Seeking support and opening up about your issues is not easy. Talking to a psychologist in Singapore is like presenting all your vulnerabilities on the table and saying, ‘This is all of me, and I’m asking for help with it.’
It’s hard and overwhelming. However, personal growth most often occurs when we put ourselves in uncomfortable situations.
The only difference between being in an uncomfortable situation alone and in therapy is that the latter comes with expert guidance and compassion.
Hence, in this article, we’re looking into the benefits of talking to a psychologist in Singapore and answer common questions about getting started with therapy
Psychologists in Singapore are expert mental health professionals who address negative patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists are not medical professionals and hence cannot prescribe any medicine. Instead, their work involves assessing, diagnosing, and providing support for issues based on evidence-based approaches.
A clinical psychologist, in particular, has advanced training in diagnosing mental health issues and providing high-quality intervention.
Some common approaches psychologists use are:
Psychologists may either use one approach or a combination of many, also known as an eclectic style.
For example, a person struggling with an anxiety disorder may learn how to identify the negative thought patterns through cognitive reframing (ie replacing negative thoughts with realistic and healthy ones). Cognitive reframing is part of CBT. However, psychologists may use a combination of CBT and DBT for someone struggling with both anxiety and trauma.
During sessions, you may work with the professional to:
More importantly, alongside addressing your presenting problems, Singaporean psychologists may also work on improving your emotional intelligence, coping skills, relationships, and overall emotional well-being.
Many people wonder about the difference between counselling and seeing a psychologist, and for a fair reason.
The two terms can be confusing, as some in the mental health industry have started using them interchangeably. This is because both provide mental health support. However, the difference arises in their training, expertise, and the scope of practice.
On the one hand, counsellors are generally qualified with a minimum of a master’s degree in counselling. Their focus is on addressing daily stressors like workplace anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, and stress. Sessions with a counsellor are flexible, often less structured, and focus on short-term problems.
On the other hand, psychologists in Singapore receive advanced academic and clinical training. Their focus is on clinical intervention, diagnosis, and assessments for a wide range of psychological disorders. For example, psychologists help with social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and so on.
If you’re wondering which professional to talk to, here’s an example that can guide you:
If you are facing daily stressors such as anxiety or stress due to a demanding job, or struggling to navigate healthy relationship dynamics, a counsellor may be a better fit.
If you think you may have a psychological condition, such as bipolar disorder, that is affecting your quality of life, a psychologist in Singapore can provide support.
One of the most common reasons people wish to speak to a psychologist is to better understand their thoughts and feelings.
For example, someone who can’t stop thinking about all the ways things could go wrong in a day may be struggling with cognitive issues. Similarly, people relying on substances or maladaptive behaviours like self-harm to regulate emotions may struggle with behavioural issues.
The negative patterns in thoughts and behaviour could lead to:
Psychologists in Singapore are trained to identify the root causes behind these issues.
For example, an individual who constantly second-guesses their skills at work may struggle with low self-esteem and confidence. In such cases, the psychologist may use tools like CBT to reframe distorted thoughts and beliefs with healthy ones.
Over time, this changes how a person thinks and acts. Behavioural interventions may also include strategies like time management techniques, exposure therapy for phobias, or reinforcement systems to encourage positive habits.
Anger is a natural emotion that we may experience due to injustice, feeling unloved, frustrated, or overwhelmed. However, when anger takes control over a person’s behaviour or thoughts, it may quickly lead to negative consequences like:
Psychologists in Singapore play an important role in managing anger from the root, rather than fixing it from a surface level.
In therapy, you might learn to recognise the early physiological signs of anger, such as a racing heartbeat or clenched fists, before it worsens.
Afterward, the psychologists will equip you with scientific tools to regulate your emotions, redirect your heightened energy into something healthy, and manage emotional exhaustion.
Techniques a professional may use include:
Childhood or recent trauma can take a toll on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical health. The traumatic event can replay multiple times throughout the day and significantly impact a person’s overall quality of life.
The emotional and behavioural patterns that someone may learn from the trauma could lead to maladaptive functioning and reliance on harmful relationships.
To unlearn such patterns, the individual may have to work with a psychologist in Singapore.
Approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or trauma-focused CBT are evidence-based treatments that can reduce the emotional load and intensity of painful memories.
The goal of counselling sessions is not to erase what happened to a person, but rather to help them integrate the memory in a way that no longer affects their daily functioning and emotional well-being.
For example, a survivor of a traffic accident may experience panic attacks whenever they are near a busy road. By talking to a psychologist, the person can gradually overcome their fear of busy roads and may even reach a point in life where they’re able to drive to any place they want.
Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress may require long-term and high-quality support from a psychologist.
Typically, a holistic approach is most effective for such conditions. This includes consultations with a psychologist in Singapore alongside any medical treatment prescribed by psychiatrists if required.
With an eclectic approach, the sessions may focus on:
For example, someone with chronic depression may work with a psychologist to identify early warning signs of relapse and build a personalised therapeutic plan. This could include behavioural exercises, mindfulness practices, and tools to increase interpersonal skills.
Similarly, a person with OCD may benefit from exposure and response prevention therapy.
Working with a psychologist in Singapore to manage chronic conditions may also help the person struggling and their loved ones better handle the situation. In certain cases, the psychologist may also recommend family therapy to provide:
Psychologists in Singapore provide specialised support to address complex behavioural, cognitive, and emotional patterns that may be affecting your life in an unhealthy way.
Benefits of talking to a professional include learning how to:
Resolve behavioural and cognitive issues
Manage anger
Heal from trauma
Navigate chronic mental health conditions
We’ll leave you with this: Seeing a psychologist does not mean something is ‘wrong’ with you. Instead, it means that you’re taking a proactive step to understand and create a better life for yourself.
Despite the word ‘clinical’, psychologists are not medical doctors and therefore cannot prescribe any medications or medical advice.
However, psychologists in Singapore have the qualifications and expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat psychological conditions like:
You can see a psychologist for a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, phobias, anger management, relationship difficulties, or even personal growth.
Psychologists also conduct assessments for learning difficulties and developmental conditions. Examples include attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), autism, dyslexia, and more.
Essentially, you can seek their support whenever you want to better understand your thoughts, behaviours, and emotions, whether or not you have a formal diagnosis.
If you suspect that you feel depressed or sad for a long period of time, you may benefit from therapy for depression in Singapore.
At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), we work with Therapists and psychologists in Singapore who offer support for various types of depression.
To get started, simply visit this link: https://app.talkyourheartout.com/.
Here, you may find a list of psychologists in Singapore who offer support for depression. We recommend going through their profiles, watching their introductory videos, and reading client reviews before making a decision.
Once you’ve decided, book an online or in-person session with them. It may take a few sessions to become familiar with the psychologist’s style and approach. Give therapy enough time to gauge its impact on your life.
If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe at any point during the session, know that it’s normal and okay to switch psychologists.
If you’re looking for help to find an expert, write to us at [email protected].
If you are in crisis, or another person may be in danger, do not use this site. Please refer to these resources instead.
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