How To Get The Most Out Of Therapy
Written by: Andrew da Roza Deciding to see a therapist is a big step – and staying in therapy requires a commitment to effect real change. It is not surprising that many hesitate before starting therapy. Some may be wondering how talking to a stranger can change...
Bipolar and Schizophrenia – Symptoms, Treatment and Recovery
Written by: Dr. Joseph Leong Jern-Yi Understanding Bipolar & Schizophrenia Both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were considered severe mental illnesses with no recovery in the past. This is not true in modern psychiatry as we have developed more effective...
The Neurobiology of TMS
Written by: Dr. Sean David Vanniasingham Principles of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) In the 1800s, world-renowned English physicist Michael Faraday discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction. Fast forward to the 21st century, Faraday’s discovery...
Quantifying Stress and How We Can Manage It
What comes to mind when you hear the word “stress”? Perhaps an imagery of you worrying about meeting certain deadlines, finding means to pay off that housing rent, or cramming knowledge to do well in the upcoming exam? As with everything else, stress can be...
Actio Sequitur Esse – Action Follows from Essence
Written by: Timothy Khoo, Executive Coach In the Disney Pixar movie, “Soul”, the main characters, Joe and Soul 22 are engaged in dialogue in the fantastical place called The Great Before. Soul 22 turns to Joe and says, “You can’t crush a soul here. That’s what earth...
An interview – Peep show: Understanding the reality behind female porn addiction
It’s Okay Not To Be Okay – Addressing the stigma
Alexis Fosler wrote an article for the Law Gazette addressing the stigmas that Lawyers face towards "not being okay". She gave some tools and practices that are important for mental health and well-being in the article. To read the article, visit:...
Alexis Fosler talks with the editor of ANZA Magazine on ‘Spring Cleaning Your Mind For Better Well-being’
Visions by Promises' Addictions therapist, Alexis Fosler, gave some great insights and tips for dealing with stress in an interview about "Spring Cleaning Your Mind For Better Well-Being" with ANZA Magazine's editor. Read more here:...
An Interview with Honeycombers to debunk the stigma around mental health medication
Dr Rajesh Jacob speaks with the editorial team at Honeycombers to debunk the stigma around mental health medication. https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/mental-health-medication-promises-healthcare/
Dr Rajesh Jacobs Speaks with Expat Living on the misconceptions of psychiatric medication
There are many stereotypes about mental health medication. One acute misconception is medication dependence and addiction - that it’ll be difficult to stop these medications once people with mental illnesses get well and recover. Dr Jacob Rajesh from Promises...
An Interview with ANZA magazine on how psychological testing can help your child
Raising a child is demanding - their emotions and personality trait can change frequently. As a parent, how can you tell if your child's behaviour is part of growing up or a cause for concern? Child psychologists at Promises, Tan Su-Lynn and SC Anbarasu speak to the...
An Interview with HoneyKids Asia on the whats and hows of ADHD in Children
While most of us may be familiar with the term ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, we may be unfamiliar with the challenges and struggles a child diagnosed with ADHD goes through. Our senior psychologists from the Child and Adolescent team, S. C....
Benefits of Family Therapy in the Caregiving Process
When one has to live with debilitating chronic conditions or even degenerative disorders, it is natural that we place emphasis on seeing that the afflicted recover and receive the appropriate management. As our society rapidly ages, the number of elderly living with...
COVID-19, Singapore Easing Measures and Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. The ubiquitous influence of the pandemic has been—and continues to be— felt by individuals globally. Many experiences the fear of being infected or infecting others, disruptions in their daily routines, social isolation, the...
What Are Panic Attacks and How To Manage?
Written by: Dr Elaine Yeo, Senior Clinical Psychologist All of us have felt anxiety at some point in our lives, whether before a big test, public speaking, or a job interview. Anxiety is a perfectly normal emotion that serves the purpose of motivating us to prepare...
Family Therapy 101 in the context of the pandemic.
The year 2020 saw a rise in uncertainties. Many have experienced anxiety, job loss, a strain on finances and family relationships due to the impact of the pandemic. By default, couples need to adjust to working from homes, with blurred boundaries between work and...
The Power of Physical Presence in Therapy
Therapy is an indispensable tool to recovery, or in helping one gain deeper insights and achieve self-actualisation. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, traditional face-to-face therapy has been forced to take on various forms, including sessions conducted via...
What Does Journeying with a Psychiatrist for My Mental Health Issue Look Like?
For many people, when they hear the word ‘Psychiatrist’, it would instantly conjure up an image of a doctor prescribing medicine for someone with a mental health condition. This is true to the extent that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has undergone training...
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a widely used evidence-based technique to encourage behaviour change. According to clinical psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick, “MI is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention...
Winifred’s “Rules” for a Flourishing Marriage
Written by: Winifred Ling, Couples Therapist and Relationship Coach *This was first posted on her blog. I made an analysis of the 10 Rules of Marriage that I found on the internet recently and received several requests for proactive and positive rules that couples can...
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome is a shockingly common psychological phenomenon experienced by an estimated 70% of the population. Chances are you’ve probably had such a mindset at least once, but perhaps you couldn’t pinpoint the exact words to describe the feelings you had....
What’s the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Therapist?
Psychologists and Therapists are often misunderstood to be the same profession, but they aren’t one and the same. Both types of mental health professionals, however, do have a vast knowledge of mental processes. As a general rule, they may work closely together to...
Treating Trauma With Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Fear resulting from psychological trauma can be extremely deep-seated. The distress, feelings of helplessness and constant flashback of traumatic events can turn one’s world upside down, causing major problems with daily activities and quality of life. It may be easy...
Relationship Fortifying Versus Relationship Recovery
Written by: Winifred Ling, Couples Therapist & Relationship Coach As a couple therapist, the question I sometimes get is, ”Is my problem serious enough to warrant a therapist?” I like to address this question in this article. There are 3 key reasons why you’d...
What Does Journeying with a Psychologist for My Mental Health Issue Look Like?
So you are going to see a psychologist for the first time - now what should we expect? The thought of having to step into a psychologist’s room for the first time can be nerve-racking, and understandably so. Oftentimes, individuals may be apprehensive and would wonder...
Using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to Combat Depression
Photo credit: The Depression Project https://www.facebook.com/RealDepressionProject/ Depression! It’s a common term for many things. “I feel depressed!”, “This is so depressing.” The medical definition of depression, however, takes a more definitive...
Evolving Trends Of Social Media And How It Impacts Youth
Written by Jane Low, Senior Psychologist Social media trends. Social media trends are constantly evolving in today's information age. Generation Z (individuals who are born between 1997 and 2012) are considered to be digital natives where they are surrounded by vast...
Psychiatrist vs Psychologist: Whom Should I Seek?
There is often much confusion between the terms psychiatrist and psychologist. People may use these terms interchangeably, but this is not to be the case. While both psychiatrists and psychologists treat people suffering from mental health issues and behaviour...
Discipline: What Parents Get Wrong, and How to Get It Right
Spare the rod and spoil the child - is this a sensible justification for the use of physical punishment in disciplining a child? What is discipline really all about? To some parents, discipline is associated with corporal punishment, such as by caning, slapping or...
Understanding Grief and Bereavement
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” - Vicki Harrison, Author. Losing someone we love is possibly one of the toughest, most dreadful things we...