Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mindwise's approach to counselling and therapy?
Clients come for counselling because they’ve recognised that something isn’t going well in their lives. When someone comes in to see us, it’s important to recognise that although they are seeking support and help, they very much still hold the wisdom to work through and choose which direction they want to go in life. Mindwise therapists help to facilitate this by helping them understand what is going on, identifying unhelpful patterns, providing techniques that help with certain conditions, and supporting them in a non-judgemental and safe environment. Above all, clients are respected as people with rich histories of their own, rather than cookie cutter clients.
Some of the approaches used are emotion focused therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Schema therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness. Whether a client is seeking support for mental health, sexual or fertility concerns, these tools help our therapists stay flexible in adapting to what a client prefers and needs.
What professional qualifications and experience do our counsellors have?
Our therapists have a minimum of a Master’s in Counselling, and belong to recognised counselling associations. This ensures that they have accumulated vast hours of supervision and training. We do not take in therapists with less than 5 years of experience, and all have niche trainings in their own fields. Basically, we take in therapists whom we would see ourselves.
What types of mental health concerns does your counselling service specialise in treating
At Mindwise, we focus on three different niches: Mental health, Sex Therapy (Sexual concerns and health) and Subfertility (IVF).
Mental health itself has a range of concerns and medical diagnoses that may occur. The most common diagnosed and undiagnosed condition we see is anxiety. Anxiety itself is a natural and necessary emotion, like joy and anger. However, excess anxiety can become overwhelming, and individuals who find it hard to deal with the effects of anxiety will eventually seek assistance due to the sheer exhaustion of having to be in this state for a prolonged period. Symptoms of anxiety include physical symptoms like heart palpitations, panic attacks, fast breathing and gastric disturbances. Cognitive symptoms (or thoughts) include feelings of losing control, “going crazy”, strong fears of judgement by others, and intrusive thoughts.
Another common concern we see is that of a low, or depressed mood. All of us will suffer a low mood at some point in our life- whether due to life circumstances or to a mood disorder. This may or may not be a natural consequence of adjusting to a difficult situation, clinical depression, or another mood disorder. Our therapists will help ascertain if you need to get medical help and support you with coping techniques as well as emotional support.
Anxiety and a low mood can occur individually or together, and even with other conditions. They often feed into each other, sometimes creating a vicious cycle. Therapy assists in breaking down these conditions into workable areas, while looking at what conditions in life may be maintaining or contributing to these.
Lastly, there are a myriad of life circumstances that create mental health concerns- From fighting to be accepted for what and who you may be (LGBTQIA/Identity exploration/Relationships), to having to work with a disturbed self-identity (Infertility, Work issues, Divorce), to self-esteem issues (Perfectionism, Social anxiety, Trauma).
What is your availability, and how can we schedule an appointment?
Our opening hours are :
Weekdays: 10-8 PM (Last session 7 PM)
Saturdays:10-2 PM (Last session 1 PM)
Making an appointment is easy. Simply give us a call at 6527 0526 or email us for our earliest appointment slots. You can also let us know your preferred time slots and days, and we’ll give you suggestions based on that.
What should I expect for my first counselling session?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous or apprehensive about going to a therapy session. Here’s an idea of what it might look like when you come for counselling at Mindwise Counselling & Training.
Before the session:
There is no need to come in too early for your session as there likely won’t be a long waiting time before your session. You’ll press a bell to enter the office, and the receptionist will ask you whom you are seeing. You’ll be asked to wait in the seating area until the therapist comes out to greet you. You might want to take this time to compose your thoughts for the session.
You will be given an intake form with questions about your family, health, and mental health. Remember that you are free to skip questions that make you uncomfortable. Your answers will help the therapist understand your background a little better, and therefore form a more comprehensive treatment plan if needed.
During the session:
Your therapist will greet you and invite you into the therapy room. The very first thing that will happen is that your therapist will explain some administrative details to you- Confidentiality, administrative processes and your consent will all be discussed.
After that, you’ll have a normal conversation about what is going on in your life, and what you might need support with. This is your chance to ask questions to the therapist about her background, experience, and competency in working with your concerns! Think of this session as an opportunity for you to gauge how comfortable you feel working with your therapist, and for your therapist to get a better idea of how they can help you. They’ll be able to tell you how they can assist and support you by the end of the session. Remember- You don’t have to share your deepest secrets immediately. Take your time to open up, and always feel free to tell your therapist if you’re not feeling comfortable.
You might be asked questions like these:
- Have you attended therapy in the past?
- What are your symptoms?
- Do you have any mental health issues in your family history?
- How is your home life?
- Do you have a history of suicidal ideation?
- Do you have a history of self-harm?
- What do you hope to get from therapy?
- What do you want to accomplish in sessions?
At the end of the session, your therapist might suggest the frequency of sessions as a general guide. However, in the end you alone will decide what you are most comfortable with.
After the session:
Give yourself a big pat on the back now. You made it through. The first thing you might want to do, is to check in with yourself. How are you feeling, how did you communicate with the therapist, and did they seem to suit you? Therapy is an incredibly individualized process, and your “fit” with your therapist is the most important thing in the therapeutic process.
Additionally, you may have some “homework” from your therapist before your next session. This could be anything from journaling throughout the week to doing a little reading that may help provide context for your next session. Remember: whatever work you do between sessions is about making you feel healthier and happier, not about getting a good grade.
Remember: there’s no such thing as a one-session cure, so you may feel a little better or relieved, but your symptoms won’t immediately disappear. It’s best if you do not schedule important meetings or events after your therapy sessions. This will allow you to focus on the session, its impact on you, and taking care of yourself after the session.
How long do counselling sessions typically last?
Counselling sessions generally last for 50 minutes.
What kinds of treatment plans do you generally suggest?
At Mindwise, every treatment plan is individualized to our clients needs and personality. As such, 2 clients with a similar issue may not get the same plan due to their individual preferences and needs.
What are your fees, and do you accept insurance?
Our fees are kept very competitive. Because of this, we will never offer you packages to lock you in with “discounts”. If you are having difficulties with your fees, please do let us know. At the moment, we do not accept direct insurance payments.
How do you ensure the confidentiality and privacy of your sessions?
Unfortunately, the stigma of seeking help for mental/sexual/fertility related issues still affects many of our clients. At Mindwise counselling, we are mindful of this, and have taken some steps to help with this.
Our discreet office is located privately amongst corporate offices with limited footflow. In addition, you won’t have to be seated amongst many other clients while waiting for your appointment. Your therapist will handle your bookings and information, so you can rest assured that the receptionist will not be privy to confidential details. Each client will get an explanation of how our privacy policy works when they have their first session with us to ensure that they understand the rare times when their details may have to be sent to third parties.
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OUR CLIENTS SAY
I've learned to cope with my anxiety in a much healthier way. I never felt rushed during counselling with Faith, and I feel that she is genuinely concerned about my well being.
In other sessions with a previous psychologist, I stopped because I felt judged. In our session, Faith has been patient, and I'm able to share more because I feel comfortable.
After suffering from two miscarriages. I felt depressed and suicidal at times. It was a painful journey, but i have since learnt that although grief will be present, I can learn to accept myself as a person, and more importantly, a complete woman.
WE'RE OPEN FROM
- Monday to Friday: 10:00 / 19:00
- Saturday: 10:00 / 14:00
- Sunday: Closed
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OUR ADDRESS
- Mindwise Counselling & Training Pte Ltd
- 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #24-09
- Singapore 079903