Question 1

What takes place at the first session?

Accepted Answer

The first session is an initial confidential consultation of 30 minutes, which is done online or over the phone. Your counsellor will want to find out some general information about the nature of your mental health challenges, and will gladly answer any questions you might have about the counselling process.

If at the end of the consultation you'd like to proceed with counselling, the counsellor will send you an intake form and a consent form to complete, after which you can book sessions with your counsellor directly. These sessions can be conducted online or face-to-face by agreement.

Question 2

How are counselling session conducted?

Accepted Answer

We provide counselling sessions virtually and in-person. In-person sessions are held at our therapy space in Joo Chiat Road.

Question 3

How often are the sessions?

Accepted Answer

There is no general rule about frequency. You can agree the frequency of sessions with your counsellor according to the nature and severity of the situations you are facing and the level of support that you need.

Question 4

How many sessions do I need?

Accepted Answer

Counselling is not intended to be a long-term process, and we use therapeutic approaches such as Solution Focused Brief Therapy which are designed to help clients move towards their goals in each session. So in general we recommend 6-12 sessions, but depending on the nature of the challenges and the desired outcomes, the counsellor and client can agree to adjust as needed.

Question 5

How long is each session?

Accepted Answer

The initial consultation is a 30 minute session, and subsequent counselling sessions are 1 hour long for individual counselling, and 75 minutes for couples counselling.

Question 6

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

For individual counselling, our fee is $180 for each 60 minute session.For couples counselling, our fee is $260 for each 75-minute session.
For individual sessions conducted online, our fee is $150 for each 60-minute session.We also offer reduced rate sessions for people on lower incomes, please contact us for details.

Question 7

Does Wellspring Counselling offer support to clients overseas?

Accepted Answer

At this time, Wellspring Counselling is unable to provide counselling to clients based overseas. One of the key reasons is the importance of client safety in moments of crisis or emergency. As counsellors, we need to be able to respond quickly and connect you with appropriate local resources if urgent support is required. Being outside of your country means we may not be able to access emergency services, provide timely interventions, or direct you to the right crisis contacts where you live. Your wellbeing and safety are our priority, and for this reason, we currently only offer counselling to clients based in Singapore. If you are located overseas, we encourage you to reach out to counselling services or helplines in your local community, where support can be offered promptly and safely.

Question 8

Can Wellspring Counselling support my child under 18 years old?

Accepted Answer

No, we are only qualified to work with adults 18 years and above.

Question 9

What are the differences between a counsellor, a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Accepted Answer

Counsellors and clinical psychologists alike are experts in listening and helping clients achieve their goals. They both work with a variety of therapeutic approaches. However, clinical psychologists have a deeper level of training in psychology, can provide clinical diagnoses and assessments, and can treat more serious mental health conditions.

A psychiatrist additionally is a medical doctor and can also prescribe medicine and other medical treatments.

Question 10

What kind of issues can counselling help with?

Accepted Answer

Counselling can help with a wide range of challenges such as (but not limited to):
– Emotional wellbeing challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress
– Life challenges such as trauma, grief, divorce and burnout
– Low self-esteem and identity issues
– Relationship challenges, both in personal life and in the workplace
– ADHD 
-  Sleep challenges

Question 11

How does confidentiality work?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality is absolutely crucial for a counselling relationship, and so we keep all information, notes and records about a counselling session strictly confidential at all times.

With your agreed consent, we record the counselling sessions and may review the content of the sessions with our counselling supervisors. However, we take care to remove any identifying details from the recording to preserve confidentiality.

The only exception to confidentiality arises when there is a clear risk of harm to self or others, in which case we may need to break confidentiality to seek suitable help.

Question 12

What is the cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please inform your counsellor at least 24 hours in advance. Any change or cancellation made less than 24 hours before the session may incur a charge equivalent to the fee for 1 session.

Frequently asked questions