Depression Counselling in Singapore
Practical support when life feels heavier than it should.
You may still be meeting deadlines, caring for your family and keeping things running, while privately feeling flat, exhausted or disconnected. From the outside, little may appear to have changed. Inside, ordinary tasks can take far more effort than they used to.
I'm Cassandra Chiu, a counsellor with over 15 years of experience supporting adults in Singapore. I will help you make sense of what you are experiencing, identify what needs attention first and work with you towards changes in your mood, daily life and relationships.
You do not need to be certain that you have depression before seeking help.
Depression is more common than you may think
In the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016, around one in 16 adult residents had experienced major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. Depression is not a measure of your ability, character or professional success. Seeking help is a way to address what is happening, rather than continuing to manage it alone.
Source: Singapore Mental Health Study 2016; analysis published in 2024. This is lifetime prevalence, not the proportion currently experiencing depression.
How I help you work towards change
Understanding what is keeping you stuck
We will explore how your thoughts, experiences, relationships and daily routines are affecting you. Using approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, I will help you identify patterns that can be changed and practical steps you can begin taking.
Rebuilding energy and engagement
When motivation is low, simply being told to do more is rarely helpful. We will work on manageable changes to your routines, responsibilities and activities, at a pace that supports progress rather than adding to your sense of pressure.
Reviewing progress together
We will agree what improvement would look like for you and review changes in areas such as mood, sleep, concentration, daily functioning and relationships. This gives our work direction and helps us adjust the approach when needed.
A clear starting point
In the first appointment, we will look at what has changed, how long it has been happening and how it is affecting your life. I will guide the conversation and help you identify priorities, rather than expecting you to arrive with all the answers.
Our work may include:
- Understanding patterns of low mood, self-criticism or withdrawal.
- Rebuilding routines and activities that support your wellbeing.
- Working through pressures at work, at home or in your relationships.
- Developing more helpful ways of responding to difficult thoughts.
- Recognising early warning signs and planning how to respond.
The initial appointment is $400 for up to 90 minutes, giving us time to understand your concerns, identify what needs attention first and begin working together.
I do not prescribe medication. Where a medical assessment or additional treatment would be helpful, I will discuss this with you. Counselling can take place alongside care from your GP or psychiatrist.
Warm, direct and focused on what helps
I offer a space where you can speak honestly without having to keep up appearances. My role is to listen carefully, ask useful questions and help you turn understanding into practical changes.
We will draw on your past where it helps us understand the present, while keeping sight of what you want to be different. You do not have to retell every painful experience before we can begin useful work.
Your sessions are confidential within the professional and legal limits explained before we begin. Read more about confidentiality in individual counselling in the FAQs.
When depression counselling may help
Depression can affect how you feel, think and function. You may recognise some of the experiences below. They do not establish a diagnosis on their own, but they are reasons to seek an assessment, particularly when they persist or interfere with daily life. You can seek help before two weeks have passed if you are concerned.
You may feel persistently down, emotionally flat or more irritable than usual. These feelings may be difficult to explain, even when parts of your life appear to be going well.
Activities, relationships or achievements that once mattered may feel less rewarding. You may find yourself withdrawing or doing things out of obligation rather than enjoyment.
You may feel exhausted, struggle to get started, or notice changes in sleep or eating. A medical assessment can help explore physical contributors as well as your emotional wellbeing.
Work may take longer, decisions may feel harder and small tasks may become overwhelming. These changes deserve attention rather than more self-criticism.
You may judge yourself more severely, feel responsible for things beyond your control or struggle to imagine improvement. Counselling gives us space to examine these patterns and develop more helpful responses.
You may avoid messages, social contact or activities because they feel tiring or difficult. We can work on ways to reconnect without making the next step feel overwhelming.
You may continue meeting responsibilities while feeling that you have little left for yourself. Continuing to function does not mean that the difficulties you are experiencing should be dismissed. This is a description of experience, not a separate diagnosis.
Understanding what may be contributing
Looking at the whole picture
Depression usually involves a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. It cannot be explained simply as a shortage of serotonin or a lack of willpower.
Pressures and life experiences
Work pressure, relationship difficulties, bereavement, financial strain, illness, caregiving and experiences of abuse may contribute. Sometimes there is no single obvious trigger. We will explore your circumstances without assuming there must be one root cause or that you are responsible for everything that has happened.
Testimonials
These are individual experiences. We will agree your goals and review your own progress as we work together.
“Sessions with Cassandra have provided a safe environment and framework to understand the deeper issues and triggers behind my depression. These have been invaluable in my personal growth, reframing perspectives and developing a more positive way of handling situations.”
“Cassandra is very professional and skilled. More than just listening and advising, she purposefully steers every session into techniques and options I could use in the healing process. Cassandra always involved me in working out solutions or ways of coping. My personal involvement in these decision-making modalities made a real difference in my recovery. One must work hard to change or at least adapt. I didn’t quite believe Cassandra when we talked on the phone to make my first appointment that I would feel much better and see significant results within 3-4 sessions, but it really happened. I am deeply grateful to her.”
You do not have to keep carrying this alone
If low mood, exhaustion or loss of interest is affecting your life, we can begin by understanding what is happening and identifying a way forward. Contact me to arrange an appointment.
See the counselling fees and appointment options. If you are in immediate danger or feel unable to keep yourself safe, seek urgent medical help rather than waiting for a counselling appointment or WhatsApp reply.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Counselling can help you understand patterns affecting your mood and work on practical changes in thinking, daily routines and relationships. I draw on CBT and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, tailoring the work to your needs and reviewing progress with you.
No. You can book because you have noticed changes in how you feel or function. We will explore your concerns and discuss whether a medical assessment or another service would also be helpful.
I can explore your symptoms, their impact and your support needs. Where a medical diagnosis or assessment is needed, I will discuss seeing a GP or psychiatrist. Counselling is not a substitute for a medical assessment when one is indicated.
Yes. Online counselling is available as well as in-person appointments in Singapore. See the online counselling page for arrangements.
We will begin working on your priorities from the first appointment and look for practical signs of progress over the first few sessions. The pace varies with your circumstances, how long the difficulties have been present and whether additional support is needed. We will review this together rather than continuing without a clear focus.
Not everyone needs medication. I do not prescribe it. If your symptoms suggest that a medical assessment could be useful, I will discuss this with you. A GP or psychiatrist can advise on medication, and counselling can continue alongside medical care.
The initial appointment is scheduled for up to 90 minutes. Standard follow-ups are booked in one-hour blocks, including approximately 50 minutes of counselling and time for clinical notes and administration. Longer appointments may be available by arrangement.
The initial appointment is $400 for up to 90 minutes. Standard follow-ups are $250 per one-hour appointment block. Longer follow-ups are charged proportionately. No GST is charged. See the services pricing page for packages and further details.
