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Psychological counselling services in Singapore

Relationship counselling

Struggling with conflicts in your relationships? Our therapists are here to guide you through them and help restore hope.

Relationship Counselling Services in Singapore

Do you think that you might benefit from relationship counselling but are hesitant to get started? You are not alone. There is a certain old-fashioned stigma that is still attached to working with a mental healthcare professional. People often think that it is the last resort in a failing relationship – but nothing could be further from the truth! While people may not always discuss it openly, relationship counselling in Singapore is extremely common. In fact, some of the happiest couples that you know have probably benefited from professional help along the way.

Working with a therapist is not a sign of failure but rather an indication that you are ready to succeed. Just like a personal trainer can bring your fitness to the next level, a relationship counsellor can teach you the skills that you need for a fulfilling and happy relationship.

If you are here reading this, you already know in your heart and mind that expert guidance may be the right solution for you. To help you take the next steps, let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions people have about relationship counselling.

Talk to us (Online / In-Person)

Our Relationship Counsellors

Senior Psychologist - Amanda Yeo

Ms. Amanda Yeo, Senior Psychologist

  • Full member of Singapore Psychological Society
  • Masters in Psychology
  • EMDR certified

Languages: English

Our Founder - Dr. Tanaphong Uthayaratana - Counselling Psychologist

Dr. Tanaphong Uthayaratana (Mind), Counselling Psychologist

  • Counselling Psychologist
  • PhD in Counseling Psychology
  • Member of Thailand Counseling Psychology Association

Languages: English, Mandarin (华语), Cantonese

FAQs on Relationship Counselling in Singapore

Falling in love be effortless, but keeping that love strong and healthy is another story. Most of us aren’t born experts in communication or are mind-reading. Therefore, it is important to learn how to communicate effectively. At A Kind Place, our therapists are experts in helping couples develop the essential skills for a successful relationship.

Absolutely. Couples often arrive at relationship counselling feeling like their relationship has hit rock bottom. In many cases, they feel like they have hit an obstacle that is truly insurmountable. Many couples have already talked about going their separate ways. When relationship therapy begins, however, everything changes. With renewed effort and professional guidance, countless couples have left feeling happier than they had ever been.

When couples finally learn how to resolve their communication issues, they are able to connect with each other again. They feel a fresh sense of intimacy and the other frustrations start to melt away. While couples counselling can’t change everything, it will help you understand where your partner is coming from and why they do the things they do.

People often worry that a therapist will tell them to end the relationship. This is absolutely not the case. Couples counsellors have seen it all. They won’t be shocked by what has gone on behind closed doors in your home, and they won’t pass judgement on it. Above all, they won’t try to dictate your life.

The purpose of relationship counselling is not for you to come in and have someone tell you what to do. A therapist is there to listen to you and guide you through the process of better understanding yourself and your partner.

Unlike your friends and family, a mental healthcare profession doesn’t have any bias. The ultimate goal of every therapist is to equip you with the tools you need to make healthy decisions for yourself.

Countless studies have found that couples counselling works for the vast majority of couples. That is precisely why relationship counselling in Singapore and other countries around the world is required before divorcing, and it’s the same reason why religious marriage counselling exists in so many different faiths.

Ultimately, what works and doesn’t work for other couples isn’t what will make or break your relationship. For the vast majority of couples, success depends on dedication. If you truly want your relationship to succeed and you are ready to put in the time and effort, you will benefit greatly.

When it comes to relationship therapy, you get out what you put in. If both of you are willing to devote yourself to the process and arrive with an open mind, things will happen for you.

The price of relationship counselling in Singapore depends on the professional that you choose. Here at A Kind Place, our rates are as follows:

  • Counsellor-in-training: $85/hr
  • Counsellors: $180/hr
  • Psychologists: $210/hr
  • Senior Psychologist: $280/hr

Looking for online relationship counselling? Perhaps you could prefer to come to our Singapore therapy office or do sessions in your home? Our versatile therapists will work with you to find the most convenient and comfortable option for you.

One of the biggest obstacles to getting started with relationship counselling is making that first step. Asking your partner to start relationship therapy can feel daunting. Like any major change, it is hard to approach but so worth it. Here are a few tips to get started:

  • Be honest about your feelings.
  • Don’t blame anyone.
  • Avoid digging into old problems.
  • Remind your partner how much you love them.
  • Acknowledge the stigma and dismiss it.
  • Avoid being defensive.
  • Make your motives clear.
  • Create a goal for your therapy.
  • Choose your therapist together.

As you approach the conversation, remember that less is more. Keep the chat as simple as possible and direct as possible. Just tell your partner that you feel like you need help communicating better or working through an issue. Make a commitment to do everything possible to improve your relationship and express that you feel that trying couples counselling is something you feel is important to explore.

Helpful Tip: Each of our couples counsellors offers a free 15-min introductory session. This allows you to meet and get to know each person to choose the best option for you. If your partner is reluctant, this can be a good way to make them feel more comfortable chatting with a professional.

In the end, you can’t make your partner attend sessions and the last thing that you want to do is trick them into coming to the office. Ideally, he or she will still agree to compromise and try a session or two before dismissing it. If not, it is still worth exploring individual sessions. While you can’t change your partner’s perspective, you can learn to navigate your feelings privately with guidance.

Even as adults, we often get caught up in the idea of a fairy tale romance. We think that couples meet, fall in love, and then live happily ever after. If one of them is ever feeling dissatisfied or frustrated, then perhaps the relationship is not meant to be, right? Anyone who has been in a successful relationship for many years will tell you that nothing could be further from the truth!

 

Getting professional help to improve your relationship is nothing new and it’s certainly not uncommon. Nearly half of all married couples go to therapy at some point in their relationship. For generations, many religions have required that couples attend premarital counselling before walking down the aisle. Across the world for centuries, the value of sage advice in a relationship has been well understood.

Relationship counselling is always a good idea. There is no couple on earth who couldn’t benefit from a little help now and then. Learning good communication skills that enable you to resolve conflict, build trust, and have your needs met is crucial. These skills, however, are most certainly not taught in schools and we rarely discuss them at home. Worst yet, most of us have picked up bad habits over the years that sabotage even our best efforts to be happy with a partner.

While each couple is different and arrives at couples therapy with a unique story, there are a few common motives that bring people to counselling. Keep reading to look at a few situations that you might relate to.

After an affair, relationship counselling is essential. It is crucial to work through the pain and understand what conditions brought the relationship to such a destructive point. Communicating in a safe space with guidance is crucial to healing from the past and moving forward toward a brighter future.

 

Relationship counselling after infidelity is beneficial for each person to process their feelings, both as a couple and as individuals. Being cheated on can have a lifelong impact on your feelings of self-worth and it’s vital to have guidance to move on in a healthy way. For the unfaithful person, it is equally important to identify the true root cause of the behaviour.

 

Of course, infidelity isn’t the only type of betrayal. Secrecy of any kind causes damage to a relationship and, when the truth comes out, you may find that you feel like strangers to one another. A mental health professional who is an expert in communication can show you the path to connecting again and forming an even deeper bond than you had before the betrayal.

Poor communication is the cause of so much happiness in this world. Even when two people have the best intentions and share a deep love, they may have entirely different styles of communication. This can make it impossible to see the other person’s perspective, which will leave both of you feeling unheard and disconnected.

 

When couples can’t find a way to communicate with each other, they often avoid addressing issues. They leave things unspoken and conflicts unresolved. This makes compromise unattainable and creates a major barrier to building a future together.

 

With an unbiased third person serving as the mediator, you can learn to express yourself effectively. Your therapist will get to know you and help you identify your style of communication. Serving as an advocate for both of your voices, your couples counsellor will show you how to connect with each in a real and honest way. 

Couples often arrive at relationship counselling after having the same argument over and over for years. Sometimes it is about everyday household issues, other times it might be a pressing life decision. Whether you are deciding to have a child, buy a home, or are dealing with any other major life change, a mental healthcare professional can help you openly assess the situation and communicate as a team who shares the same ultimate goal.

 

To compromise with each other, it is paramount to have good communication. You have to clearly understand the other person and their needs. It is critical to have open and honest communication that allows you to make decisions as a team while taking into account both sides of the issue.

Perhaps you have already made that major decision in your life, or maybe something unexpected has happened in your life. Whatever the case may be that has created a deep shift in your routine, a relationship therapist can help you navigate.

 

Even positive changes like the birth of a new baby, a promotion at work, or getting married can create an upheaval that may feel difficult to navigate. You may feel like you have lost a piece of your old self and you are navigating in a new space. This will change the dynamic in your relationship and leave you both with a new set of circumstances to consider together.