Welcome to our mental health blog!

Never stop learning with our blog bites. Here, we'll share strategies and insights into counselling, psychotherapy, psychology and common concerns. From relaxation strategies and self-improvement tools to managing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns, as well as introductions to different therapeutic approaches, we’ve got it all covered!

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Postnatal, OCD, Anxiety, CBT The Counselling Place Postnatal, OCD, Anxiety, CBT The Counselling Place

When Motherhood Meets Anxiety: Understanding Postpartum OCD and Finding Hope

Becoming a mother can bring immense joy, but it can also trigger unexpected fears that feel confusing and frightening. If you are experiencing distressing intrusive thoughts, overwhelming anxiety, or a constant need to check and seek reassurance after the birth of your baby, you are not alone. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, explains how understanding postpartum OCD is the first step towards recovery, helping you recognise that these thoughts do not define you and that effective, evidence-based treatment is available.

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Addiction, Work Life Balance, Social Media, Obsession The Counselling Place Addiction, Work Life Balance, Social Media, Obsession The Counselling Place

Are You Addicted? Hidden Behaviours That Quietly Shape Modern Life

Many people assume addiction only refers to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Yet some of the most powerful dependencies are hidden in plain sight—constant scrolling, relentless overworking, obsessive productivity or an overwhelming need for control. In this blog, Marriage & Family Therapist, Zachariah Lail, explores how these behaviours can reflect deeper relational and family patterns, and how contextual therapy helps uncover the underlying dynamics to create meaningful, lasting change.

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Why Intimacy Often Fades After Having Children

Many couples notice this gradually. Conversations become practical. Physical affection becomes functional. Parenting takes priority, and the relationship slowly shifts from partnership to co-management. There may still be care, stability, and teamwork — yet emotional intimacy and desire quietly begin to fade. Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, discuss how to reverse the trend.

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Growing Up Between Worlds: How Moving to Singapore Affects Expat Children Emotionally

Many expatriate children appear to adjust well on the surface while quietly struggling underneath. Parents often notice changes only later — withdrawal, anxiety, emotional outbursts, academic stress, or difficulty fitting in socially. These reactions are more common than many families realise. Relocation affects children differently depending on age, personality, and previous experiences. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Lim Swee Chen, explains why early support can make the transition significantly easier.

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Loneliness, Expat, Expatriate, Mental Health The Counselling Place Loneliness, Expat, Expatriate, Mental Health The Counselling Place

Why We Feel Lonely Even Around People: Understanding Emotional Disconnection

Feeling lonely does not always mean being physically alone. Many people feel emotionally disconnected even while surrounded by colleagues, family, social media, or busy schedules. Marriage & Family Therapist, Zachariah Lail, explores why loneliness happens, how modern life quietly deepens emotional isolation, and what helps people rebuild genuine human connection.

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When Patience Becomes Self-Abandonment in Relationships: How to recognise the difference — and why it matters for emotional wellbeing

Many people stay in emotionally painful relationships not because they lack love, but because they slowly lose connection with themselves in the process. Patience can be healthy and grounding — but when it comes at the cost of your emotional wellbeing, it may become self-abandonment instead. In this article, Psychotherapist Calista Goh-Therond explores the subtle but important difference between the two, and how recognising it can help you build healthier boundaries, stronger self-respect, and more emotionally safe relationships.

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Family Therapy, Parent Coaching, Child Development, Parenting The Counselling Place Family Therapy, Parent Coaching, Child Development, Parenting The Counselling Place

Why Boredom is Great for Kids

"I’m bored!" It’s a phrase that can instantly trigger a parent’s guilt or a frantic rush to find entertainment. But what if empty time is actually the greatest developmental gift you can give your child? Learn why boredom is crucial for your child’s development and how you can hold the boundary and step back with confidence.

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Sometimes Love Is Not Enough: Why Couples Become Roommates Instead of Partners — And How to Reconnect Again

Many couples still care deeply for each other — yet feel emotionally distant, lonely, or stuck in constant conflict. Some describe their marriage as feeling more like roommates than romantic partners. Others feel trapped in an emotionally disconnected relationship where conversations revolve only around chores, schedules, children, or responsibilities. What happened to the passion, closeness, and emotional intimacy that once felt effortless? Psychologist Ho Shee Wai shares why sometimes, love alone is not enough to sustain a healthy relationship over time.

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Understanding Your Child’s Mental Health: What Every Parent Should Know

Many parents wonder why their child suddenly becomes withdrawn, emotional, anxious, or constantly attached to screens. Often, these behaviours make more sense when we understand what is happening inside the developing brain says psychologist & supervised counsellor, Ewelina Sawicka.

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Why Men Get Angry: The Hidden Shame Behind Male Anger

Many men believe anger is the problem. But beneath the anger is often something far more painful — shame, fear, inadequacy, and the quiet belief of “I am not enough.” Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Ben Ang, explains why understanding what sits beneath defensiveness, emotional shutdown, and withdrawal can transform relationships and emotional connection.

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Boy vs Man in Relationships: Why Emotional Maturity Matters More Than Love

You can love someone deeply—and still feel alone in the relationship. Not because love is missing, but because emotional maturity is. Psychotherapist, Calista Goh-Therond, explains the difference between a “boy” and a “man” in relationships isn’t age—it’s how they handle conflict, responsibility, and emotional connection.

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New Parents, Parenting, Parent Coaching The Counselling Place New Parents, Parenting, Parent Coaching The Counselling Place

Why Parenting Feels So Hard (And Why You're Not Failing)

Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most joyful experiences—but for many, it also brings unexpected stress, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does this feel so hard?” or “Am I doing this right?”, you’re not alone. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, shares that parenting rarely matches the expectations we carry into it, and understanding this gap is the first step toward finding balance, confidence, and support.

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Grief in Chinese Families: Why Different Generations Mourn So Differently

Grief in Chinese families is rarely simple. When someone passes away, different generations often respond in very different ways — sometimes creating tension, confusion, or even conflict. Counsellor & Parenting Coach explains how understanding these differences can help families move through loss with more clarity and less misunderstanding.

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Doctor Recommended CBT for Your Child? Here’s What It Actually Means

When a doctor recommends CBT for your child, it can feel both reassuring and confusing. What exactly is CBT, and how will it help your child manage anxiety? Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, explains understanding how this evidence-based therapy works can give you confidence in supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing and progress.

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Sex Therapy, Sex, Low libido The Counselling Place Sex Therapy, Sex, Low libido The Counselling Place

Too Many Roles, No Desire? Why High-Functioning Adults Lose Sexual Desire

You’re functioning. You’re capable. You’re showing up. But something feels… missing. Not broken — just out of reach. For many high-functioning adults, desire doesn’t disappear because attraction is gone. It fades because there’s no space left to feel anything at all. Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, talks about what to do.

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When a Child Loses a Pet: How to Support Grief That Adults Often Overlook

When a child loses a pet, adults often underestimate the depth of the grief. But for many children, this is their first experience of loss — and it can shape how they understand love, attachment, and death. In Singapore, where pets often become emotional anchors in busy or expatriate families, this loss can feel even more significant than adults realize. Psychologist & Supervised Counsellor, Ewelina Sawicka, explains why.

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Relationship, Couple's Counselling, Emotional Support The Counselling Place Relationship, Couple's Counselling, Emotional Support The Counselling Place

Why Relying Only on Your Partner for Emotional Support is Hurting Your Relationship

When your partner is your only emotional outlet, the weight of your world can crush the romance and lead to burnout. It’s time to move from enmeshment to interdependence. Learn why diversifying your support system is the ultimate act of love for your relationship.

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Is Discipline or Trust More Important in Parenting? What the Marshmallow Experiment Really Shows

Research shows that children’s ability to wait is strongly influenced by trust and predictability in their environment. When children trust that promises will be kept, they are more likely to delay gratification. Research shows that children’s ability to wait is strongly influenced by trust and predictability in their environment. When children trust that promises will be kept, they are more likely to delay gratification.

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