Frequently Asked Questions

 Holistic Counselling is an integrative practice that looks at the client from a whole person perspective. It provides you the space needed to gain a better  understanding of yourself to form a more coherent picture. 

This leads to increased awareness of the your choices, empowerment and greater self-acceptance as you come to stop resisting your distress, learn to accept and let go of your fears. 

Counselling and therapy are often used interchangeably, even between the professionals, so it's not surprising why it might be confusing for most people! 

In short, counselling typically involves using a short-term, targeted approach aimed at achieving specific client goals, while therapy refers to longer-term work which involves looking for recurring patterns and understanding inner processes, which leads to personal growth.

Each session typically lasts 45-50 minutes. However, we can negotiate to have longer sessions if you feel it isn't enough for you.

Please make sure you clear your schedule for the duration of the session, as therapy works best when there are no interruptions and we can both be present with each other. 

Public and private healthcare systems in Singapore serve different functions. Although the public health system in Singapore (ie. IMH, Polyclinics, etc) is cheaper, it is also notoriously overloaded and wait times can be upwards of half a year before seeing a therapist. 

In addition, mental health professionals in public health settings are often overworked due to their heavy caseload and as such, may not be able to provide the best care possible. Besides, studies on therapy have consistently found that finding the right therapist who fits you is the best predictor for successful outcomes. 

Usually the first two to three sessions are for me to get to know you and your situation better, as well as for you to deem whether I am the right fit for you. 

There's no need to do anything beforehand, just come as you are and talk! Alternatively, if you're more goal-oriented, you may find reflecting on what you want to achieve in therapy helpful.

Every individual client has their own set of unique circumstances and challenges, hence the number of sessions required varies based on your goals and situation. However, clients who are most consistent, patient and motivated would see the best results. In general, clients who practice their homework diligently would likely see some results within a month. 

The frequency of therapy depends on you; how much time, money and effort do you have to put in. The optimal frequency is every week for consistency and continuity, but 2 weekly sessions can be effective too, albeit at a slower pace. 

This is a very common misconception, that only people diagnosed with mental illness attend therapy. Majority of clients in therapy DO NOT HAVE any diagnosable condition and in fact, clients without mental disorders often make the best use of therapy. 

It takes a lot of courage to walk into a therapy room and there's nothing to lose when you're already feeling distressed. The cost of neglecting your well-being is often higher than you would expect.