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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When Intimacy Is Chosen — But Not Wanted
Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, explores the psychology of consensual unwanted sex — situations where intimacy is chosen but not truly desired, and where consent exists without genuine wanting — how intimacy can become a form of obligation, why desire fades in these dynamics, and what it means for emotional and relational wellbeing.
Narcissistic Injury: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Respond
A narcissistic injury is a deep emotional wound that occurs when a person with narcissistic traits feels their self-image has been threatened, exposed, or challenged. While narcissists may appear confident and self-assured, their self-esteem is often fragile and unstable — and when that self-image cracks, the emotional response can be intense and disproportionate. Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Shifan Hu-Couble, explores what narcissistic injury is, why it happens, and how to respond when you find yourself on the receiving end.
Does My Child Need an Autism Assessment? How Psychologists Get Clarity (Including ADOS)
Most parents don’t wake up thinking, “I should get an autism assessment.” They wake up thinking, “Something doesn’t feel quite right.” Whether it’s delayed communication, emotional outbursts, or a child who seems bright but socially lost, many parents spend months wondering whether to wait or seek help. An autism assessment isn’t about rushing to a label — it’s about understanding how your child experiences the world and what support may help. In this article, psychologist Ho Shee Wai explains how clinicians assess autism and where tools like ADOS fit in.
Why the Men in Your Life Feel So Hard to Understand (Father, Husband, Son)
Many women didn’t come to counselling because they want to change the men in their lives. They came because they feel confused, exhausted, or alone — trying to connect with a father who won’t talk, a partner who shuts down, or a son who seems unreachable. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Why is he like this?” — not in anger, but in longing — this article is for you. Counsellor, Psychotherapist & Parenting Coach, Ben Ang, discusses how you can understand the men in your life.
Perfectionism and the Inner Critic: Why Your Mind Is Never Satisfied
You meet the deadline. The meeting goes well. Someone even says you did a good job. And yet, instead of relief, your mind immediately turns on you — replaying mistakes, analysing tone, finding flaws that others missed. If you live with perfectionism and an inner critic that never seems satisfied, this cycle may feel painfully familiar. Many people experience perfectionism anxiety even when they are performing well. Counsellor, Soolin Choi, explores why the inner critic never seems satisfied, where it comes from, and what actually helps loosen its grip — without losing your standards or ambition.
When Love Becomes Too Entangled: Understanding Codependent Parenting
Many deeply loving parents unknowingly slip into patterns of emotional over-involvement that can place heavy pressure on their children. Counsellor, psychotherapist, & Parenting Coach, Shifan Hu-Couble, explores the hidden signs of codependent parenting, how it shapes a child’s emotional development, and how families can restore balance, connection, and healthy boundaries.
How to Speak Your Partner’s Language in a Cross-Culture Relationship
Feeling like you don’t speak your partner’s language, despite both of you communicating in English? Or maybe you’re struggling with cultural differences? Learn to truly speak your partner’s language by decoding communication styles and building a shared Third Culture today.
Using EMDR to Become Unstuck: How EMDR Therapy Helps Heal Anxiety, Trauma & Emotional Blocks
Feeling emotionally stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in patterns you can’t seem to break? EMDR therapy helps the brain and body resolve unresolved experiences at their root — often when other therapies haven’t brought lasting change. Learn how EMDR can unlock emotional healing and help you move forward with Psychologist Ho Shee Wai.
Breathe for Calm: Family Emotional Health
In today’s fast-paced world, many children and parents feel overwhelmed, anxious, and constantly “on edge.” The good news is that calm can begin with something as simple as a breath. Counsellor & Parenting Coach introduces easy, science-based breathing techniques families can use together to strengthen emotional regulation, reduce stress, and build lifelong resilience.
Love Maps: Our Internal World in a Relationship
Many couples talk every day yet feel increasingly misunderstood. Over time, assumptions replace curiosity, conversations become task-focused, and emotional distance quietly grows. Counsellor, Lim Swee Chen, explores the powerful concept of Love Maps, developed by Dr. John Gottman, and how updating them helps couples rebuild emotional closeness, deepen understanding, and stay connected through life’s changes.
What Does It Mean to Be a Man Today?
Many men are taught to be strong, silent, and self-reliant — but few are taught how to cope when life, relationships, and fatherhood feel overwhelming. Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Ben Ang, explores how traditional masculinity shapes men’s emotional lives, why anger is often misunderstood, and how redefining strength can create healthier men, families, and relationships.
Parenting Across Cultures: When Your Upbringing Collides With Your Partner’s
Many couples are surprised when parenting becomes the first major stressor in an otherwise strong relationship. What once felt easy and aligned suddenly becomes tense when bedtime routines, discipline, or school expectations trigger deeply rooted instincts from each partner’s upbringing. These moments aren’t signs of incompatibility—they’re reflections of two family cultures meeting in real time. Counsellor, Soolin Choi, discusses understanding where these instincts come from as the first step toward parenting as a united team.
When Sex Disappears and Nothing Is “Wrong”
When sex quietly fades from a relationship, it often brings confusion, shame, or self-blame—especially when “nothing is wrong.” Sex Therapist & Relationship Counsellor, Dr Martha Tara Lee, discusses low desire is rarely random. More often, it’s a signal about stress, safety, emotional load, or how the relationship has changed over time. Understanding why desire disappears is the first step toward clarity, compassion, and a healthier connection.
Skip the Resolutions: How Counselling Can Create Lasting Change in the New Year
Every January, millions of people promise themselves a fresh start—only to feel guilty, stuck, or overwhelmed just weeks later. If you’re tired of repeating the same cycle each year, you’re not alone. Real, sustainable change doesn’t come from resolutions or willpower. It comes from understanding yourself more deeply. Before setting another goal you won’t keep, discover how counselling can help you make meaningful, lasting change that aligns with who you truly want to be with psychologist, Ho Shee Wai.
Navigating Change in Long-Term Relationships
After years together, every couple experiences shifts—some expected, some surprising. You may still love each other deeply, yet feel more like teammates than partners. You may notice more distance, fewer conversations, or a growing sense that life is about managing, not connecting. If this resonates, it doesn’t mean your relationship is failing. It means you’re human, and your partnership is evolving. Counsellor Lim Swee Chen explores why long-term relationships change and how couples can reconnect with empathy, curiosity, and intentional effort.
Modeling Holiday Priorities: How Parents Can Create Calm, Connection & Meaning for Their Kids
The holiday season promises joy, connection, and festive magic—but for many parents, it also brings overstimulation, expectations, and an endless to-do list. Children don’t learn holiday values from what we tell them; they learn from what we model. When our behaviour shows connection, gratitude, empathy, and emotional regulation—even in busy seasons—we give our children a powerful roadmap for how to navigate stress and celebrate meaningfully. Counsellor & Parenting Coach, Paula Brunning, discusses what will help you prioritise what truly matters and teach your children the heart of the holidays through your everyday actions.
Finding Stillness: How Vipassana Meditation Can Better Mental Health
In a world that rarely slows down, many of us crave a moment of quiet—time to breathe, feel grounded, and reconnect with ourselves. Vipassana meditation offers exactly that. Through simple, steady awareness, it helps you clear mental noise, regulate emotions, and rediscover the parts of yourself that stress has overshadowed. If you are longing for inner stillness, psychotherapist & counsellor, Shifan Hu-Couble discusses how it may be the doorway home.
A Psychological Guide to Creating Christmas Magic for Your Children
Let’s explore the psychology behind why Christmas feels so powerful for children, how to support their emotional needs during the holidays, and how to create that Christmas magic to make this season more meaningful (and manageable) for your whole family.
What Are Attachment Styles — and Why They Matter in Love
Attachment styles quietly shape how we love, how we argue, and how close we allow ourselves to be. Most people don’t realise that many of their reactions in relationships—pulling away, overthinking, seeking reassurance, shutting down—can be traced back to early relational experiences that taught them what to expect from others. Counsellor, Soolin Choi, shares how these patterns were once survival strategies, not character flaws. Understanding your attachment style isn’t about assigning blame; it’s about learning the emotional language you’ve been speaking all along, and discovering how to build safety, closeness, and connection in a way that actually fits the way your nervous system works.
Neurodivergent vs Neurotypical: Key Differences, Real Strengths & How to Celebrate Brain Diversity
Brains do not come in one default setting. The terms neurodivergent and neurotypical help us name something that has always been true—some people’s brains process communication, learning, senses, and structure differently, often bringing exceptional strengths like creativity, hyperfocus, and detail-driven problem solving, while navigating invisible barriers in education, workplaces, and social expectations built around “typical” norms. Counsellor Lim Swee Chen helps you understand these differences without judgement, reframe challenges with compassion, and discover the joy that comes when you stop masking or comparing, and begin celebrating brain diversity in yourself, your children, and your community—especially across Singapore and Malaysia where cross-border adults are increasingly exploring their neurodiversity journey later in life.