Frequently Asked Questions

Coaching, Counselling and Psychotherapy are common conversational processes that can be instrumental in the development of skills that help individuals in confronting and coping with struggles, obstacles, uncertainties and conflicts effectively within a confidential and supportive environment.

Counselling is talk therapy treatment that focused mostly on specific life issues such as school adjustment, emotional/mental health issues, employment issues, and marriage or family issues. Such adjustment, development, or situational concerns are relatively brief and short in the treatment.

Psychotherapy is talk therapy used when dealing with “deeper” issues, most commonly where past experiences are causing on-going distress and interfering with life satisfaction. In psychotherapy, the client focuses on ways of being in the world rather than on specific issues in life.

Coaching is a process of discovering one’s goal in life, (re)inventing something new and working towards achieving one’s personal or professional goal.

We provide counselling and psychotherapy services for a wide variety of clients.  These include clients who seek to

• Better manage emotions and improve the ability to function in day-to-day activities.
• Rebuild or improve relationship with loved ones

Change harmful or unproductive behaviours, including abusive behaviour and addictions.

In Focus is unique in that we are a private practice focused on providing effective and professional coaching, counselling and therapy services. By way of professional, we ensure that our team:

a) Completed formal post-graduate education, with at least Master’s degree in counselling or a related area.

b) Obtained Supervised Clinical experienced for their clinical work after graduation.

c) Experienced personal counselling and therapy sessions, over considerable number of sessions, to work through their personal issues and achieved personal and professional growth. With experiences from both sides of the fence, it is our belief that our counsellors and therapists can empathise with our clients in a unique way, utilizing their experience, knowledge and professional skills help create productive therapy.

d) Received advanced specialised therapeutic skills training, equipped with the knowledge and therapeutic skills, and used proven and effective counselling and psychotherapy methods to work with our clients.

e) Receive continuous supervision for their clinical work. All counsellors and therapists need to be in supervision to discuss their work and their work with clients. When our counsellors and therapists work under supervision, it means that they use the services of another counsellor or therapist to review their work with clients, and help them in their professional as well as personal development. Supervision is necessary in counselling, psychotherapy and other mental health disciplines as well as other professions working with people. It is meant to protect clients and improve the ability of our counsellors and therapists to better provide value to our clients.

f) Our junior counsellors receive close supervision while working on their professional and personal development in their journey towards registration with the professional counselling body.

The supervisor is also registered with a professional counselling body hence is also bound by the rules of confidentiality.

Initial sessions for individual counselling are about 60 to 90 mins. Sessions that follow are between 50 to 90 mins. Couple sessions can be longer.

At times, clients may wish to extend the session. If the schedule of the therapist permits the session to be extended, the rate will be pro-rated at 15-minute blocks.

From S$150 per 60-minute session onwards for individuals; and from $200 per 60-minute session for couples

Beyond the first 60-minutes, the rate will be pro-rated at 15-minute blocks.

Please call for more information.

We usually start with weekly or bi-weekly sessions depending on the issues and the need. We will periodically review the progress and make adjustments accordingly. Consistency in counselling / therapy and coaching  increases success.

Seeking out counselling / psychotherapy / coaching services can be seen as one of the most worthwhile investment you can make for yourself and your loved ones. Personal and relationship issues left unresolved can be even more costly in terms of the impact on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and those of your loved ones.

As members of professional counselling or psychotherapy bodies, we observe the professional code that ensures the confidentiality of clients’ information and what goes on in the sessions.

However, in accordance to the professional code, there are circumstances such as the presence of danger to self and / or others, under which confidentiality has to be broken. This is also mandated by law.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors trained in the area of mental health conditions  and are able to prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists go further to also conduct “talk therapy” with their patients.

Counsellors and therapists receive training in psychology or counselling and psychotherapy. Professional counsellors and therapists are trained to handle a range of issues affecting mental and emotional health and well-being through “talk therapy” and work with the person in a holistic manner to resolve the problems faced while tapping on one’s resources and strengths

Counsellors and therapists are not medical doctors and hence do not prescribe medication. In certain situations where a consultation with a medical doctor or psychiatrist may be necessary, the counsellor or therapist can make the relevant recommendations.

When consulting with your counsellor or therapist, it is important to provide information on any medication that is being taken and the name of the psychiatrist, if any. This way, all parties  can work closely to provide the “talk therapy” that is being sought.

This is certainly not true. At different stages of life, people are faced with a myriad of life issues. Counselling and psychotherapy can help anyone to handle  them more effectively. In addition, counselling and psychotherapy is also suitable for anyone seeking to enhance life as well as achieve personal growth.

Underlying the coaching, counselling and psychotherapy process, is the authentic experience of being listened to and understood at a deeper level beyond that of an ordinary conversation. Besides being heard and understood, your counsellor or therapist will work with you to explore the  issues you face, identify your strengths, evaluate your options, explore alternatives and plan towards realising the changes.. This process is only possible with a professional counsellor  and therapist.

You may email us or call us  to make an appointment. Please include your name and number in your email. We will respond as soon as we can.

Inform us at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment if a cancellation or postponement is required. A-48 hour notice for cancellation of a session is required. This is to allow us the time to offer the appointment to another client.

Kindly take note that the full cost of the session may be payable if a session is cancelled without adequate notice or if there is no-show.

All sessions at In Focus are by appointment only. The earliest possible appointment will be arranged when a request is made to schedule an appointment. However, if help is needed immediately, please contact SOS at 1800 221 4444 (24 hours) or email at pat@samaritans.org.sg