A Guide to Finding a Mental Health Professional in Singapore if this is Your First Time

You are reading this article because you are facing some personal difficulties and are looking for professional help. 

There are a few reasons (I will use layman’s terms for simplicity) why people seek help from a mental health professional:

1. Your health is affected (hypertension, difficulty in sleeping, eating, etc.).
2. Your mental power is affected (lack of focus, overthinking, easily distracted).
3. There is a decline in energy (fatigued, restless).
4. There is a decline in ability (procrastination, late-coming, avoiding responsibilities).
5. Your relationships are affected (difficulty starting a relationship, constant quarrels, and misunderstandings in current relationships).
6. You feel lost and lonely (struggling to find a meaning/purpose, having no/little support).
7. You struggle with financial issues (keep running into debt, late in payments, bank account does not seem to increase despite working hard). 

You might try to work it out on our own, but if it remains challenging and the problems keep returning, it might be worth visiting a mental health professional.  

But who can you find? 

Differences between a Counsellor, Psychologist, and Psychiatrist 

Generally, there are three titles that mental health professionals have. They fall under a counsellor (sometimes known as a psychotherapist), psychologist, and psychiatrist. 

A psychiatrist is, first and foremost, a medical doctor trained in psychiatry. Therefore, a visit to a psychiatrist includes the options of both therapy and medication. However, the time given for therapy is often shorter than a counsellor or a psychologist. Most psychiatrists will meet you briefly and then prescribe you medication. Therefore, most psychiatrists also work with psychologists and counsellors to support you with therapy.  

Psychologists and Counsellors have different titles depending on their degree qualifications and studies. There are different kinds of psychologists – forensic psychologists, educational psychologists, neuropsychologists, and clinical psychologists. 

A clinical psychologist can provide counselling support and assessments (for example, intelligence tests, personality tests, behavioural assessments). These tests are for diagnosis and to help clients have insight about themselves. These tests come at an additional cost to the treatment itself. 

A counsellor mainly does counselling and uses different therapies (depending on their studies) to help with your issues by giving you more insight, empowering you to take action, processing complicated feelings, and achieving the freedom you desire. 

Some of these therapies may include CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Schema Therapy, and many other therapies. Do not feel overwhelmed with the names. All therapies serve a singular purpose – to help you get better. 

How long will I be in treatment? 

Counselling is generally short-term treatment (4-12 sessions). Psychotherapy is a longer treatment (more than 12 sessions). The decision between counselling and psychotherapy depends on the individual and the treatment plan proposed by the mental health practitioner. Psychotherapy takes time to build safety and trust and to deal with dysfunctional patterns. Some issues clients face take a lifetime to develop and are unlikely to change in a few sessions. 

The standard time for a session that mental health practitioners use is 50mins. Clients are encouraged to return for treatment once a week or at least once in two weeks. A more extended break between sessions (unless an emergency) is usually not encouraged as the momentum breaks and it affects the quality of the treatment. 

When will I get better? 

Most clients will generally feel better after three months of therapy. However, just like how we go to a gym to condition our body, regular counselling is helpful for our mind, heart, and soul, especially as we go through different life experiences over time. Good therapy is about prioritising your mental health so you can be the best for yourself and the people you love and support. 

Therapy is an investment of time and money. Therefore, be selective with who you would like to work with. Your therapist should be someone that you feel comfortable with. However, you will not know how therapy will serve you unless you try it out. Give yourself 3-4 sessions to see how things work for you and discuss with your therapist openly and honestly. If you feel things are not working out, be open with your therapist and if things are helpful for you, give them that feedback. Therapy is a journey, and your feedback will benefit your treatment goals. 

If you are keen to learn more about how therapy will powerfully change your life, schedule a free and non-obligatory call with me. My name is Merrill, and I have 15 years of experience in psychology and counselling. I have counselled diverse people across a vast lifespan, from primary school students to senior executives to elders in their late 60s.

I look forward to connecting with you.