Duo takes mental well-being beyond the therapy room

As creative workshops and community gatherings gain popularity in the Klang Valley, one initiative is offering participants more than just a chance to make something pretty with their hands.

“De Hidden Nook”, founded by two registered mental health professionals – Lynnette Chai, 38, and Lau Yun Shiuan, 30 – combines arts and crafts with gentle reflection.

Away from the formality of a therapy room, participants enjoy small, relaxed sessions at different venues, where they explore their creativity without the pressure of producing a masterpiece.

“As a counsellor, most of my work involves one-to-one therapy and deeper conversations,” Lau said. “I started this for fun – to make friends while incorporating a little of our mental health knowledge.”

Chai, who has a background in human resources, also has a licence in mental health. Fascinated with expressive art therapy, she discovered Nagomi art, a Japanese technique in which colours are blended with the fingers, using powdered pastels, stencils and erasers to create designs.

The duo has now introduced the therapeutic art form through community-based workshops. “Most of the time, people tell us that they’ve never heard of Nagomi art,” Lau said.

Chai said this artform is more forgiving than watercolour or conventional painting. “Nagomi is the art of second chances. If you make a mistake, you simply wipe the slate clean, dust on more powder and begin again.”

She added that using one’s fingers also helps participants connect with their bodies and physical sensations.

The pair officially launched De Hidden Nook earlier this year. They hold workshops at lesser-known cafés, hoping to bring small businesses more customers.

The sessions involving 10-15 participants typically begin with grounding exercises, such as closing the eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Themes, sample artworks and prompt cards also help participants get started when a blank sheet of paper feels intimidating.

“If the theme is abundance, for example, I might ask participants what colour, shape or pictures come to mind when they hear the word,” Chai said.

Making the art is only part of the experience – each session is followed by reflection, particularly when participants are unhappy with their creations.

“That gives us a chance to explore how we respond when things don’t meet our expectations in daily life,” Chai said. “How can we be less critical of ourselves?”

Since launching “De Hidden Nook”, both Chai and Lau have had their share of memorable moments with participants.

Chai recalled an incident where a man worked vigorously with dark pastels before attempting to clean his artwork with wet tissue, something generally discouraged in Nagomi art. Nevertheless, he persevered and eventually created something beautiful.

“He was amazed at his own Nagomi Art. The people around him complimented him, and we could tell that he became more confident,” she said.

For Chai, such moments capture the spirit of their initiative. Lau also sees similar value in the simple pleasure of making things.

“As adults, we become stressed and face so many rules and expectations about how we should behave. Art lets us play and make room for things to turn out unexpectedly,” she said.

“I think that can help anyone, whether or not they have a mental health diagnosis,” Chai added.

Besides Nagomi art, offers activities such as handmade flower-making and charm workshops are held, adapting sessions to suit different audiences.

The duo has taken their workshops beyond the Klang Valley, including to Johor, where participants travelled from Singapore for a morning session. However, they hope to preserve the cosy, intimate nature of their initiative instead of expanding it into a larger business.

The next workshop is being considered, potentially with a theme centred on the upcoming holiday season.

For Chai and Lau, the aim is simple: “We want people to leave feeling they’ve not only enjoyed a creative activity but also learnt something about themselves or simply tried something new,” Chai said.

Follow ‘De Hidden Nook’ on Instagram.

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