering commitment stems from a deeply personal conviction rooted in the transformative power of art and its capacity to heal.

My decision to pursue art therapy was profoundly influenced by my own lived experience. Upon moving to the United States at the age of 18, I grappled with profound feelings of isolation, depression, and the daunting barriers posed by language and cultural adjustment. In the midst of this tumultuous period, I discovered solace and redemption through the therapeutic process of artmaking.

Art became my sanctuary—a medium through which I could navigate the labyrinth of emotions, bridge linguistic barriers, and forge new connections with the world around me. It provided me with a non-verbal avenue for self-expression, enabling me to confront and transcend the depths of my despair.

This personal encounter with the healing power of art ignited a fervent desire within me to extend this transformative experience to others in need. Armed with a blend of psychology and artistic expertise, I embarked on a journey to become an art therapist with the steadfast determination to create a compassionate and inclusive community environment.

My professional trajectory is not merely a career choice; it is a profound calling—an opportunity to channel my own struggles into a source of empowerment and support for others. I am driven by the belief that every individual deserves access to the healing potential of art, especially during times of adversity and emotional turmoil.

As an art therapist, I aspire to leverage my unique blend of personal experience and professional knowledge to guide individuals on their own paths of self-discovery, healing, and resilience. By fostering a nurturing environment rooted in creativity, empathy, and understanding, I aim to empower others to confront their challenges with courage and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more connected to their innate capacity for healing and growth.

In essence, my journey as an art therapist is not just a profession; it is a vocation—a lifelong commitment to harnessing the transformative power of art to illuminate the path towards healing, self-discovery, and profound human connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annyliu0328.wixsite.com/annyliuarttherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jianiliu2479/