Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with B.Narantulga, a remarkable woman whose journey is as inspiring as it is diverse. Reflecting on her beginnings, she shared, “My first profession was as an illustrator for children’s books. In 2005, I was a part of the founding team for the Jangar children’s book editorial, which specialized in creating children’s literature. After dedicating some time to my craft, I felt a deep calling to explore the field of psychology. With this in mind, I decided to step down from my role as director and immerse myself in further studies.” Now, B.Narantulga stands as the founder and a practicing art therapist at the Mongolian National Art Therapy Center. Our conversation with her delved into the pioneering efforts to introduce and integrate art therapy within the country, exploring its impact and potential for healing in the unique cultural landscape of Mongolia.

How many organizations conduct research and operate in the field of art therapy in our country? How long has the above center been active?

When people hear about art therapy, they often distance themselves by saying, “I can’t draw, I can’t sing,” thinking it’s something unreachable and something far from them. Art therapy is relatively new worldwide. There isn’t a large-scale study based on the unique cultural and psychological traits of Mongolians, though smaller studies exist. In 2015, I conducted a pilot study titled “Using Art Therapy to Overcome Stress After Family Divorce” with 12 women over 12 weeks, comparing the periods before and after the separation. The idea for the study came after I reviewed a 1993 study, which noted that scribbling for 15-20 minutes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, can reduce stress levels by up to 20 percent. Reading that study made me realize how valuable it could be for Mongolians, which inspired me to conduct my own research. The work was successful, and I earned my master’s degree in psychology. In 2018, I conducted another study, “Using Art Therapy to Reduce Psychological Stress in Hospitalized Patients,” with the collaboration of the foundation for Hospital Art and the Arts Council of Mongolia, involving patients from the National Cancer Center, the National Center of Mental Health, and the Third State Central Hospital, using only the drawing method in art therapy. The results were so positive that the study was presented at an international art therapy conference. 

Research is essential for the development of the psychological field, therefore we aim to conduct studies every two years. Most recently, in 2022, our center collaborated with the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation on a study involving 1,000 children titled “Using Art Therapy for Children with Psychological Trauma”. Our organization has been operational since 2017. We started with a team of five professionals, including psychiatrists, art therapists, painters, and psychologists, with the goal of developing art therapy at a professional level. A year has passed since we expanded our center. Previously, we worked at different locations and collaborated on research. I primarily worked in psychiatric hospitals. For the past two years, I’ve been working with the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

The art therapy center organizes events for scribble art therapy. What is the reason for focusing on scribbling as a method?

The National Art Therapy Center currently operates in four main directions, one of which is guided image-based art therapy. This method differs from other types of therapy in several ways. Firstly, it utilizes visual arts, then, it engages the body, and last but not least, it incorporates elements of meditation and hypnosis. Art therapy began globally in the 1800s, particularly when psychiatrists in America noticed that drawings made by individuals with psychiatric disorders were distinctly different from those of healthy individuals. This observation led to the formal establishment of the term “art therapy,” which has since been used to diagnose psychological conditions through artwork. 

Humans have both conscious and unconscious levels of awareness. The unconscious level harbors emotions that do not surface through speech but manifest through movement, form, color, or even dreams. If too many unresolved issues linger in the unconscious mind, they can lead to increased anger and stress in conscious actions. The circle, for instance, often represents unconscious thoughts, while straight lines symbolize consciousness. When a child’s hand muscles start developing, they often scribble. As the child begins to form a sense of self-awareness, “I want to do it myself”, they start drawing straight lines. From around two years and five months, they can draw human figures and shapes like circles and lines. Straight lines are directly linked to conscious decision-making, as seen in the deliberate strokes required to draw shapes like squares. Although scribbling may seem random, it is deeply rooted in scientific understanding. Scribbling is a part of guided image-based art therapy, working on the boundary between conscious and unconscious levels to reduce stress. Many believe that therapy requires discussing all their issues from the beginning, but in guided image-based art therapy, it’s about engaging the body through drawing, regardless of what you’ve experienced or how you felt. By observing the drawings, it’s possible to identify and treat hidden, challenging emotions.

Could you tell us about the “House-Tree-Person” test? How is it done?

Since the inception of psychology, the main question has been how to understand a person’s psychological state. The “House-Tree-Person” test, established in 1948, is a highly regarded tool that uses three basic figures including a person, a house, and a tree, to broadly examine the world. Each of these figures has symbolic meaning. For example, a dead tree might symbolize something specific, while a door or a bell on a house might indicate different aspects of the person’s psychological state. The test also reveals the ego or defense mechanisms of the individual. During scribbling, a person operates primarily on an unconscious level, whereas the “House-Tree-Person” test engages the conscious mind while still allowing unconscious elements to surface through drawing. People are often amazed by the accuracy of the interpretations, wondering if the therapist is a clairvoyant.

What about clay-based art therapy? How does it impact a person’s psychological state?

This is a deeper-level of therapy. In Mongolia, clay-based art therapy is often misunderstood as merely a stress-relieving game. However, German scientists since the 1940s have shown that clay therapy can treat psychological trauma and wounds that develop from the time a child is conceived until the age of six. For example, if a mother experiences regret or sadness during the first three months of pregnancy, the child is 70 percent more likely to suffer from depression during adolescence. Clay therapy can address these issues by determining the level of attachment through drawings. If a child has a complex relationship with their parents, clay therapy is used. The advantage of clay therapy is that it can work with psychological trauma and emotions from a very early age, even before speech develops.

Sometimes when we’re stressed, we listen to music or dance. Can this be considered a form of self-administered art therapy?

In the short term, these methods can be effective. Some people naturally heal themselves this way. However, in the long term, if the core issue remains unresolved, it can have negative consequences.

Given the differences in social conditions, culture, and religion, is art therapy for Mongolians different from that for people in other countries?

Art therapy is a young science. As I mentioned earlier, there have been few studies involving Mongolians. Based on my observations, Mongolians tend to hide their emotions and do not easily express their feelings. When I started working with Mongolians after graduating in 2015, I often felt that “I can’t do anything”. This is because Mongolians often try to conceal their difficulties, maintaining a stoic facade even when they want to cry. Therefore, using elements from traditional Mongolian arts, such as long songs and the traditional folk dance, in art therapy can be particularly effective.

How long does it take for art therapy to show results?

No therapy works like pulling out a thorn, it doesn’t bring instant relief. However, since art therapy largely works on the unconscious level, the treatment period is generally shorter. In psychology, it’s recommended to have eight to 12 sessions with a client during treatment. In art therapy, this number could be even fewer.

Can art therapy be used for physical illnesses like cancer, as well as psychological disorders?

There are various studies that have used art therapy for different conditions. There have been successful cases of using art therapy to treat burned children, cancer patients, amputees, and war veterans. It’s believed that behind every physical illness, there’s a psychological issue. In Mongolia, art therapy is primarily used for those who are battling and trying to overcome cancer.