mental health and living well

Credentials:

Registered Counsellor (Singapore Association for Counselling)

Registered Clinical Supervisor (Singapore Association for Counselling)

Master in Counselling (Monash University)

Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher (School of Positive Transformation)

Certified Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) Practitioner (Brazelton Institute)

Postpartum Support International (PSI) listed coordinator for Singapore

Hi! This is me, Lilian. I am a professional counsellor, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Beneath all those labels and roles, I am a human trying to live well just like all of you.

In counselling, we recognise that not all problems in life can be solved. I see the value of counselling as providing psychological support, creating deeper awareness, and equipping clients with skills to become resilient and make meaning from difficult experiences in life.

At Wellness Journey, I hope to re-define how counselling is viewed in Singapore. Not just helping people to recover from mental stress but expanding the scope to include preventive care, personal growth and psychological development as people go through various phases in life. You can approach a counsellor not only when you have problems, but as regularly as you would like, to care for your mind the same way you would care for your skin, hair, nails or physical tone and muscle/bone strength.  

On the personal front, there are times when I struggle too. Being trained in counselling does not give us immunity from life's problems. So I have been practising wellness strategies in my own life, adapting and reflecting on the experiences to understand what living well really means. I believe it will always be work in progress, always an ongoing journey. Hence, the name Wellness Journey. Our whole life's a journey, to be lived, discovered and understood as we go along. 

Prior to setting up Wellness Journey, I was working in KK Women's and Children's Hospital for 13 years. It was there that I found my passion supporting new parents in their psychological transition amidst all the frenzy in the initial phases of parenthood. I literally grew as a parent myself while working there (from my pregnancy till my child was 12 yrs old), which made my growth as a parent-infant mental health counsellor even more profound. Through counselling interventions, I helped mothers adapt to their new roles and understand this new person in their life, building the foundations for a healthy parent-child relationship. 

In the hospital, I also counselled women in various stages of their lives to facilitate their recovery from common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. From young adults exploring their identity to mature women coping with the accumulated effects of caring for others and neglecting their own wellbeing, I journeyed alongside with patience and compassion.

My counselling style is strongly guided by the person-centred approach, and careful selection of evidence-based strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Positive Psychology and Mindfulness-based therapies. I use my personal qualities and professional skills to help people find meaning and grow from their experiences, even when life is not always smooth sailing.  

With 18 years of counselling experience and counting, I've gathered some rich insights about living well, managing mental health and being a parent. I hope to share these with you and also continue learning more while journeying with all my clients.   

If you think my website may add to the well-being of someone you care about, please share it with them. You never know, it may just be the boost they need!