dealing with depression and anxiety

The Importance of Seeking Help for Anxiety and Depression

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by sadness or worry that seems to linger no matter how hard you try to shake it off? In the journey of life, it’s not uncommon to experience these feelings from time to time. However, when these emotions become persistent and intense, disrupting your ability to perform daily activities and affecting your mental well-being, it’s time to consider seeking counselling help. 

Contrary to some misperceptions of seeking counselling support as a sign of weakness, proactively reaching out for help is actually a courageous step towards improving one’s life.

In this article, we explore how anxiety and depression counselling and therapy can be a crucial step towards improving mental health. By taking action early, you set yourself on the path to a more empowered and fulfilling life.

Recognising Anxiety and Depression

woman feeling down with depression

Before we can discuss the importance of seeking help, it’s essential to understand what anxiety and depression could feel like. Anxiety is characterised by excessive worry, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms like muscle tension or insomnia. Depression, on the other hand, often manifests as deep internal heaviness, ongoing sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, withdrawal from others and pervasive feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Why Seek Help?

take the first step

Counselling services for anxiety and depression are vital for someone experiencing these symptoms to feel supported, and also learn to nurture oneself in the direction of  long-term personal growth and well-being. Here are several reasons to seek professional therapy. 

Early Intervention and Care  

One of the main reasons to seek help for anxiety and depression is the benefit of early intervention. Much like physical health and fitness, mental health can be improved through deliberate effort to understand one’s unhappiness and to work on strengthening what matters to you. The sooner one takes steps towards caring for one’s own mental health, the sooner one gets to regaining control of one’s life. 

Validation of Emotions and Experiences

When you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, it’s easy to feel isolated or misunderstood. Counselling services provide an avenue where your feelings are acknowledged and validated and can be incredibly therapeutic. Our feelings inform us of our needs. Our emotions are therefore legitimate and not something to be ashamed of. It is through that process of acknowledging and facing our emotions that we come to gain greater clarity of what really matters to us.

Access to Professional Services and Support

Mental health professionals, including counsellors, psychotherapists and psychiatrists, are specially trained to provide the care needed in these situations and work with clients on improving one’s life and mental well-being.  Counselling and therapy services offer a safe and confidential space where you can explore your feelings to better understand yourself and develop effective ways not only to recover but to develop resilience and internal strength to handle future challenges with confidence.

Identifying Underlying Causes of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

Through professional counselling and therapy services, you may also uncover other  underlying reasons for the  anxiety and depressive feelings that you could address to improve your life. Mental health professionals who have been trained in relevant areas would have the skills and experience to work with you on the root issues, which might be associated with the symptoms such as past experiences, unresolved conflicts, other ongoing stressors, or even grief and loss. 

By addressing these deeper concerns through counselling and  more targeted psychotherapy work such as grief counselling or relationship counselling where relevant you can work through your difficulties more effectively and holistically. This process can help you improve emotional regulation, enhance self-awareness, and develop healthier approaches towards life challenges.. 

Seeking counselling for anxiety and depression is a sign of strength and an essential step on the path to mental wellness and personal growth. With hope and determination, each step you take brings you closer to a brighter future ahead.

If you’re ready to kickstart your journey towards healing and becoming a mentally healthier you, consider reaching out to In Focus in Singapore. Our experienced professionals are dedicated to offering empathic, compassionate support, guiding you through every step of the way.

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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