How Counselling Supports Mental Health Recovery in Singapore

Overcoming mental illness without enough social or professional support can be hard. However, mental health counselling in Singapore can make your journey to recovery possible. 

On one hand, mental illness counselling can help you handle mental health issues such as clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. 

On the other hand, therapy for mental health recovery can also help you manage daily emotional struggles such as low self-esteem, mood swings, lack of confidence, and so on. 

Many people around the world deal with mental health challenges. In fact, in Singapore, 17% of the population has poor mental health. 

The good news is that more and more Singaporeans are choosing counselling support for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Seeking therapy for mental health recovery is a brave step, and you're going in the right direction! Mental health counselling can lead to feeling better and making positive changes in your life. 

In this article, we explore various types of mental health issues, the benefits of mental health counselling in Singapore, and how to develop mental resilience through counselling. We also answer some of the most asked questions about counselling.  

Types of Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues can deeply affect how we think, feel, and function in this world. Emotional distress can occur from worries. 

At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), we offer professional and confidential mental health counselling in Singapore. Our counsellors can help you with personal issues such as mood swings, uncontrollable anger, feeling sad for no reason, feeling emotional all the time, etc. 

You can also receive mental illness counselling for issues like bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. 

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) notes that there are two main types of mental health issues – those with:

• Neurotic symptoms
• Psychotic symptoms

1) Neurotic Symptoms

We may all experience stress, sadness, or anxiety at some point in our lives. However, when these emotions become intense and start to interfere with daily functioning, they may indicate neurotic symptoms. 

During mental health counselling in Singapore, your counsellor may analyse and understand your symptoms through the first few sessions.

Neurotic symptoms of mental health issues involve experiencing emotions much more deeply than usual. 

For example, a person might feel anxious about a job interview, which is normal. However, if this anxiety becomes overwhelming to the point where it affects the person’s performance, they may suffer from an anxiety disorder. 

Some mental illnesses with neurotic symptoms that you can seek mental health counselling in Singapore for include:

• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic disorders

2) Psychotic Symptoms

Psychotic symptoms may affect the way we interact with reality. 

For example, psychosis could include hearing or seeing things that are not there or feeling utterly convinced of ideas that don’t match up with the facts (eg thinking that your mother hates you when she doesn’t). 

Mental illnesses associated with psychotic symptoms include: 

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• High stress or substance abuse

In the following section, we take a look at the process of mental health counselling in Singapore and how it helps with recovery.

Mental Health Support in Singapore: How Counselling Helps with Recovery

Mental health counselling in Singapore offers a safe environment to manage your emotions and develop skills to navigate your mental health issues more effectively. You can also develop mental resilience through counselling.  

During counselling for mental health recovery, you will engage in structured conversations with an expert counsellor. 

Based on your shared information, experiences and concerns, your counsellor will help you observe and recognise patterns that may trigger emotional distress. 

The key aspect that can help you get the most out of counselling is building a healthy relationship with your counsellor. The therapeutic alliance you create will significantly influence the speed and quality of your progress during and outside therapy sessions. 

Through mental health counselling in Singapore, you may learn essential skills to handle your problems. Your counsellor will choose a therapeutic approach based on their expertise, your preference, and what works best for your mental health issues. 

Some of the common therapeutic approaches used for mental health recovery in Singapore are:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Dialectical behavioural therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Schema therapy
• Narrative therapy
• Mindfulness-based therapy

The upcoming section explores some of the common benefits of mental health counselling in Singapore.

Exploring the Benefits of Mental Health Counselling in Singapore

Are you wondering how counselling helps mental health? Below are some of the benefits of mental health counselling in Singapore: 

• You can discover what your strengths and authentic likes are. Self-awareness boosts your confidence and helps you tackle challenges more effectively.  
• Talking to a counsellor can help you see things more clearly (ie from a fresh perspective). They can help you identify problems and develop a personalised therapeutic plan to solve them.  
• Mental health counselling in Singapore can also teach you new ways to handle stress and emotions. Building mental resilience is like having tools in your toolbox, ready to help you when you need them.
• Counselling for mental health provides a safe space to discuss your feelings. The non-judgmental space can make you feel lighter and less troubled by them.  
• Counsellors can make you feel better about yourself. You will learn to spot negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Eventually, you feel more in control of your emotions and decisions.  
• Just talking to someone who understands can make a big difference. It can make you feel less alone and more capable of facing challenges. 

In the forthcoming section, we discuss how mental health counselling in Singapore helps build mental resilience.

75% can strengthen their mental resilience through counselling

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Strengthening Mental Resilience Through Counselling     

Mental resilience is like a muscle in your brain that helps you get through difficult situations. And just like a muscle, the more you work on it, the stronger it gets.  

Resilience is a skill that includes several aspects, such as: 

• Learning how to stay positive
• Solving problems
• Communicating effectively
• Practising self-care tips
• Being compassionate

At TYHO, our Therapists can help you develop mental resilience through mental health counselling in Singapore.  

Below are some tools you can expect to encounter during counselling sessions:

• Your therapist in Singapore may use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help replace your negative thought patterns with positive ones.   
• Another common approach used during therapy for mental health recovery is Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBDR) therapy.  During MBDR therapy, you will learn how to slow down and reduce stress through mindfulness techniques.  Eventually, you will notice your thoughts without feeling overwhelmed by them.  
• Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) are a therapeutic tool that can help you focus on what you’re thankful for, your achievements and your strengths.  
• Similarly, your psychologist may also use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help you develop quick and effective solutions.  

Through mental health counselling in Singapore, you can deal with root issues such as: 

• Low self-esteem
• Low confidence
• Poor self-image
• Difficult relationship with parents
• Parents who frequently gaslight  
• Mood swings
   

Conclusion

Life’s challenges can be overwhelming, but mental health counselling in Singapore can help you build resilience. Resilience isn’t about never feeling upset; it’s about how you react, respond, and recover from difficult situations.

Mental health counselling in Singapore provides a supportive space to build resilience. With the help of a counsellor, you can learn coping skills through various therapeutic approaches, such as CBT and mindfulness.

Remember, it’s not just okay, it’s brave to seek help. Talking to a professional can provide clarity, boost self-confidence, and offer new strategies to manage stress and emotions.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards personal growth and mental resilience, explore our mental health services in Singapore 💜

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What mental health issues can counselling help with?

Mental health counselling in Singapore helps with several mental health issues. 

At TYHO, we offer confidential and professional mental health services in Singapore. Our counsellors provide counselling support for anxiety, depression and other issues like:

• Anxiety: Counselling can help you with generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and so on. 
  Depression: If you feel low all the time or have extreme mood swings, counselling can help you manage your negative emotions.
• Addictions: Mental health counselling in Singapore can help you if you struggle with alcohol dependency or non-substance addictions like excessive shopping or gambling.
• Eating disorders: Counselling supports people who have a disordered relationship with food or their body. Counsellors can also help with mental health issues such as poor self-esteem or body image problems.
• Personality disorders: Counselling can teach you coping tools if you have personality disorders such as OCPD or dependent personality disorder.

2) What happens in the first counselling session?

Before your first session, you may complete an intake form at TYHO.

You may be asked to provide basic details, such as your name, contact information, and age, in the form. You may also have to share emergency contact information (of someone close to you) and write a brief outline of your expectations of counselling.  

As your session begins, your counsellor will take you through the process of mental health counselling in Singapore.

Each counselling session is unique. Hence, you can share your mental health issues either in the first session or whenever you feel comfortable. 

To understand your needs and issues better, your counsellor may ask you several questions regarding your:

• Childhood
• Goals for counselling
• Personal or work-related issues
• Family background
• Past relationships
• Friendships
• Hobbies

At any point during mental health counselling in Singapore, you can ask questions. Feel free to talk about the therapy approach, style, how soon you can expect to progress, and what you need to do outside of sessions. 

Counsellors at TYHO are non-judgmental and empathetic and will happily answer any questions you may have!