BSocSci (Psychology, Education), MCouns (Hons), MNZAC (On Leave from 23 Jul to 11 Aug)

Counsellor

Mon 1pm to 7pm
Wed 3pm to 7pm

Rachel holds both a Bachelor degree in Social Science (Psychology and Education) and a Masters of Counselling with first class honours in Counselling from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She has also completed a number of intensive training courses in Narrative therapy at the Dulwich Center in Adelaide, Australia. These includes a 1-year post graduate intensive training programme for Narrative Therapy and the Narrative Therapy intensive training workshops at Levels 1 and 2. Rachel has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couple Therapy in her work.

Rachel moved to Singapore in 2012, she has lived in a number of different countries in the past 15 years including 2½ years in the UK and 4 years in America. Rachel began her working career as a primary teacher. She has also worked as an adolescent mental health worker prior to completing her Masters.

Rachel has 10 years of clinical experience working with adults, couples, families, adolescents, and children. She has worked individually and in group in the areas of family violence. She also had specialized experience working with children and teenage mental health issues. Rachel is able to work with most issues that people seek counselling for including, but not limited to, anger, anxiety, depression, bullying, work issues, relationship issues, adjusting to life in a foreign country, eating disorders, self-harm, domestic violence/abuse, divorce, parenting, and blended/step families. Additionally, her work with children and adolescents also includes behavioural, social and schooling problems, as well as work with children who have witnessed or experienced trauma, violence, and abuse.

Rachel engages in interactive and collaborative conversations with people about their lives. She understands that the problem(s) which bring people to counselling might feel overwhelming. Rachel believes that a counsellor’s role is to listen and ask questions carefully and respectfully with the people who come to see her. She considers that counselling is a co-exploration between therapist and client to support the client to explore and investigate the influence of problems, turning points and key relationships within their lives. Rachel works to assist people to make meaning of their own individual experiences and to uncover the values, intentions and dreams that influence their life despite the situation which has brought them to counselling. She does this with the idea that this will enable the people who join with her in conversation to discover and use their own knowledge’s, strengths and resources to reduce the influence that the problem that brings them is having on their lives and relationships.

Rachel also has significant experience in providing group counselling in the areas of family violence, parenting workshops and group counselling for children. As an experienced practitioner she has taught other counsellors at a tertiary level in the use of narrative therapy with children and has provided counselling supervision to her peers and colleagues.

MEdPsych, PGDipCBT

Counsellor

Tue 4pm to 7pm
Fri 10am to 1pm
Sat 10am to 1pm

Kirstyn holds a Bachelor in Psychology and Philosophy, and a Masters of Educational Psychology (Honours) from Massey University, New Zealand. She has further completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with Distinction from Massey University, intensive training courses in Schema therapy, Narrative therapy, and CBT for addiction provided by Auckland District Health Board New Zealand. Kirstyn also completed level 2 of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couple Therapy in her work.

In New Zealand, Kirstyn was working in a community mental health centre run by Auckland District Health Board New Zealand in their first episode team. Kirstyn is able to work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She is experienced in treating depression, anxiety, anger and stress management issues, phobia, PTSD, trauma, abuse, addictions (drugs, alcohol, gambling and sex), psychotic & personality disorders, weight management and eating disorders, cutting, self harm, sexual dysfunction and sexuality issues, couples and family therapy, and group therapy sessions for depression.

Kirstyn had left New Zealand in 2005 and have been living in the Asia Pacific region as an expatriate since. She has a deep understanding of the issues and difficulties surrounding the relocating of families internationally, Including educational, behavioural and adjustment issues with children, and the difficulties faced by the expat partner.

Although her work has a strong cognitive behavioural background, her clinical practice is such that she can evaluate and treat clients within a flexible framework that best suites individual clients and their needs.

MSocSc (Counselling)

Counsellor

Mon 3pm to 7pm
Fri 10am to 2pm
Sat 10am to 2pm

Hiroko is Japanese and holds a Master of Social Science degree in Counselling from the University of South Australia and a certificate in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) from the EMDR Institute, Inc. She has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work. She is also able to work with children, teenagers, individual adults, and families.

Hiroko first moved to Singapore in 2001, after having lived in Hong Kong for nearly 6 years. As an experienced expatriate, she is familiar with the issues facing expatriate individuals, couples and families, especially those with young children.

Hiroko has also worked with employees of major international companies (and their families), dealing with a wide range of issues including work-stress, self-esteem, addictions, relationships, separation & divorce, spousal abuse, depression, anxiety, trauma and sexuality. She has particular interest in helping both individuals & couples in multi-cultural relationships, particularly where either or both clients are Japanese. Her previous professional experience includes working with employees of major international companies (and their families) and as a volunteer in several homes for young children in Singapore.

Hiroko takes an integrative approach to counselling but focuses on Person-Centred approach and where appropriate, uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and EMDR. She is fluent in Japanese & English.

MA (Systemic Psychotherapy), DipFT, BA (Hons), PGCE (On Leave 29th Jun to 2nd Jul, 5th Jul to 27th Aug)

Family Therapist

Appointment Hours:

Wed 4pm to 7pm

Julia has a Diploma in Systemic Practice with families and couples from the London Institute of Family Therapy and a Masters degree in Systemic Psychotherapy from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust/University of East London. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts honours degree from University College London, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of London Institute of Education. She is also certified with NOVA, National Organization for Victim Assistance, USA. She has completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work. She is currently completing her Post-graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills with Academy of Child and Play Psychotherapy, UK. Before moving to Singapore, Julia lived and worked in France and the former Yugoslavia as well as the United Kingdom.

Julia has wide experience as a teacher in multicultural schools. On retraining and qualifying as a Family Therapist, she worked within the UK National Health Service, in multi-disciplinary teams offering assessments for children and families. She has worked with families, couples and individuals seeking help with issues relating to adult, child and adolescent mental health, parenting, self-harming, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, family breakdown and separation, school refusal, and coping with life changes.

Julia works with people of all ages, and has particular expertise with children, young people and families. Her approach is tailored to the needs of the people who come to see her - talking and thinking together about the difficulties that lead people to seek help, and exploring how they affect individual family members.

MHealth Sc, GradDip (Counselling), BA (Psychology) (On Leave from 11th Jun to 2 Jul)

Registered Psychologist

Appointment Hours:

Tue 2pm to 7pm
Wed 9am to 12nn
Thu 11am to 2pm

Rachael holds a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Sydney, Australia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Swinburne Institute of Technology, Australia. She is a registered Psychologist with Australian Health Practitioners' Registration Agency and an Associate Member of The Australian Psychological Society. Further studies have given Rachael a certificate in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) from the EMDR Institute, Inc. She is also certified with NOVA, National Organization for Victim Assistance, USA. She has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work. .

In 2010, Rachael relocated to Singapore from Australia where she was employed in a private practice completing assessments, writing reports and providing feedback as well as being the first point of contact for clients seeking assistance from a therapist. Previously, Rachael worked for some ten years as a Recruitment Consultant, incorporating her counselling skills within a corporate business environment, providing career guidance and support to candidates with work-related concerns.

In Singapore, Rachael works with children, teenagers, individual adults, couples, and families on a wide range of issues. Her particular interest areas are bullying and self-esteem issues, vocational guidance, couples work, anxiety and mood disorders. A special interest area she has is in the neuroscience of brain adaptability and the brain’s potential for change and applying this in the therapeutic session to inform the client of their brain’s potential for change and the steps they can take to effect that change. Her approach is hope-focused and aimed at instilling in the individual and couples a more positive approach to the presenting concern.

MA (Psychology), BA (Hons) Psychology, EMDR, MAPS, MSPS

Director/ Registered Psychologist/ Emergenetics® Associate/ Supervisor

Wed 10am to 4pm
Fri 10am to 4pm
Sat 10am to 4pm

Shee Wai is the Founder and Director of The Counselling Place.  She holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Newcastle, Australia, a certificate in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) from the EMDR Institute, USA, and a certificate in Advance Training in Ericksonian Psychotherapy and Hypnosis from the Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.  She is an accredited facilitator for the FOCCUS marriage preparation and enrichment programme.  She has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couple Therapy in her work. She is also certified with NOVA, National Organization for Victim Assistance, USA. Shee Wai has extensive clinical experience working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families in both Australia and Singapore.  She has provided individual and group training and supervision to other counsellors.

Shee Wai has 15 years of clinical experience and has been helping expatriates deal with their various life challenges in Singapore since 2002.  She specializes in marital and relationship counselling.  She has been helping couples with issues such as marital and relational conflicts; divorce and separation; marriage preparation and enrichment; cross-cultural relationship issues and parenting concerns.  She also works with individuals on stress management, depression, anxiety, phobia, pain management, and grief and loss.  Her training in EMDR enables her to be especially effective in working with all sort of trauma, e.g., family of origin and painful past experiences, accident, natural disaster, assault, rape or sexual abuse.  Shee Wai also provides psychological assessment for adults and children.  Having been a Home Study assessor for adoption, she is also able to provide pre-adoption and post-adoption counselling for individuals and couples on adoption related issues.

Shee Wai is registered as a Psychologist with Psychology Board of Australia and is approved as a Supervisor. She is also registered as a Psychologist with the Singapore Psychological Society and is approved as a Supervisor.  She is a member of both the Australian Psychological Society and the Singapore Psychological Society.  Shee Wai has conducted talks and workshops on various topics, has granted numerous interviews with various newspapers and magazines, and has made several appearances as guest consultant for radio programs.  She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

MSc (Therapeutic Counselling), BA (Hons) Development Studies, MBACP (On Leave from 21st to 30th Jun)

Assistant Director/ Counsellor/ Accredited Mediator/ Emergenetics® Associate/ Supervisor

Appointment Hours:

Mon 10am to 1pm
Thu 10am to 1pm

Jessica holds a Master of Science degree in Therapeutic Counselling from the University of Greenwich, London, England and she is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has a certificate in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) from the EMDR Institute, Inc. She has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and utilizes Gottman Method Couple Therapy in her work. She is currently completing a Post-graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision and is also a qualified mediator.

Jessica is British and moved to Singapore in 2009. She has experienced firsthand the challenges involved in adjusting to life in a new country and living as an expatriate and is able to utilize this in her work. As a counsellor, she works with individual adults, couples and young people on a broad range of issues including childhood sexual and emotional abuse and past trauma, relationship and family breakdown, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, low self esteem, grief and loss, as well as phobias, obsessive compulsive behaviour, addiction, anger and aggressive behaviour. As a mediator, she has worked with couples, families and neighbours in dispute.

Jessica is an integrative practitioner, drawing on person centred, psychodynamic and existential concepts as relevant to the work. She is flexible in her approach and so does not focus on one theoretical model, but instead works with the relationship she develops with her clients to try to understand the needs of the individual.

MSocSci (Psychotherapy), HDip Healthcare Management, DASS, CQSW, Rgg, FTAI, ICP, EAP (On Leave from 18th Jun to 7 Jul)

Registered Psychotherapist/ Family Therapist/ Mediator/ Certified Emergenetics® Associate/ Supervisor

Appointment Hours:

Mon 3pm to 7pm
Wed 3pm to 7pm

Deirdre holds a Masters Degree in Systemic Psychotherapy from the National University of Ireland, Dublin, a Postgraduate qualification in Social Work, as well as Healthcare Management. She is also a qualified Mediator and a certified Emergenetics® Associate. Deirdre is registered with The Family Therapy Association of Ireland, the Irish Council of Psychotherapy and the European Association of Psychotherapy. She has trained with Michael White for Narrative Therapy, Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg for Solution Focused Brief Therapy. She has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work. As an experienced supervisor, Deirdre is available to consult with therapists and counsellors for supervision at agreed days and times.

Deirdre is Irish and moved to Singapore in 2010. She has worked for more than 25 years in clinical settings such as hospitals, child guidance settings, schools, in private practice as well as in the corporate world with large multi-national businesses. As an expat herself, Deirdre has experience with both executives and children and families in Germany, Russia, the UK, China, and Denmark. She specialises in working with adults, children, or families where they are trying to solve a particular problem, habit or way of thinking that is making them feel stuck in their current life and where they are keen to leave the issue behind them, and need some help along the way to do so. These cover relationship, family problems, work problems, and many areas such as struggles with mental health, addiction, behaviour problems, and recovery from abuse situations. She can engage with couples where there is a difficulty, like depression, affair, or addiction, which is impacting on the relationship. Deirdre has also trained executives in Cross-cultural adaptation in Beijing, London and Dublin.

Deirdre uses a systemic approach exploring the topic from the point of view of the different people viewing the problem. She is practical and future oriented not ignoring the past but using the past to provide clues about how to move forward. She utilises narrative and solution focused approaches when appropriate.

MA (Psych), EMDRIA, OPQ (Not Accepting New Clients & On Leave from 9th Jun to 11th Aug)

Psychologist/ Certified EMDR Therapist/ Emergenetics® Associate/ Consultant-in-training with EMDRIA

Appointment Hours:

Tue 9am to 2pm
Wed 3pm to 7pm

Geraldine holds a Master degree in Psychology from the Catholic University of Paris, France, and a certificate in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) from the EMDR Institute, Inc., U.S.A. She is a member of the Order of Psychologists of Quebec, Canada, and a member of EMDRIA and EMDR Canada. She is one of the few certified EMDR therapists in Singapore as well as a Consultant-in-training with the EMDRIA. She is able to offer supervision for EMDR therapists who are working towards certification. Geraldine is trained in Emergenetics® profiling. Geraldine has also completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her therapy work. 

Geraldine has over 10 years of clinical practice. Before working in mental health services for adults in France and Canada, Geraldine spent 2 years in the German-French school in Stuttgart, Germany as a Psychologist working primarily with families facing the challenges of expatriation. She has also worked in Palliative Care, helping patients suffering from cancer. Geraldine's main field of expertise is anxiety disorders. She is experienced in working with post traumatic stress disorder, abuse, natural disaster, anxiety, phobia, OCD, grief and losses, depression, stress management, anger management, clinical mental health concerns, parenting, communication skills in relationship, and coping with life's challenges.

Geraldine works mainly using both EMDR and Psychodynamics, in which she was originally trained. However, she integrates other tools such as CBT or Emergenetics in her practice. She works with couple using the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Geraldine is fluent in English, French, and German.