Lim Swee Chen

Swee holds a Master of Arts in Counselling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, United States, and a Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Women’s Reproductive Mental Health from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. She is certified by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), USA, and has received specialised training in crisis intervention through Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Swee is also a certified facilitator for Signposts for Building Better Behaviour, has completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and is trained in providing intensive couples marathon therapy. She is an Associate Member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a Provisional Clinical Member of the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).

With over 10 years of clinical experience, Swee has worked with diverse clients across the United States, Canada, UAE, China, India, and Singapore in settings including crisis shelters, non-profit organisations, employee assistance programmes, and universities.

Swee works with teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, self-harm, relationship difficulties, domestic violence, body image concerns, and significant life transitions. She also supports parents managing emotional and behavioural concerns involving their children and adolescents. Many of her clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or uncertain about how to move forward. Swee supports individuals in better understanding themselves, strengthening emotional resilience, and developing healthier ways of coping and relating to themselves and others. She is LGBTQ-affirmative and committed to supporting individuals in living more authentically and compassionately toward themselves.

Her specialised experience in crisis and trauma-related work allows her to provide grounded support to individuals experiencing suicidality, self-harm, acute distress, and significant emotional overwhelm.

Having lived, studied, and worked across Malaysia, the United States, and Singapore, Swee brings a nuanced understanding of cultural identity, transition, and the emotional complexities of living away from home. Her international background and work with diverse clients have cultivated a deep appreciation for differing perspectives and the challenges expatriates and internationally mobile individuals may encounter while navigating belonging and connection across cultures.

In her work with couples, Swee incorporates Gottman Method Couples Therapy to help partners strengthen communication, navigate conflict, rebuild trust, and deepen emotional connection. Her intensive couples marathon therapy offers a more focused and immersive format for couples seeking deeper support or navigating longstanding relational challenges.

Swee’s therapeutic style is grounded in authenticity, compassion, and non-judgement. She draws from person-centred, cognitive behavioural, solution-focused, and mindfulness-based approaches, balancing emotional exploration with practical strategies tailored to each client’s needs and goals. She believes that clients are the experts in their own lives and views emotions not as good or bad, but as meaningful signals carrying important intentions and needs. Swee is committed to creating a caring and collaborative therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, respected, and supported as they develop greater insight, emotional resilience, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.