HOW TO PICK YOUR THERAPY PROVIDER

Published on June 29, 2022

Are you in a time of crisis individually or in your marriage? Have you recently suffered a great loss and you are feeling overwhelmed? Are you looking to do counselling? Are you looking to do psychotherapy? Are you looking to do marriage counselling? Are you not really sure what you are looking for? Are you just in a lot of pain and want help?

 

There are many options out there and different ways to get help. Industry has been overwhelmed by counselling, coaching, psychotherapy, psychologists and for an individual it can be very confusing to know how to navigate or what type of professional to pick. What really matters?

 

There is a huge difference in training that you often cannot tell just from the title somebody has in their name. In Singapore and Southeast Asia these terms are not regulated and the barrier to entry is very low. Just because a person has the title 'psychologist' in their name this is not a regulated title. What you need to do is look at the person's educational qualifications, how much supervision have they had, ongoing education, as well as length of practice. Different countries award different names and have different standards.

 

In Southeast Asia mental health is a relatively young industry compared to the US.

Tammy Fontana, lead therapist at All in the Family Counselling, is a clinically trained mental health counsellor and clinical sex therapist.

 

What does that mean and why is that important? What that means is she has undergone educational requirements by CACREP, a standardization in the US that is a prerequisite for licensing within US. This baseline education at a master degree level covers human development, psychology, mental illnesses and a number of therapeutical interventions. All of these lay the foundation which are necessary to be able to assist people. Many people with diplomas, bachelor degree level or coaching do not have this underpinning or knowledge about human development and this can lead to very disasterous outcomes for people.

 

In addition, Ms. Fontana has undergone extensive training. Once a person has their master's degree, this is a baseline education, then the person must spend time developing their areas of expertise, both in the type of population they want to treat, as well as getting certifications and training in the various theories and therapies out there, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, EMDR, hypnotherapy and many others. There are over 3000  different types of specializations. Ms. Fontana has done extensive work around the areas of attachment, complex developmental trauma, human sexuality, anger, depression and anxiety.

 

Another thing is whether or not the therapist/counsellor/coach has undergone and continues to undergo supervision. Supervision is a process by which the therapist pays for and consults with a more senior professional in their industry. The supervision is imperative in helping the therapist to objectively look at cases to make sure their own feelings and emotions aren't impacted and to develop them as a therapist. A supervisor is critical in helping to shape the development of the therapist.

 

Ms. Fontana has undergone and continues to undergo supervision to ensure the highest quality of her cases. Supervision has nothing to do with being Junior or Senior, it has to do with a professional responsibility to one's clients to ensure objectivity, not missing things in a case, planning and strategizing and thinking about treatment plans. Supervision is imperative to the development of the psychotherapist and for the safety and outcome of clients. You want to make sure that your therapist undergoes supervision. It is costly and time consuming, but professionals who are serious about their work do this regularly.

 

Clinical training is imperative for the successful outcome of treatment. Access to such treatments as cognitive behavioral therapy, Gestalt, dialectical behavioral therapy, coaches, life coaches, anybody can access these therapies. However, without having the clinical training and underpinning they are just a bunch of tools and the individuals may not understand the theory behind them or may missapply them. Not understanding this and using these tools can cause further harm and damage to individuals.

 

Ms. Fontana often works with individuals who have had their problems compunded further by working with unqualified professionals who are using tools and therapeutical interventions that they do not fully understand nor are qualified to be using. Therefore, it is imperative that you really understand the training and not just the title on the name.

 

If you would like to learn more about how therapy can help you, contact us at +65 9030 7239 or email us at tammy@allinthefamilycounselling.com.

 

All in the Family Counselling has been providing therapy and psychotherapy services for individuals and couples for just under two decades. We specialize in difficult cases related to attachment issues, complex developmental trauma, anger, depression, anxiety and infidelity. If you would like to learn more, contact us now!


Category(s):Abortion, Couple Counseling, Ending a relationship issues, Family of Origin Issues / Codependency, Health Psychology, Infidelity, Marital Counseling, Men's Issues, Mental Health in Asia, Mental Health Professions, Relaxation techniques, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Problems / Sex Therapy, Women's Issues

Written by:

Tammy M. Fontana, MS NCC CTRT Sex Therapist USA

Ms. Fontana is a relationship counsellor specializing in helping people with their relationships whether it is dating, marriage, parenting or with their extended family. Her clients call her approach practical and found solutions to their problems. Ms. Fontana has obtained her Master Degree in Mental Health counselling from the United States and is a USA Nationally Certified Counsellor. She is also a Certified Choice Theory Reality Therapist and is USA trained Sex Therapist.

Tammy M. Fontana, MS NCC CTRT Sex Therapist USA belongs to All in the Family Counselling Centre, PTE LTD in Singapore