Individual therapy offers a dedicated space for self-exploration and growth. Whether you are navigating a specific challenge or seeking greater clarity and wellbeing, our therapists are here to support your journey.
Adults come to individual therapy for reasons well beyond crisis — a life transition, a stuck pattern, or simply wanting a confidential space to think things through with support.
Sessions are shaped around your own goals, whether that is working through something specific or building broader self-understanding over time.
This may be right for you if...
- Feeling stuck in a pattern you recognise but cannot shift on your own
- Navigating a major life transition — a breakup, career change, relocation
- Struggling with self-esteem, identity, or a sense of direction
- Wanting a confidential space to think out loud without judgment
- Difficulty setting boundaries with people in your life
What adult counselling can help with
Adult counselling at Safe Expanse is one-to-one therapy for anything that is weighing on you, whether or not it has a name. You do not need to be in crisis, and you do not need to have worked out what the problem is before you come. Adults in Singapore come to us about:
- Depression, anxiety, panic and other mood problems
- Stress, burnout and work pressure
- Self-esteem, confidence and motivation
- Relationship difficulties, break-ups and loneliness
- Grief and loss
- Traumatic experiences, recent or long ago
- Addictive patterns, such as alcohol or gaming
- Life transitions: a new job, marriage, parenthood, relocation, retirement, or moving to Singapore as an expat
- Feeling stuck, flat or unsure what you want from life
Counselling, psychotherapy or coaching?
The words overlap and are often used interchangeably. Counselling usually means talking through a current difficulty and finding ways to manage it. Psychotherapy tends to go deeper and longer, looking at long-standing patterns and where they come from. Coaching is for people who are functioning well and want structured support towards a specific goal; see our life coaching page. At Safe Expanse the same therapists offer counselling and psychotherapy, and the first session is where you work out together what depth and pace suit you.
Approaches our therapists use
No single method fits everyone, so our therapists are trained across several and choose with you rather than applying one programme. Depending on the therapist and what you bring, sessions may draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), person-centred and solution-focused brief therapy, gestalt therapy, Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, attachment-based work, Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems, integrative art therapy, and for trauma, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused CBT. Your therapist will explain what they are doing and why, and you can ask to change direction at any point.
Sessions, formats and fees
Individual sessions are 60 or 90 minutes, charged as a flat fee per session by therapist; the full table is on our fees page. You can meet in person at 37 Beach Road, at Minmed Sanctuary in Novena, or online. Most people start weekly or fortnightly and adjust as things settle. Our counsellors do not prescribe medication; if you are seeing a doctor or psychiatrist, counselling can sit alongside that care, and if you think medication might help we can talk through how to see a GP.
What to expect
- An initial session to understand your needs and goals
- A personalised treatment plan
- Regular sessions at a frequency that suits you
- Ongoing review and adjustment as you progress
- A confidential, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship
Therapists who offer this
Frequently asked questions
What happens in a first counselling session? +
The first session is a conversation about what has brought you, what is going on in your life and what you hope will be different. Your therapist will explain how they work and how confidentiality operates, and together you agree what to focus on. There is no test to pass and no need to have it all figured out.
How do I choose a therapist? +
Our therapists page lists each person's background and the areas they work in most. If you would rather not choose, tell us a little about what you need when you enquire and we will suggest who is best placed to help. If the fit does not feel right after a session or two, you can switch.
What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychiatrist? +
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and prescribe medication. Counsellors and therapists work through talking and other therapeutic approaches and do not prescribe. Many people see both.
How many sessions will I need? +
It depends on what you are working on. Some people find a short block of sessions enough for a specific issue; others continue for months to work on deeper patterns. You and your therapist review progress regularly, and you decide when to pause or stop.
Is counselling confidential? +
Yes. What you share stays between you and your therapist, except where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or where the law requires disclosure. Your therapist will explain this at the start.
Can I have sessions online? +
Yes. Online sessions are available for anyone in Singapore and work well for people with demanding schedules or who prefer the privacy of home. In-person sessions are at 37 Beach Road and at Minmed Sanctuary in Novena.
Do you see expats and people new to Singapore? +
Yes. Many of our clients are living away from their home country and their usual support network, and adjusting to Singapore is a common reason for coming. Sessions are in English, and some therapists also work in Mandarin; ask when you enquire.
Further reading
Ready to get started?
Contact us to enquire about adult individual therapy or to book an appointment.
Make an Enquiry Meet Our Therapists