Welcome to our mental health blog!

Never stop learning with our blog bites. Here, we'll share strategies and insights into counselling, psychotherapy, psychology and common concerns. From relaxation strategies and self-improvement tools to managing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns, as well as introductions to different therapeutic approaches, we’ve got it all covered!

Looking for a particular topic? Use the search bar and hit enter!

Addiction, Work Life Balance, Social Media, Obsession The Counselling Place Addiction, Work Life Balance, Social Media, Obsession The Counselling Place

Are You Addicted? Hidden Behaviours That Quietly Shape Modern Life

Many people assume addiction only refers to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Yet some of the most powerful dependencies are hidden in plain sight—constant scrolling, relentless overworking, obsessive productivity or an overwhelming need for control. In this blog, Marriage & Family Therapist, Zachariah Lail, explores how these behaviours can reflect deeper relational and family patterns, and how contextual therapy helps uncover the underlying dynamics to create meaningful, lasting change.

Read More

Why Intimacy Often Fades After Having Children

Many couples notice this gradually. Conversations become practical. Physical affection becomes functional. Parenting takes priority, and the relationship slowly shifts from partnership to co-management. There may still be care, stability, and teamwork — yet emotional intimacy and desire quietly begin to fade. Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, discuss how to reverse the trend.

Read More

Growing Up Between Worlds: How Moving to Singapore Affects Expat Children Emotionally

Many expatriate children appear to adjust well on the surface while quietly struggling underneath. Parents often notice changes only later — withdrawal, anxiety, emotional outbursts, academic stress, or difficulty fitting in socially. These reactions are more common than many families realise. Relocation affects children differently depending on age, personality, and previous experiences. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Lim Swee Chen, explains why early support can make the transition significantly easier.

Read More
Loneliness, Expat, Expatriate, Mental Health The Counselling Place Loneliness, Expat, Expatriate, Mental Health The Counselling Place

Why We Feel Lonely Even Around People: Understanding Emotional Disconnection

Feeling lonely does not always mean being physically alone. Many people feel emotionally disconnected even while surrounded by colleagues, family, social media, or busy schedules. Marriage & Family Therapist, Zachariah Lail, explores why loneliness happens, how modern life quietly deepens emotional isolation, and what helps people rebuild genuine human connection.

Read More

Sometimes Love Is Not Enough: Why Couples Become Roommates Instead of Partners — And How to Reconnect Again

Many couples still care deeply for each other — yet feel emotionally distant, lonely, or stuck in constant conflict. Some describe their marriage as feeling more like roommates than romantic partners. Others feel trapped in an emotionally disconnected relationship where conversations revolve only around chores, schedules, children, or responsibilities. What happened to the passion, closeness, and emotional intimacy that once felt effortless? Psychologist Ho Shee Wai shares why sometimes, love alone is not enough to sustain a healthy relationship over time.

Read More

Understanding Your Child’s Mental Health: What Every Parent Should Know

Many parents wonder why their child suddenly becomes withdrawn, emotional, anxious, or constantly attached to screens. Often, these behaviours make more sense when we understand what is happening inside the developing brain says psychologist & supervised counsellor, Ewelina Sawicka.

Read More

Why Men Get Angry: The Hidden Shame Behind Male Anger

Many men believe anger is the problem. But beneath the anger is often something far more painful — shame, fear, inadequacy, and the quiet belief of “I am not enough.” Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Ben Ang, explains why understanding what sits beneath defensiveness, emotional shutdown, and withdrawal can transform relationships and emotional connection.

Read More
New Parents, Parenting, Parent Coaching The Counselling Place New Parents, Parenting, Parent Coaching The Counselling Place

Why Parenting Feels So Hard (And Why You're Not Failing)

Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most joyful experiences—but for many, it also brings unexpected stress, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does this feel so hard?” or “Am I doing this right?”, you’re not alone. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, shares that parenting rarely matches the expectations we carry into it, and understanding this gap is the first step toward finding balance, confidence, and support.

Read More

Grief in Chinese Families: Why Different Generations Mourn So Differently

Grief in Chinese families is rarely simple. When someone passes away, different generations often respond in very different ways — sometimes creating tension, confusion, or even conflict. Counsellor & Parenting Coach explains how understanding these differences can help families move through loss with more clarity and less misunderstanding.

Read More

Doctor Recommended CBT for Your Child? Here’s What It Actually Means

When a doctor recommends CBT for your child, it can feel both reassuring and confusing. What exactly is CBT, and how will it help your child manage anxiety? Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, explains understanding how this evidence-based therapy works can give you confidence in supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing and progress.

Read More
Sex Therapy, Sex, Low libido The Counselling Place Sex Therapy, Sex, Low libido The Counselling Place

Too Many Roles, No Desire? Why High-Functioning Adults Lose Sexual Desire

You’re functioning. You’re capable. You’re showing up. But something feels… missing. Not broken — just out of reach. For many high-functioning adults, desire doesn’t disappear because attraction is gone. It fades because there’s no space left to feel anything at all. Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, talks about what to do.

Read More

When a Child Loses a Pet: How to Support Grief That Adults Often Overlook

When a child loses a pet, adults often underestimate the depth of the grief. But for many children, this is their first experience of loss — and it can shape how they understand love, attachment, and death. In Singapore, where pets often become emotional anchors in busy or expatriate families, this loss can feel even more significant than adults realize. Psychologist & Supervised Counsellor, Ewelina Sawicka, explains why.

Read More

Is Discipline or Trust More Important in Parenting? What the Marshmallow Experiment Really Shows

Research shows that children’s ability to wait is strongly influenced by trust and predictability in their environment. When children trust that promises will be kept, they are more likely to delay gratification. Research shows that children’s ability to wait is strongly influenced by trust and predictability in their environment. When children trust that promises will be kept, they are more likely to delay gratification.

Read More
Grief, Terminal Illness, Bereavement, Family Relationships The Counselling Place Grief, Terminal Illness, Bereavement, Family Relationships The Counselling Place

When a Loved One Is Diagnosed With a Terminal Illness: Understanding the Emotional Journey

When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, families often experience a wave of emotions—shock, fear, sadness, and uncertainty about the future. While the focus naturally centres on the person who is ill, family members themselves are also navigating a complex emotional journey. Counsellor Lim Swee Chen explores how understanding the psychological responses that often arise can help families move through this difficult time with greater compassion and awareness.

Read More

Can Trauma Make You Stronger? The Truth About Post-Traumatic Growth

Can something positive emerge from deeply painful experiences?
While trauma can be overwhelming, many people discover unexpected strength, clarity, and growth in the process of healing. This is known as post-traumatic growth. Psychologist & Supervised Counsellor, explains how understanding it can change how we see recovery.

Read More

When Intimacy Is Chosen — But Not Wanted

Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, explores the psychology of consensual unwanted sex — situations where intimacy is chosen but not truly desired, and where consent exists without genuine wanting — how intimacy can become a form of obligation, why desire fades in these dynamics, and what it means for emotional and relational wellbeing.

Read More

Using EMDR to Become Unstuck: How EMDR Therapy Helps Heal Anxiety, Trauma & Emotional Blocks

Feeling emotionally stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in patterns you can’t seem to break? EMDR therapy helps the brain and body resolve unresolved experiences at their root — often when other therapies haven’t brought lasting change. Learn how EMDR can unlock emotional healing and help you move forward with Psychologist Ho Shee Wai.

Read More

Breathe for Calm: Family Emotional Health

In today’s fast-paced world, many children and parents feel overwhelmed, anxious, and constantly “on edge.” The good news is that calm can begin with something as simple as a breath. Counsellor & Parenting Coach introduces easy, science-based breathing techniques families can use together to strengthen emotional regulation, reduce stress, and build lifelong resilience.

Read More

Love Maps: Our Internal World in a Relationship

Many couples talk every day yet feel increasingly misunderstood. Over time, assumptions replace curiosity, conversations become task-focused, and emotional distance quietly grows. Counsellor, Lim Swee Chen, explores the powerful concept of Love Maps, developed by Dr. John Gottman, and how updating them helps couples rebuild emotional closeness, deepen understanding, and stay connected through life’s changes.

Read More