Free Counselling
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein
Everyone deserves access to mental health support, regardless of their financial situation. At Insightful Counselling, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to receiving the care you need. Whether you are in Singapore or anywhere else in the world, our dedicated counselling interns or Counsellors – in – training, studying to complete their Master in Counselling, from top Australian universities like Monash University and Flinders University, are here to help you. We offer free virtual counselling sessions to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from professional mental health support from the comfort of their own home.
For those seeking in-person guidance, we also provide affordable face-to-face sessions every Sunday in our Singapore office for just $30. Other days can be discussed with your Counsellor -in – training. Explore how our services can support your mental well-being and help you navigate life’s challenges.
Why Choose Our Free Counselling Services by Qualified Interns?
Our counselling interns are in the final stages of their training in counselling at prestigious Australian universities, such as Monash University and Flinders University. They provide free virtual counselling services to support your mental health needs.
- A Listening Ear: Attentive and empathetic listening
- Non-Judgemental Space: A safe and accepting environment to discuss your concerns
- Professional Care: Compassionate and professional support tailored to your needs
In what language are the counselling sessions conducted in?
We provide interns who conduct sessions primarily in English. However, if you need another language, we will do our best to match you with an intern who may speak it.
What Makes Our Affordable Counselling in Singapore Unique?
We offer both virtual and face-to-face counselling sessions every Sunday in Singapore for just $30. These services are available to everyone, including foreigners and expatriates, not just Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. We also provide these services virtually to all parts of the world, if you can speak English. Led by skilled counselling interns, our sessions are designed to provide compassionate and professional support to all who need it.
- Free Virtual Sessions to anyone need
- $30 Sunday counselling sessions
- Skilled interns from Monash University and Flinders University
- Personalised and affordable therapy
How Can Our In-Training-Counsellors Support Your Mental Health?
Our in-training counsellors are equipped with the latest knowledge and techniques from their studies at either Monash University or Flinders University. They provide professional support to improve your mental well-being. With a genuine enthusiasm to do their best, they offer a non-judgemental and empathic platform for you to express your concerns. Additionally, they take regular supervision to ensure the highest quality of care and support.
- Latest Knowledge: Equipped with contemporary counselling techniques
- Enthusiastic Support: Passionate about providing the best care
- Non-Judgemental Space: Safe and accepting environment
- Regular Supervision: Continuous oversight to maintain high standards
What issues are supported by our Counsellor-in- Training?
We recommend availing to our intern counselling services if you would like to talk about your issues to them. Some issues that you may want to talk about can be:
- Communication issues with family and friends
- Marital issues
- Issues with parents or children
- Feeling depressed
- Feeling lonely and wanting to talk to someone.
- Relationship issues
- Stress and anxiety over work
- Wanting to learn more about how counselling works
- Learning coping strategies for anxiety, stress etc.
- Family counselling
- Working with children/adolescents
To ensure your well-being and safety, for deeper issues we strongly recommend getting immediate help from a psychiatrist or an experienced counsellor. Some deeper issues that our intern may not be able to help you with may include:
- Sex addiction
- High Suicide Risk
- Alcohol addiction
- Current sexual abuse taking place
- Substance abuse or drug addiction
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Psychosis or other deeper issues that may require professional or more experienced counsellors.
Who can avail to this service?
We encourage all those who need mental health counselling, and sometimes find cost to be a hindrance, to sign up for our counselling services by our interns. We provide services to most segments including LGBTQ. This service is provided in Singapore and internationally via virtual platform. In Singapore, we provide face to face counselling too.
- Students (from 18 years and above)
- Young Adults
- Adults
- Couples
- Families
Why Are Sunday Counselling Sessions in person in Singapore Beneficial?
Many people are busy during weekdays with work and other commitments, making it difficult to find time for self-care. Sundays may be the perfect opportunity to focus on your mental well-being. If Sunday doesn’t work for you, please reach out to us, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you on another day.
- Ideal for those with busy weekday schedules
- Focus on self-care during the weekend
- Flexible scheduling options available
What Can You Expect from Your Counselling Session?
During your counselling session, you can expect a safe and supportive environment where you can discuss your concerns. Our interns will provide professional and empathetic guidance.
– Safe and supportive environment
– Professional guidance from interns
– Open and empathetic communication
Book An Appointment
How Do Our Free Counselling Services Work?
Our free counselling services are provided by interns who are close to finishing their qualifications from Australian universities. They are available to help you navigate your mental health challenges.
- Fill in the Form: To take advantage of this service, please complete this google form. https://forms.gle/qBfF85xanPbyDNNV7
- Review and Matching: We will review the form to ensure there are no risk-based issues such as major depression, suicidal ideation, or addictions. If deemed appropriate, we will connect you with an intern.
- Scheduling: Once a mutual timing has been arranged, we will send you a Zoom link for virtual sessions or the timings for face-to-face sessions.
- Ongoing Sessions: After your first session, all subsequent sessions are scheduled directly between you and your counselling intern via email. Please note, we do not provide WhatsApp support from our interns. For urgent support, you can contact us on our WhatsApp number: +65-83287060
Case Study: How Person-Centered Therapy Helped Sue-Ann Manage Her Anxiety
Background:
Sue-Ann, a 30-year-old woman, sought counselling to address her persistent anxiety. She felt overwhelmed by daily stressors and found it challenging to manage her emotions. Sue-Ann’s anxiety manifested in physical symptoms like a racing heart, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating, which affected her work and personal life. (Note: Sue-Ann is not her real name; it has been changed to protect her confidentiality.)
Initial Sessions:
Sue-Ann’s first sessions were focused on building a rapport with her counsellor, an intern trained in Person-Centered Therapy (PCT). The counsellor, under the supervision of Reena Goenka, provided a non-judgmental and empathetic space for Sue-Ann to share her experiences. The core principles of PCT—empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard—were pivotal in establishing a trusting therapeutic relationship.
Key Approaches in Person-Centered Therapy
- Empathy: The counsellor actively listened to Sue-Ann, reflecting her feelings and thoughts without judgment. This approach helped Sue-Ann feel understood and validated.
- Congruence: The counsellor maintained authenticity, sharing genuine reactions and creating a transparent environment. This honesty helped Sue-Ann trust the process and open up more.
- Unconditional Positive Regard: Sue-Ann experienced a supportive atmosphere where she felt accepted regardless of her struggles. This acceptance encouraged her to explore her anxiety without fear of criticism.
Progression and Realizations
As the sessions progressed, Sue-Ann began to notice patterns in her thoughts and behaviors contributing to her anxiety. Through the counsellor’s reflective listening, Sue-Ann realized that many of her anxious thoughts were linked to unrealistic expectations and self-imposed pressures.
– Identifying Triggers: By talking openly, Sue-Ann identified specific situations that triggered her anxiety, such as work deadlines and social interactions.
– Challenging Negative Thoughts: The supportive environment allowed Sue-Ann to challenge her negative thought patterns. The counsellor’s empathy and validation helped her see that her feelings were valid, but not necessarily accurate reflections of reality.
– Developing Coping Strategies: Encouraged by the counsellor, Sue-Ann began to develop coping strategies, such as mindfulness and self-compassion exercises. These techniques helped her manage her anxiety more effectively.
Outcome
By the end of the counselling sessions, Sue-Ann reported a significant reduction in her anxiety levels. She felt more empowered to handle stressors and had developed a better understanding of her emotional responses. The therapeutic relationship, characterized by empathy, genuineness, and acceptance, played a crucial role in her progress.
– Reduced Anxiety Symptoms: Sue-Ann’s physical symptoms of anxiety, like restlessness and a racing heart, diminished.
– Improved Self-Esteem: The unconditional positive regard from her counsellor boosted Sue-Ann’s self-esteem and confidence in managing her anxiety.
– Sustainable Coping Mechanisms: Sue-Ann left the sessions with practical strategies to continue managing her anxiety independently.
Conclusion
Sue-Ann’s case demonstrates the effectiveness of Person-Centered Therapy in addressing anxiety. Through empathetic listening and a supportive therapeutic relationship, she was able to understand and manage her anxiety better, leading to improved mental well-being.
This case highlights the potential of PCT, especially when facilitated by dedicated intern counsellors under skilled supervision, to create meaningful change in clients’ lives.
Certificate of Appreciation
Frequently Asked Questions
Our counselling interns are being trained and are equipped to handle a variety of mental health concerns, but they are not yet qualified to manage more complex issues such as severe depression, suicidal ideations, sexual related issues or addictions. For such concerns, we recommend seeking help from a licensed and experienced mental health professional.
– Suitable for general mental health support
– Not equipped to handle severe depression or suicidal ideations
– Complex issues like addictions require experienced professionals
Our counselling interns typically use Person-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Person-Centered Therapy focuses on being genuine, providing a listening ear, and maintaining a non-judgmental attitude. CBT helps clients identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours.
– Person-Centered Therapy: Genuine, empathetic, and non-judgmental support
– Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Techniques to change negative thought patterns and behaviours
– Tailored approaches to meet individual needs
The answer depends on the length of your counselling journey. Typically, an intern works with us for 6 to 9 months. If you have not completed your counselling goals or require further therapy after this period, we will recommend transferring you to another intern. We will handle the transfer process for you. With your permission, we can share your counselling notes with the new intern to ensure continuity of care. Alternatively, you can choose to start fresh with the new intern.
A listening ear is crucial in counselling because it helps clients feel heard, understood, and valued. This empathetic approach fosters a safe and supportive environment where clients can openly share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. It also aids in building a trusting therapeutic relationship, which is essential for effective counselling.
– Validation: Helps clients feel acknowledged and respected
– Safety: Creates a safe space for open and honest communication
– Trust: Builds a strong therapeutic relationship
– Insight: Allows the counsellor to understand the client’s perspective fully
In your first counselling session, you’ll discuss your reasons for seeking counselling, your background, and any specific issues you want to address. This session helps the counsellor-in-training understand your needs and establish a plan for future sessions.
– Initial assessment and discussion
– Establishing a therapeutic plan
– Understanding your background and concerns
Each counselling session typically lasts 50-60 minutes, whether it’s a free virtual session or a $30 face-to-face session on Sundays.
– Standard session length: 50-60 minutes
– Consistent duration for both virtual and face-to-face sessions
Yes, all our counselling interns are supervised by Reena Goenka, an experienced counsellor and supervisor. She is a registered counsellor and registered supervisor with the Singapore Association of Counselling and a Master Clinical Member. Reena’s role as a supervisor is to support our interns in adhering to ethical guidelines and facilitating client sessions, ensuring that each client’s journey towards their counselling goals is effectively guided.
Absolutely. It’s important to feel comfortable with your intern counsellor. If you feel it’s not a good fit, you can request to switch to another intern. However, we can only give you a replacement, if there is an available intern counsellor.
Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of our counselling services, ensuring that all information shared during sessions is kept private and secure. Here’s how we maintain confidentiality:
- Professional Standards: All our counselling interns adhere to strict ethical guidelines and professional standards, including those set by the Singapore Association of Counselling.
- Secure Communication: We use secure platforms for virtual sessions and ensure that all client records are stored securely.
- Supervisor Oversight: Under the supervision of Reena Goenka, our interns are trained to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and privacy.
- Limited Access: Only the counsellor, Insightful Counselling and their supervisor have access to your information, which is not shared without your explicit consent.
- Exceptions: Confidentiality may only be broken in situations where there is a risk of harm to the client or others, or if required by law. In such cases, clients will be informed whenever possible.
