For most, science and art are polar opposites. But for Iu-Luen Jeng, the two make perfect sense together.
Jeng, is a director for the Illinois Art Therapy Association. Art therapy combines the creative process with psychotherapy, making it easier for those affected by trauma to more easily express themselves when words fail.
"When we talk about mental health services or behavioral services, it is important to look at people's healing process not just from verbal communication but how a lot of difficulties and challenges or things that are troubled are actually beyond words and hard to describe," Jeng said. "So art therapy is effective in dealing with clients with trauma, or people who have a language barrier, or people who just have a hard time using verbal tools to express themselves."
Jeng said she has found art therapy to be successful with the LGBTQ community, particularly LGBTQ youth.
"I think LGBTQ individuals in our community face a lot of trauma, and we're not just talking about individual encounters of trauma, but also institutionally," Jeng said. "In society, compared to heteronormative forms, the LGBTQ lifestyle is always being oppressed. So, I think a lot of times it is important to talk about invisible oppression that comes from a heteronormative society, and be able to speak from that perspective.
"I also think that LGBTQ individuals do have a strength as far as being very creative. There are a lot of really talented artists in our community. So, I do believe that the creative process is a natural path for LGBTQ individuals to express themselves. So, why don't we utilize that natural path of communication to work on traumatic issues?"
Two years ago, Jeng led a self-portrait photography workshop where she encouraged young people to showcase themselves how they viewed themselves, not how adults or society viewed them. She described it to Windy City Times as her biggest professional accomplishment to date.
"I'm very interested in creating more visibility for LGBTQ youth in our community. I think for a lot of young people that don't necessarily have a home to go to, to be able to have some visibility through the programs that they engage in the most is important, and that provides a sense of stability and ownership," Jeng said. "If I had to reflect on my career so far, I do think the portrait project really depicts what this specific community needs compared to the general LGBTQ space."
Jeng sees the value that young people hold in the community, and she wants to change how they are understood and portrayed.
"I think young people are powerful and very articulate," Jeng said. "We need to find a better way of communication that lets them speak for their own needs. I also think that young people deserve to be seen as young adults in a way that their positions are being respected."
Jeng plans to improve communication between adults and young people through her work with the Illinois Art Therapy Association. By creating more art therapy programs that are independent and youth-driven, Jeng hopes to give young people a voice and a forum to express their thoughts, wants and needs that is free of judgment or oppression.
"The power of creating is really powerful and it's inspiring for young people," said Jeng. "An independent and youth-driven program can really shift the power dynamic between the services provider and the youth that we serve to a more balanced relationship. For me, that's a more cohesive and authentic community program."
