Our Story

ArtPlay Haus was born from a shared challenge: the experience of working in spaces that are not always well-equipped or designed to support the depth of our expressive, therapeutic work.

As practicing art, play and sandplay therapists, we know that the space itself is a crucial part of the healing container. It needs to be safe, inviting, and free from the distractions of a home office or the sterility of a clinical setting. It must hold the energy of the work.

This vision shaped ArtPlay Haus. Every detail, from the quality of the materials to the furnishings, acoustics and atmosphere, reflects our intention to honour the therapeutic process.

Our mission is to support the growth of creative arts therapies in Singapore by nurturing a positive professional environment where deep, transformative work can unfold.

Our Founders

Dr. Alicia Pon (PhD)

Registered Counsellor (RC)
Registered Social Worker (RSW) 
Registered Play Therapy - Supervisor (RPT-S)
Certified Synergetic Play Therapist (SPT)
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP™)

About Alicia
Alicia is a Registered Counsellor with over 30 years of clinical and academic experience in child, adolescent, and adult mental health, trauma recovery, and developmental challenges. Alicia holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Hong Kong, where her research focused on the effectiveness of a gameplay intervention for adults with terminal illness. She also earned a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Health from the University of Sydney. She has practiced across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mainland China, working in community, private practice, and educational settings. Her therapeutic offerings include direct psychotherapy, trauma intensives, somatic work, and play and sandplay therapy for children, adolescents and adults.

Alicia’s overarching clinical framework integrates person-centered therapy, depth psychology, symbol work, somatic approaches, and neurobiological frameworks. She finds that these pillars synthesize seamlessly—each informing and complementing the others as she works alongside clients and their families as they deal with their life challenges. These approaches empower clients to explore their personal narratives and make sense of their experiences in ways that feel authentic and meaningful to them.

Beyond her clinical practice, Alicia is also an academic and clinical supervisor passionate about empowering mental health professionals. She equips them with knowledge and skills through a person-centered, symbol work, body-oriented and neurobiological lens. Alicia teaches postgraduate courses with universities and training providers across the Asia-Pacific region.

Who Alicia Works With
Alicia works with young children, adolescents, and adults who are navigating a range of life challenges, including:

  • Acute and complex trauma
  • Adoption and attachment issues
  • Chronic illness
  • Developmental stressors
  • Divorce and separation
  • Grief and loss
  • Parent-child relationship difficulties

Training & Frameworks that Alicia adopts

  • Analytical Psychology
  • Pre and peri-natal Psychology
  • Child Centered Play Therapy
  • Synergetic Play Therapy
  • Sensorimotor Art Therapy 
  • Jungian Sandplay Therapy
  • Expressive therapies with children, adolescents and teens
  • Somatic Experiencing™
  • Trauma through a Child’s Eyes
  • Touch Skills for Trauma 
  • Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy
Alicia's Practice

Elaine Tan

Registered Student Art Therapist (ANZACATA)
Master of Arts in Art Therapy (Graduating July 2026)
Master of Arts in Brand Management
Certified Divorce Coach

About Elaine
Elaine is a registered art psychotherapist, certified divorce coach, and creative entrepreneur, with a background spanning the creative industries, education, and therapeutic work. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore. 

Her clinical experience includes working with children and adolescents navigating emotional and behavioural difficulties, neurodivergence, anxiety, attachment-related challenges, and developmental or relational trauma. She has also supported mothers and families navigating major life transitions such as divorce and separation. In addition, Elaine has worked with paediatric cancer survivors through hospital and community-based art therapy programmes, as well as seniors in community settings.

Elaine’s art therapy practice is grounded in trauma-informed, attachment-informed, and psychodynamic approaches, integrating expressive therapies, relational neuroscience, sensory engagement, symbolic play, and embodied art-making processes. She views art therapy as a relational and creative space where individuals can safely explore emotions, experiences, and aspects of themselves that may feel difficult to express verbally.

Prior to training as an art therapist, Elaine spent over 12 years building creative communities through workshops, facilitation, and arts-based entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Resin Play, a Singapore-based creative studio and the Southeast Asia fulfillment hub for Jesmonite. Her background in material exploration and creative facilitation continues to inform her therapeutic work, particularly in creating safe, engaging, and meaningful spaces for expression and connection.

Who Elaine Works With
Elaine works with children, adolescents, women, and families experiencing:

  • Socio-emotional and behavioural challenges
  • Trauma and attachment-related difficulties
  • Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
  • Neurodivergence and developmental differences
  • Challenges with emotional regulation
  • Low self-esteem and identity-related challenges
  • Relationship and family difficulties
  • Divorce, separation, and major life transitions

Training & Frameworks that Elaine adopts

  • Psychodynamic Art Psychotherapy
  • Trauma-Informed Practice
  • Attachment-Informed Practice
  • Relational Neuroscience
  • Developmentally-Informed Art Therapy
  • Sensory and Embodied Approaches
  • Symbol Work and Metaphor in Art Therapy
 Elaine's Practice