“One day you finally knew what you had to do and began to save the only life you could save”

— Mary Oliver

Therapy is a trusting relationship that necessitates participation and investment between a trained mental health professional and a person who seeks to heal and grow themselves.

The process is one that helps you to understand who you are, find meaning and be supported in making a life that allows you to live fully, peacefully and creatively.

About me

I am trained as a counseling psychologist and am a licensed counselor in Malaysia. I have been in practice for 25 years. I take a wholistic approach to psychotherapy, which means I understand people as a unique and wonderful combination of their biology, psychology, spirituality and lived experiences.

My Approach to Therapy

I work from a Depth Psychological perspective (Jungian Psychology). Issues of life transitions, feeling stuck or creative blocks, grief, personal growth, spirituality and mid-life are of particular interest to me. Working with dreams and the imagination are important aspects of my work.

The counseling relationship begins at the first session in what is called the intake session. Intake sessions provides the opportunity for us to get to know each other and to determine if we are the right fit based on your goals for therapy.

I believe that the therapeutic process unfolds over time and enables a person to find meaning, purpose and clarity; and to make choices that provide fulfillment and creativity in their lives. If you are looking for a quick fix I will not be the best fit for you.

In working with couples and families, I believe that relationships are an opportunity for us to discover hidden aspects of ourselves that come alive when we are in a close relationship with another person. Conflicts provide the opportunity to learn new skills, widen our horizons and discover our values.

Services Offered

sandplay therapy.jpg — Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay is the therapeutic use of sand, water and miniatures that was developed by Dora Kalff and is grounded in the Psychology of C G Jung. During Sandplay the client may or may not use miniature figures in a tray of sand in the presence of a trained practitioner. This is a process that accesses the non-verbal parts of oneself and the parts that are not yet known and brings it into our awareness. Over time it allows the process of healing and transformation.
Sandplay is used in the treatment of both adults and children who have experienced painful situations in their lives that is hard to speak about. It allows experiences to be both seen and acknowledged.
The Sandplay process can also provide a creative space, using the imagination and a visual narrative for those seeking personal development by activating hidden potentials that provide new insights that are not always accessible through talking therapy.

Expressive Art

The use of art for therapy is as old as art itself. Historians tell us that humans have always used arts as part of healing rituals whether its singing, dancing, painting or creating sacred objects.
Today art making is shown to lower cortisol levels (stress) and to activate positive feelings. Art making allows us to access the creative part of our brain and therefore brings insights that are not always possible through our reasoning. Carl Jung’s said that “often the hand will solve the mystery and the the intellect has struggled with in vain.”
The therapeutic use of art as a non-verbal approach enables people who find talking or expressing themselves with words difficult. Using colors, shapes, strokes/marks and or images allows experiences and emotions to be seen and worked with.
Art making activates hidden potentials and provides new insights that are not always accessible through talking therapy.
There are many tools available in Expressive Art aside from painting, clients can also use clay, collage and journaling as a form of emotional expression.

Professional Supervision

I offer supervision for counselors in training who are looking to become licensed with the Malaysian Counseling Board. I also offer supervision for Counselors and Psychologist who are looking to grow themselves and their capacity. I feel privileged and find joy in being part of the journey of individuals who want to become effective mental health professionals. I view this work as a vocation, something that one is called into. Being supervised provides the opportunity to reflect on oneself, the quality of the interventions offered and the use of the self in therapy.
Supervision can be done in groups or individually. To be eligible for supervision, you need to be in a recognized Masters in Counseling or Psychology program and have completed your internal practicum.
If Depth Psychology is your interest, working with dreams, the unconscious, and personality types, I will be especially helpful as that is my modality of choice.
I also supervise in the use of art in therapy and sandplay therapy. I will only supervise in these modalities if you have taken the appropriate training. Supervision is not the place to learn a theory, in supervision it is assumed you have learnt the theory and supervision is for the practical application of what you have already learned. Supervision can be done individually or in groups of three.
Please email me together with your resume/cv to request for supervision.

pam+teaching.jpeg — Consultancy

My area of speciality is community based counseling services especially in the training of lay counselors and developing volunteer run counseling centers within communities. I founded CLM Counseling and Care in 1993, a community counseling center that is run by lay volunteers who have been trained and supervised to provide individual, marital and family counseling services. Through CLM we have trained more than 100 lay counselors and the counseling center sees more than 200 individuals each year.
In 2016 I founded HumanKind (www.humankind.my) to develop mental health projects that serve at-risk and vulnerable populations. Through our projects we activate and engage members of local communities to serve children and adults who are in emotional distress.
In 2019, I began a PhD by research to look at how to use art in promoting well-being in schools and community settings. Art transcends language, cultural and economic barriers.

FAQs

How do I know if I need counseling?

People see a counselor for many reasons. If you are dealing with difficult or painful emotions or if you feel stuck in your life or feel overwhelmed by a problem, counseling is usually a helpful place to process these feelings and experiences. A counselor can also provide information and teach you skills or provide you with the tools to handle difficult relationships.

Counseling is also useful if you want to grow yourself as an individual and seek clarity, meaning and purpose in your life.

Where are you located?

My office and studio is located at 3-29 Block B, KedaiKL, Mahsa Avenue, Off Jalan Universiti, 59100, KL.

How much are your fees?

My fees for individual clients are RM350 per hour.The first appointment is the intake session and will take one and a half hours and that will be RM525. All couples or family sessions is for one and half hours.

What are your working hours?

Tuesday to Saturday 8:00am - 4:00 pm

How is in person counseling conducted during the RMCO?

You need to have the MySejathera App on your phone. Hand sanitizers are provided upon entering the room. There is no physical contact between therapist and client. The chairs are positioned to provide appropriate social distancing. Mask will be worn during the sessions. The room is sanitized between sessions.

Do you conduct therapy online?

Yes, you may opt to do therapy online. Please ensure you have a web camera with audio and a stable internet connection. You will also need to be in a private space during the appointment so that you are able to express yourself freely. When you fill in your appointment request form, please indicate its for an online session. E-mail me once you have sent your forms in.

How many counseling sessions will I need?

The number of sessions will depend on what your goals and needs are in regards to therapy. We can work from a solution focused approach or a insight oriented approach. After the intake session, we can discuss what is most appropriate for you

How do I make an appointment?

Two forms need to be completed for us to make an appointment. The first form is the Counseling information sheet: http://bit.do/PG-Counseling-Consent If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me and I will be happy to respond.

The second form is for you to share your personal details. The questions on this form will provide me with background information ahead of our meeting and will allow us to work more efficiently together. http://bit.do/PG-Counseling-Registration

All appointments are confirmed only with payment. The bank information is provided on the form. I am unable to take credit card payments. Once you have sent in your forms, please email me and I will respond to you by the next working day to confirm your appointment.

I tried to submit a counseling request form and it says unavailable?

Should you get a message that the form is unavailable, it means that I am full. I only take a limited number of clients. If you would like to be on the waiting list please send me an email and I will give you an indication of when my next opening will be.

What if I can’t afford to pay for counseling?

If you need counseling and cannot afford private counseling fees, I recommend contacting https://www.humankind.my/community-counseling or http://clm.org.my/ Both of these organizations provide counseling by interns or lay counselors at a minimal fee. I supervise the volunteers at these counseling centers.

I have an emergency and need help now

If you are in an crisis situation or are in danger of harming yourself or someone else please go to the emergency room at the nearest government hospital for urgent or immediate care.

Do you offer therapy for children?

As this time, I do not offer any therapy for children only. However I will conduct family therapy, where child and parent/s come together to seek a solution to a problem.

What are your qualifications?

Registered Counselor, Malaysian Counseling Board. (KB00038)

1991 B.Sc Psychology (Evangel University, Missouri)

1993 M.Sc Counseling (Georgia State University, Atlanta)

1993 Diploma in the Integration of Psychology & Theology (Richmont Graduate University, Atlanta)

1993 REBT certificate (Albert Ellis Institute, NY)

2005 Emotions Focused Couples Therapy (Counseling and Care, Singapore)

2008 Emotions Focused Therapy (Leslie Greenberg, Kuala Lumpur)

2011 Certificate in Spiritual Companionship (Maranatha Retreat House, Kuala Lumpur)

2012 Master Class in Point Zero Painting (Michele Cassou, New Mexico)

2014 - present. Sandplay Therapy (International Society for Sandplay Therapy ISST)

2016 - Facilitator Training Point Zero Painting (Cassou Institute of Creative Freedom, USA)

2016 -Trainer of Trainers Expressive Sandwork (Internationals Association of Expressive Sandwork IAES) Italy

2017 -Leadership in Mental Health (Sangath, Goa, India)

2018 - Practitioner of Creative Education: Painting Play (Research Institute of the Semiology of Expression, RISE) France.

2018 - Trainer of Trainers Psychological First Aid (United Nations University- National Institute for Global Health) Malaysia.

2019 - Accepted into the Phd program (Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya) Malaysia.

2020 Acumen Fellowship

What are your fees for supervision?

My fees are RM350 per hour for individual supervision. For two our more people supervision if for 1.5 hours.

Do you offer group therapy?

Yes, I like to work with groups especially using the arts. I have conducted growth oriented groups on self-discovering, self-care and groups on grief. If you would like to start a group, please feel free to contact me. Groups are charged at the same hourly rate of RM350. Groups have a two hours minimum fee plus the cost of materials. Groups can be anywhere for 3 to 6 individuals at a time. The number of sessions depends on the purpose of the group usually from 4 to 12 sessions.

To make an appointment