Emerging consciousness: the search for self through art therapy in a forensic setting

In Singapore, where the prevalent society holds on to ideals of efficiency and utilitarianism, a person with mental illness and a forensic history is easily stigmatized and rejected. The experience of being institutionalised can cause infantalisation of the patient by a constant lack of power over their daily routines and the depersonalisation present in large governmental mental health organisation (Murphy, 1994). This can be further exacerbated by a patient who voluntarily isolates himself by retreating to his room, diminishing and limiting social contact with others. Over time, such a patient may have retreated so deeply into his own mind as to appear unconscious of his immediate environment. A qualitative single case study of a 46 year old male in-patient in a disturbed, aggressive and violent (DAV) ward demonstrates how art therapy as a therapeutic intervention can assist someone in regaining awareness of himself. This dissertation attempts to explain the concept of consciousness from a Jungian point of view with reference to the archetypal self. The paper also explores how attachment; more specifically, the concept of mirroring and attunement could be embedded in art therapy practice to further encourage the patient in becoming aware of himself.