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Welcome to In Focus

In Focus Counseling and Therapy Services is a private practice providing professional, effective and supportive coaching, counselling and psychotherapy services.

Qualified & Experienced Professionals

Our team of qualified consultants, counsellors and psychotherapists have with them over decades of lecturing, clinical training and counselling experience in their respective fields.

Nurture and Effective Human Growth

Our clients have seen their lives transformed through our tailored programs, workshops and counselling services.

Depression, Anxiety And Other Emotional Issues

Treatment and therapy by Professional Therapist in Singapore

Living a joyful, fulfilling life is the aspiration and hope of everyone. At certain points in life, one may face greater challenges in this process and struggle with staying mentally and emotionally healthy. This could be due to certain stressors at a particular point in time, or perhaps due to deeper issues related to one’s past experiences and/or relationships.

Among the more common mental health issues affecting one’s ability to live life more freely and joyfully are depression and anxiety. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, or mental health issues that affect your well-being, you do not need to go through this alone.

At In Focus, we understand how debilitating the symptoms of depression and anxiety can be if they are not managed. It is our firm belief that, with the right professional counselling and therapy help, you will not only learn to manage the symptoms more effectively but also deepen your understanding of yourself and be on the path towards the life that you desire.

It is understandable that there may be reservations about opening up for help, but reaching out for professional counselling services can be one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. If you are facing similar struggles, we want to help you.

At In Focus, we provide a safe space for you to share what you are experiencing with a counsellor or therapist who genuinely cares for your well-being. Your counsellor or therapist will journey with you through this challenging period of life and work with you towards living the life you want.

Contact us to find out how we can support you in this time. 

Depression Issues

Feeling sad or down from time to time is a normal part of life. While it may be unpleasant to experience these emotions, they usually do not last long for most people. Yet, if feelings of sadness, low mood and negative thoughts persist for an extended period of time, it may spiral further and one may experience symptoms of depression and find that one’s quality of life, work, and relationships are affected.

Common Symptoms

counselling, therapy and treatment

Depression can manifest as symptoms such as:

  • Persistent feelings of helplessness
  • Crying uncontrollably or unexpectedly
  • Fatigue and difficulties sleeping
  • Anger or irritability
  • Changes in appetite
  • Difficulty experiencing pleasure or joy
  • Self-loathing
  • Reckless behaviour
  • Thoughts of self-harm

These symptoms vary from person to person. Some describe it as “living in a black hole” or being followed around by a “suffocating grey cloud.” Others feel lifeless, apathetic, or empty and find it difficult to engage socially or lose interest in their work or activities they used to enjoy. However, with help, it is possible to manage and even overcome these symptoms.

Depression Counselling

If the above describes what you may be experiencing, you do not have to go through it alone. You can get help through counselling and therapy. Speaking with a counsellor or a therapist at In Focus can help you better understand what is behind these feelings, and uncover related thoughts and behaviour. In addition, you will develop resources and skills to manage these feelings more effectively so as to live the life that you want.

Contact us or book an appointment to find out how we can support you in this time.

Anxiety Issues

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress or a threat of danger. It is a feeling of fear or apprehension about what is to come. It is common to feel anxious from time to time, especially in a fast-paced society like Singapore. There are also some situations that are new and challenging where it is normal to feel anxious or nervous, like a job interview, the first day at school or at a new workplace, taking a test, or making an important presentation. Feeling anxious can be uncomfortable, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. In some situations, it can help us stay focused and can motivate us to work towards our goals. Feelings of anxiety normally come and go and do not interfere much with our everyday life.

Anxiety can manifest as symptoms, including:

  • Irrational fears – Being constantly alert to potential danger, intensely fearful or anticipating the worst in various situations

  • Excessive guilt – A persistent belief that you may have done something wrong or will do something wrong

  • Sleep problems or insomnia – Waking at random hours and difficulties sleeping

  • Persistent worry – Intrusive worries and thoughts that continue over prolonged periods that interfere with your daily life.

  • Dread and apprehension: Having little or motivation in daily life

  • Poor concentration – A racing mind that affects your ability to concentrate on what is at hand

  • Physical discomfort and sensations: Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches and dizziness, stomach pain, frequent urination/diarrhea, muscle tension/twitching, shaking, sweating, difficulties sleeping. In extreme situations, some of these symptoms are experienced altogether in an intense manner in what is sometimes called a “panic attack” with severe chest pains, elevated heartbeat, choking, and sweatiness and feels almost like a heart attack.

counselling by anxiety therapist Singapore for those who experience anxiety

If these symptoms become regular or overwhelming, or if one experiences abrupt surges of intense fear without any specific triggers and debilitates and immobilises within minutes (commonly known as “panic attacks”), one’s daily life and functioning would be affected. 

In a medical approach, psychiatrists may diagnose a person with “anxiety disorder” if a person experiences intense and prolonged anxiety that affects one’s daily living and leads to unexplained physical symptoms and avoidance of places or situations that give rise to the anxiety. Under the medical model, there are different types of “anxiety disorders,” such as “panic disorder,” “social anxiety disorder,” and “generalized anxiety disorder”:

  • Panic disorder – When unexpected, recurring panic attacks arise, and they are not situation specific

  • Social anxiety disorder– When the panic attacks are related to being in public or social settings

  • Generalized anxiety disorder – When recurrent anxious thoughts and excessive worries are lasting for an extended period

If the above describes what you may be experiencing, please know that you do not have to go through it alone. A diagnosis, if any, provides one with information about one’s struggles, but it is not the determinant of one’s future.

Reaching Out For Professional Help is Key

counselling and therapy for anxiety issues

Whether it is depression, anxiety, or other mental health and emotional health struggles such as anger issues, grief and loss issues, family or relationship issues, one can find ways to feel better through lifestyle changes, such as changes to daily routines, incorporating meaningful and healthy activities to stay active and to recharge, and picking up new skills through various platforms. At the same time, reaching out for counselling and therapy support is an extremely helpful step to take. If you are facing similar struggles, we want to help you.

Respecting Your Individuality and Uniqueness

At In Focus, we recognise and respect that everyone is unique, so is each person’s story and situation. Our counselling and psychotherapy services are client-centred. Our counsellors and therapists believe in working collaboratively with you to help you understand your own story and better manage your situation and struggles, without losing sight of the bigger vision of what matters to you.

Besides providing that safe, compassionate and empathic environment, our counsellors and therapists draw on a number of professional counselling and therapy approaches, skills and experiences in the field to best serve you and your needs. Through our counselling and psychotherapy services, our counsellors will help you to:

  • better understand your emotional struggles, including your feelings, thoughts and action, and their underlying reasons;
  • discover ways that work for you to gain more effective control of your life; and
  • develop meaningful plans towards your goals and put them into action in a way that brings you closer to what you want and through which you will grow and thrive.

Contact us or book an appointment to find out how we can support you in this time.

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Call Us at

+65 8725 9303

Whether you are youth, working adults or corporations, we welcome your enquiries to find out how we can help you realize your dreams.

Upcoming Training and Workshops

2 Days Lead Management Workshop on 4-5 Mar 2024

4-5 Mar 2024, 9.30am – 5.30pm
Venue: TBC
Early Bird Fees: $800 (Registration Deadline 15 Jan 2024)
Regular Fees:  $850 (Registration Deadline 29 Jan 2024)

 

Learn More

3 Days Basic Intensive Training in Choice Theory & Reality Therapy on 17, 20-21 May 2024

17, 20-21 May 2024, 9am – 6pm
Venue: TBC
Early Bird Fees: $800 (Registration Deadline 15 April 2024)
Regular Fees:  $850 (Registration Deadline 30 April 2024)

Learn More

3 Days Advanced Intensive Training in Choice Theory & Reality Therapy on 28-29 Feb & 1 Mar 2024

28-29 Feb & 1 Mar 2024, 9.00am – 6.00pm Venue: TBC Early Bird Fees: $900 (Registration Deadline 9 Dec 2023) Regular Fees: $850 (Registration Deadline 26 Jan 2024) Click here to download form
Learn More

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Chan Pei Lin

Master of Guidance and Counselling (MGC)

Counsellor Masters in Guidance and Counselling (MGC), James Cook University Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), University of Buffalo New York State

I have always had a keen interest in working with children and youth. I find it fulfilling and meaningful to be working, supporting and guiding them, and I now have more than eight years of experience in this area. After graduating from the University of Buffalo, New York State with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I started working with children and youth with Special Needs in early intervention. From my interactions with my clients over these years, I have come to see that being able to provide the emotional support that they and their families need is very important.

Being diagnosed with dyslexia and tactile defensives (Sensory Integrative Disorder), I remember the unconditional and judgement-free support I received from families and friends that got me through the various challenges. Therefore, I aim to offer the same unconditional support and judgement-free interaction to all my clients. Through my personal experience, I understand how crucial it is for individuals to develop a strong emotional foundation and a support network, especially those in similar circumstance. Therefore, I strongly believe in journeying and supporting individuals through stressful times, and in working with their loved ones through the strengthening of the bonds within the family unit.

I am trained in the major counselling and therapeutic approaches and also in Choice Theory Reality Therapy and Behavioural Therapy. My work is informed by Person Centred Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Beyond children and youth, I have counselled clients in other settings and age groups including young adults and families. I am particularly interested in supporting people in building resilience and skills to cope with stress, anxiety adjustments and overall socio-emotional needs. Given my own personal and work experience, I firmly believe that everyone deserves a chance in a fulfilling life. To better support my clients, I am currently pursuing my certification for Choice Theory and Reality Therapy after obtaining my Masters in Guidance and Counselling at James Cook University.

Evelyn Rochelle Koh

Senior Principal Counsellor, Counselling Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor

Master of Social Science (Counselling), CTRTC, EFT, EFCT
Clinical Supervisor & Instructor (Senior Faculty of William Glasser International & William Glasser Institute, Singapore)

Certified Human Behaviour Analyst (DISC)
Certified PREPARE-ENRICH

I developed a passion in counselling when I started out as a school volunteer counsellor working with youth. I saw the transformative power of the counselling relationship on the youths in school and even later in life beyond school. This was a life changing experience for me and I was spurred to setup my own private counselling and psychotherapy practice in 2004. That was a time when there were few counselling and consultation services in Singapore. Since then, I have been working with youths, couples, parents, working adults on their emotional issues and mental health and well-being through counselling and psychotherapy for over 20 years.

Beyond helping my clients within the counselling room, I believe in tapping on the multiplier effect to bring healing and strength to individuals, and relationships between couples and within families. I thus expanded my work and I now devote a large portion of my time towards raising the skills and competencies of the helping profession through lecturing, training, clinical supervision and consultancy services.

My area of passion and specialisation is Choice Theory, Reality Therapy, Lead Management (CTRTLM) because it is highly empowering. I thus find great joy in training counsellors, therapist, social workers, coaches, leaders and managers in this area.  I am also trained in Emotion Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Gottman Couples Therapy and my work is also informed by therapeutic models such as Positive Psychology, Humanistic Therapy, Experiential Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with organisations across different sectors, ranging from Youth Centers, Family Service Centers and Specialist Centers to the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Ministry of Education (MOE). The latter two involved projects where I was able to share my passion for helping youth in Singapore. With the HPB, I helped develop the Peer Support Program for youth and conducted training for youth leaders from tertiary institutions and for those involved in the online peer support network “Youthpals”. With the MOE, I conducted cluster training for school counsellors and teachers on counselling and therapy skills to better help our students.

It is also my firm conviction that all situations of loss and pain can be opportunities for deep healing, growth and connection. I have thus been committed to providing regular training on the topic of “Grief and Loss” to social service practitioners through the Social Service Institute (SSI).

Curriculum Vitae

  • Registered Singapore Counselor with Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
  • Registered Clinical Supervisor with Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC)
  • Registered Social Service Practitioner with Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW)
  • Professional member of the American Counselling Association (ACA)
  • Senior Faculty member as Approved Instructor and Supervisor of William Glasser International and William Glasser Institute, Singapore. At William Glasser Institute, Singapore, Evelyn is serving in the Executive Committee to advocate Dr. William Glasser’s teaching in Choice Theory Psychology, Reality Therapy and Lead Management.
  • External Lecturer/ Clinical Supervisor, Swinburne University of Technology
  • Clinical Supervisor, James Cook University Singapore, Monash University
  • Associate Adult Educator, Social Service Institute
  • Trained in Gottman Couples Therapy, The Gottman Institute
  • Trained in Emotion-Focused Therapy, York University, EFT Clinic
  • Trained in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Canada