Marriage Counselling and Couples Therapy in Singapore
Marriage counselling for couples with demanding lives
You may be capable and decisive at work, yet find that conversations at home end in arguments, silence or distance. Managing a career, a business or family responsibilities can leave little room to address what is happening between you.
You will work directly with me, Cassandra Chiu, a registered counsellor with over 15 years of experience. I guide difficult conversations and help you turn understanding into practical changes, with clear goals and regular reviews of progress.
Professional credentials: Registered with the Singapore Association for Counselling. Master’s in Professional Counselling, Swinburne University, Australia. Completed Level 1 and Level 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
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. Follow-up appointments: $250 per hour, with approximately 50 minutes for counselling and the remaining time for clinical notes and administration. Sessions are available at my Balestier practice or online. No GST is charged.
How I guide your marriage counselling sessions
Understand the pattern keeping you stuck
I help you identify what happens when a disagreement begins, how it escalates and what leaves you feeling unheard or disconnected. Understanding the pattern gives us a clearer starting point for change.
I take both partners' experiences seriously, while recognising that responsibility for harmful behaviour is not always equal.
Guide difficult conversations
When a conversation becomes heated or goes in circles, I help slow it down and identify where understanding breaks down. We work on ways to express concerns clearly and respond without escalating the conflict.
Practise different ways of responding
I help you turn what we discuss into practical ways of listening, expressing needs and managing disagreements. We build on what already works in your relationship and identify changes you can practise between sessions.
Review progress against your goals
We agree on what you want to change and review progress together. That may mean feeling better understood, having calmer conversations or taking steps towards rebuilding trust. I help you recognise what is improving and what still needs attention.
Is Couples Therapy Right for You?
Therapy works best when both partners are ready to show up, listen and take small steps toward change. You may be in a good position to begin if:
You may be unsure, discouraged or have different hopes for counselling. You can still enquire. I can help you clarify what support is appropriate and whether working together is a suitable next step. Enquire about a session.
When relationship counselling may help
You do not have to be considering separation to seek help. You may still care deeply about each other, yet find that work, parenting and everyday responsibilities have left little room for your relationship.
You keep work and family life moving, but conversations have become mostly about schedules, tasks and responsibilities. You miss feeling understood and close to each other.
Discussions about money, parenting, work or family expectations turn into arguments, defensiveness or silence. Important concerns remain unresolved.
You may both be making an effort, yet neither feels that effort is recognised. I help you understand the pattern and express what you need more clearly.
Others may see a stable marriage, while you feel lonely, hurt or uncertain about your future together. You do not need to wait for a crisis before asking for help.
You can seek help before a crisis. We begin with the concerns that matter most to you.
What to expect from marriage counselling
In our first session, I help you explain what has brought you here and understand what each of you wants to change. I guide the discussion so we can move beyond repeating the argument and begin understanding the pattern underneath it.
Joint Sessions
In joint sessions, I guide the discussion so each of you can explain your concerns and understand where the conversation breaks down. We work on expressing needs clearly, responding differently during disagreements and addressing the issues bringing you here, such as parenting, finances, emotional distance or rebuilding trust.
Individual Sessions Within Couples Counselling
Individual sessions are part of our couples work. They give you space to gather your thoughts and prepare for difficult conversations. You do not need to share every private thought or feeling with your partner.
If something comes up that significantly affects your relationship or the work we are doing together, I will help you prepare to discuss it in a joint session, taking safety into account. I do not act as a messenger between partners or agree to hold significant relationship secrets.
Where there is abuse, coercive control or fear of a partner, safety takes priority. Joint disclosure may be inappropriate or unsafe.
If you are unwilling to bring significant information into our joint work, we will review whether couples counselling can appropriately continue.
I explain these boundaries and the limits of confidentiality before individual sessions begin, so both partners understand the arrangement.
Meet Cassandra Chiu, your marriage counsellor in Singapore
I am a registered counsellor with the Singapore Association for Counselling and have over 15 years of experience supporting couples. I hold a Master’s in Professional Counselling from Swinburne University in Australia and have completed Level 1 and Level 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Gottman is the main framework for my couples work, supported by Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. I am also a Master Solution Focused Practitioner.
I use this training and experience to help couples address recurring conflict, emotional distance and betrayal of trust.
Finding the Right Way Forward
You may be managing demanding careers and family responsibilities while privately struggling with conflict, emotional distance or uncertainty about your marriage. You do not need to arrive with an agreed explanation or decision. I bring structure to difficult conversations, identify what needs attention first and guide you towards clear next steps.
If you both want to strengthen the relationship, we agree on practical goals and work on the patterns keeping you stuck. If one partner is considering separation or you want different things, I help you examine those differences directly and make considered decisions about what comes next.
After an affair or another betrayal of trust, I help you address the hurt, establish accountability and understand what rebuilding trust would require. I take both partners’ experiences seriously without treating responsibility for the betrayal as shared.
Where there is abuse, coercive control or fear of a partner, safety takes priority over repairing the relationship. Joint counselling may be unsafe or inappropriate. The starting point is individual support and, where needed, specialist services—not asking you to communicate better with someone you fear.
When addiction or significant mental health difficulties are affecting the relationship, I help clarify where couples counselling can contribute and where additional treatment or specialist support is needed.
You do not have to work out the right approach alone. We begin by understanding your concerns and identifying an appropriate way forward.
Testimonials
My practice has been featured in Best in Singapore’s marriage counselling listings. You can read the listing through the link below.
Clients describe their experience of counselling with me below.
“I first saw Cassandra with recommendation from my brother-in-law who had seen her previously for his set of problems. Cassandra has been really professional, thoughtful and empathetic in helping me manage my marital issues and my personal mental well-being. My sessions with her always helped me get more clarity and provided me some guidance in what my next steps should be. I encourage anyone with any set of problems to have Cassandra as their go-to person because she is that beacon of light and voice of reason when you are at your darkest and lowest point in your life. Thank you, Cassandra, for making me see hope when I thought all is lost.“
“At first I was skeptical that going to a counsellor would solve the problems in my relationship but because of the hard times we were going through I decided to give it a try. Throughout several joint sessions Cassandra gave us – in a very professional and caring way – a different mindset and view on how our partner feels and reacts and she taught us concrete techniques to deal with conflict. I can easily say that I wouldn’t be in a happy relationship now if it wasn’t for her counselling.”
A clear starting point—and a commitment to change
I bring structure and direction to our sessions. Your part is to make time for the work, speak honestly and practise the changes we agree between appointments.
You do not need to feel confident about the outcome before beginning. You do need a willingness to examine what is happening and take an active part in addressing it.
If this approach fits what you are looking for, enquire on WhatsApp to arrange your first appointment.
FAQs about Relationship Counselling
Divorce figures tell us how many marriages legally end. They do not tell us how every couple feels behind closed doors. Some couples remain together despite feeling unhappy or disconnected, because separating raises difficult questions about their children, finances, housing and caregiving.
You may want to preserve your family without continuing the same painful patterns. Counselling offers a space to explore those concerns and work towards a relationship that feels better—not simply one that stays together.
A 2012 research review found that couples therapy benefited approximately seven out of ten couples receiving treatment. Improvement can mean communicating more clearly, managing disagreements more calmly and rebuilding closeness and trust.
When both partners are willing to engage and practise changes between sessions, there is more opportunity for meaningful progress. We identify your goals together and review what is improving throughout counselling.
In the first session, we take time to understand your concerns and identify goals together. When both partners are willing to engage and try new ways of responding to each other, meaningful progress is possible. We work towards measurable changes within the first few sessions, such as feeling better understood, communicating more clearly or managing disagreements more calmly. Deeper or longstanding issues may need more sessions, but we review progress together so you can recognise what is improving and what still needs attention.
The initial counselling appointment is scheduled for up to 90 minutes, allowing additional time to understand the couple, their relationship history and the concerns bringing them to counselling. Follow-up appointments are scheduled in one-hour blocks, with approximately 50 minutes for counselling and the remaining time reserved for clinical notes and administrative matters.
The initial counselling appointment is $400. Follow-up appointments are $250 per hour. Longer follow-up appointments of 90 minutes or two hours may also be booked, subject to availability, and are charged proportionately. The fee covers the couple or family attending the session. Counselling packages are also available. No GST is charged. View counselling fees and packages.
You can attend sessions at my Balestier practice or online. Online counselling offers another way to make time for your relationship when work, travel or family responsibilities make attending in person difficult.
I guide the conversation and help you work towards agreed goals in either format. For online sessions, choose a private space where you can speak freely without interruptions.
Learn more about our online counselling services.
Couples counselling helps you understand difficulties in your relationship and work on changes together. I guide conversations about recurring conflict, emotional distance, trust and decisions affecting your future. We identify your goals and practise ways of communicating and responding that support those goals. You do not need to be married or considering separation to seek help.
You do not need to be experiencing problems to benefit from premarital counselling. It gives you time to discuss expectations about money, family, parenting, intimacy and responsibilities before these become recurring sources of conflict.
I guide those conversations, help you recognise differences and work with you on practical ways to handle disagreements as you build your marriage.
Yes. Counselling can help you work through the hurt following an affair and clarify what comes next.
Responsibility for an affair lies with the partner who chose it. I help you establish accountability and explore what rebuilding trust would require. We can also address difficulties in the relationship without using them to excuse the betrayal of trust.
Whether you want to work towards repair or are uncertain about continuing the relationship, I help you consider your next steps. Individual support may also be appropriate.
I offer support and guidance for individuals navigating the emotional challenges of divorce. This includes processing grief and loss, untangling shared memories, and rebuilding self-worth. If you'd like to explore how this support could help you, please feel free to reach out.
