Frequently asked questions

Psychotherapy is a collaborative treatment process between a client and a trained mental health professional. At Tend, we are committed to helping you identify, understand, and work through hidden emotional or behavioural patterns, psychological conditions, relational difficulties, or challenging life events. We will support you in exploring meaningful and realistic goals that you can work towards.

It is a common misconception that you need to be clinically diagnosed in order to attend psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is not reserved only for severe mental health crises – it is beneficial for anyone looking to improve their mental health, self-awareness, or emotional well-being.

Some signs that you could benefit from therapy:

• You frequently experience distressing emotions that interfere with your daily functioning or sleep.
• You face recurring relationship conflicts, burnout, or struggle with dealing with difficult transitions or decisions.
• You wish to process your early experiences and/or patterns learnt from your family of origin.
• You notice yourself slipping into unhelpful coping patterns during stressful periods.
• You experienced a major loss, or major life transition.
• You want to understand yourself better and build better emotional, behavioural, and relational patterns.

The 15-minute consultation functions as a triage session. A triage session is for us to get a brief understanding of your personal concerns and why you wish to attend therapy. It will also help you to get a better sense of how we can support you at Tend. Should you wish to pursue therapy with us, we will provide you with the next available slot for a paid 50-minute in-person intake session.

An intake session is the first official session between the client and clinical psychologist. The intake process goes beyond symptom checklists. We take time to hear your personal history, your early family dynamics, and the broader narrative of your life. It is a collaborative space to see if our relational style feels safe and intuitive enough for deep emotional work.

The number of sessions needed depends on several factors such as the needs and goals of the client, and we can explore that together during our intake session. You would not be asked to commit to a fixed number of sessions at any point in therapy.

Personally, because I am interested in helping you to explore the underlying structure of your personality and emotional world, it is typically a medium- to long-term endeavor. While short-term focus is possible for specific dilemmas, deep-seated patterns usually unfold over several months to a year or more as trust and emotional safety deepen.

Tend Psychology is strictly by appointment only. Do fill in the form or drop us an e-mail to schedule an appointment.

At the moment, we only accept payments via PayNow.

Please note that at Tend, we collect payment in advance to confirm the session. A full refund will be given for any cancellation made with at least 48-hours notice (please see cancellations below).

We require at least 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Please note that cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice or missed appointments without notice will be charged the full session fee, as that time was reserved specifically for you.

Many psychological practices in Singapore enforce this to ensure fair and efficient care to all clients.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may lead to delays. If you might be late for a session, please drop us an e-mail to let us know. If you end up missing the appointment, do note that you will still be charged the full session fee, as time was specifically reserved for you.

We seek your understanding that we would still need to conclude the session at the pre-arranged time so that we can attend to the next client punctually. This allows us to build safety and trust with each client by respecting their time.

Please clarify with your insurer regarding their reimbursement policies before committing to sessions with us. All session fees are to be made upfront to Tend prior to attending.

Currently, we do not process any direct billing with insurers. We also do not provide reports or forms to any external agencies (e.g., insurance companies, your employer).

Yes. We prioritise confidentiality in our practice. Everything discussed in sessions remains strictly private and cannot be shared without your written consent.

The following is a list of exceptions under which client confidentiality may be breached under the law:

• If there are perceived risks to self or others
• If there is information on the abuse of minors or vulnerable adults
• If there is information on illegal activities
• If personal information is needed for a medical emergency
• If required by a court order

My approach is integrative, trauma-informed, and attachment-focused. I believe there is no one-size-fits-all way of approaching therapy, and I strive to be emotionally attuned to you and your needs.

I integrate various modalities, including Psychodynamic Therapy, which explores underlying patterns, attachment styles, and past experiences influencing present life. I also practice Schema Therapy, which is an integrative way of identifying deep-seated emotional patterns, recurring relationship struggles, and longstanding challenges in order to address root causes of psychological distress. My early years saw me being trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

My clinical recommendation is to meet in person. Being physically present in a shared therapeutic space provides a unique space for emotional safety, relational depth, and real-time processing of subtle expressions and body language on both ends.

However, I understand that there can be logistical hurdles. I am willing to offer secure virtual sessions so that practical barriers do not stand in the way of your care, and we can collaborate on an arrangement that honors both your clinical needs and your daily reality.

Please bring it up during the in-person intake session to find out if you are suitable for online sessions. Online sessions can be scheduled (only in advance) for suitable clients from the second session onwards.

In the event of assessed safety concerns, I will not recommend proceeding with online sessions.