Couple Counselling

Human beings are social creatures. Strong and healthy relationships are central not only to our happiness, but to our health and wellbeing. As researcher and author Brené Brown explains, “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all men, women, and children. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong” (Brown, 2010)1. Positive relationships improve our feelings of security, provide meaning in our lives and make us healthier and happier.

For most people, one of the most significant relationships we can forge is with our partners. All romantic relationships have their ups and downs and making these important relationships work can be challenging at times.We all have different family upbringings and have our own ways or patterns of doing things. We connect in similarities and grow together when handling or negotiating our differences. Sometimes though, when working through our differences, it can be stressful to feel disconnected from our partners. Other times, we may have doubts, feel lonely and confused, or find ourselves constantly engaged in conflicts or arguments. While the need for human connection seems to be innate, the ability to form and maintain healthy, loving relationships requires a great deal of commitment, effort, understanding and communication.

Some couples seek relationship counselling to strengthen their partnership and gain a better understanding of each other, while others seek counselling because they need help with their troubled relationships. At In Focus, we offer relationship or couple counselling to individuals from different backgrounds, including LGBT individuals and couples, in all types of intimate relationships, regardless of marital status. Our therapists provide a supportive, respectful, confidential and non-judgemental environment as we help you and your partner understand and work through any difficulties you may be facing in your relationship so that you can communicate more effectively with each other and form greater intimacy and connection. Through couple counselling, you and your partner can learn how to communicate more effectively and discover ways to rebuild or strengthen your relationship and create greater intimacy and connection.

Sometimes, some couples may feel uncertain about their suitability or compatibility with each other. Our therapists seek to collaboratively work with these couples to assess their relationship with them. Relationship or couple counselling can also be helpful for couples who have decided to end their relationships together. The decision to end a relationship can be painful and during such times, a couple may need the additional support and facilitation from a therapist to help them with closure as well as with discussions of other matters surrounding their union, for example, parenting, custody and care issues.
Some common relationship issues our therapists help couples to address include:

  • Communication problems
  • Intimacy issues
  • Emotional distance
  • Conflicts and arguments
  • Infidelity and betrayal
  • Conflicts about differences in parenting, values, lifestyle
  • Substance abuse
  • Interpersonal difficulties with in-laws
  • Illness of partners/parents
  • Addiction
  • Financial issues

Contact us today to find out how we can support you and your partner.

1Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection. Center City, MN: Hazelden

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ABOUT US

At In Focus, we empathise with our clients as they go through myriad of life’s problems, stresses and challenges which are overwhelming at times. As these happened to us too. The only difference is, it is our profession to help others overcome these life hurdles so as to live life to the fullest.

 

OUR SERVICES

We have a range of services available for your consideration depending on your needs. You can get in touch with us for coaching services, corporate consultation, professional training, counselling and psychotherapy services. Please visit our services page to see what we offer.

CONTACT US

Phone: +65 8725 9303

Email: enquiry@in-focus.com.sg

 

 

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Katina Halkas

Master of Guidance and Counselling (MGC)


Counselor


Katina holds a Masters degree in Guidance and Counselling from James Cook University (Singapore), and is a Provisional Clinical Member of the Singapore Association for Counsellors.  Katina has experience working with couples and individuals in both local and expatriate communities in Singapore and is also a volunteer counsellor at a women’s care centre.  She has worked with both men and woman dealing with a variety of emotional concerns including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger issues, self-harm, grief, as well as relationship/family issues and work-related stress.


Katina aims to create a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment for clients to explore any issues or concerns they are facing and uses a collaborative approach in helping clients identify goals and changes they want to make in their lives; and to reach a greater sense of self-awareness and wellbeing.


Katina has a strong commitment towards her ongoing professional development, attending regular supervision and taking part in training and workshops several times a year to broaden her knowledge and skills in counselling.


Katina has trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1 & 2), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as well as Career Development and Transition Coaching.  She is currently working towards her certification in Reality Therapy/Choice Theory.


Katina is originally from South Africa and is also a Greek-Cypriot national.  She worked in executive recruitment (headhunting) while living in South Africa and later moved to the US for a number of years before relocating to Singapore.  She has lived here for over 13 years with her husband and has two teenage boys.

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

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 close to 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 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