{"id":9204,"date":"2024-11-14T21:05:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T13:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/?page_id=9204"},"modified":"2024-11-14T21:05:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T13:05:47","slug":"kenny-chen-relationship-counsellor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/kenny-chen-relationship-counsellor\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenny Chen – Relationship Counsellor"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Educational Qualifications<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Masters in Professional Counselling, ECTA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Qualifications (Relationship and Marital Counselling)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • Helping Clients with Addictions<\/li>\n
    • The Gottman Couples Therapy – Level 1, 2, and 3.<\/li>\n
    • Torn Asunder: Affair Recovery Programme for couples<\/li>\n
    • Understanding and Supporting People in Journey of Loss and Grief<\/li>\n
    • Management of Family Violence, Working with Couples in Violent Relationships<\/li>\n
    • Couples on the Brink: Discernment Counselling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>

      Kenny Chen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Professional Counsellor<\/em>
      \nLanguage Spoken: <\/strong>English, Mandarin
      \nSpecialties (specifically for relationship counselling):<\/b><\/p>\n

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      • Infidelity<\/li>\n
      • Sexual and intimacy concerns<\/li>\n
      • Communication problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Kenny has many years of counselling experience. He comes with a rich and extensive experience in counselling clients from diverse backgrounds and handles issues that include anxiety, depression, stress, interpersonal relationship issues, career transitions, workplace\/career issues , marital conflicts, interpersonal relationship, extra-marital affairs\/infidelity, parenting, and grief and loss.\u00a0 His clientele list comprises of individuals, pre-marital couples, married couples and families.<\/p>\n

        He received advanced training (specialization) in Family Therapy from Swinburne University of Technology (Australia). He employs concepts from different counselling modality in his counselling arena and uses therapeutic techniques from Family Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Discernment Counselling, Gestalt Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Reality Therapy to his client\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

        A caring counsellor, he believes in creating a comfortable, non-judgmental environment for his clients in an empathetic and non-directive way. He sees relationships as an important factor in psychological health by seeking to address issues not only as individuals, but also as person in relationships. Kenny believes that every individual is unique, and each writes his\/her own unique story. He believes that clients can make choices to empower themselves, increase their self-awareness and utilize their inner strengths and resourcefulness that translate into healing, growth and change.<\/p>\n

        Kenny also specializes in guiding and journeying with married couples in recovering from the emotional trauma of extra marital affairs. With his vast experience and expertise, and a strong<\/p>\n

        advocate of marriage, he believes that there is hope in recovering from it. Kenny has a long-standing belief that a time of crisis, although challenging, couples are presented with an opportunity for living their marriage in a new way, creating a new chapter in their life together.<\/p>\n

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        Understand Kenny’s Approach<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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        We understand that choosing a counsellor is a personal decision, so we asked Kenny to answer a few questions to help you get to know him better and feel more comfortable before your first session.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>
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        What is your experience in working with couples? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

        My experience with couple’s counselling spans 12 years and involves working with diverse couples facing a range of challenges. I have had the opportunity to support couples in different stages of their relationships, from those navigating new challenges early on to long-term partnerships working through deep-rooted issues.\u00a0 Working with couples can be challenging but rewarding.\u00a0 Over the span of many cases, I\u2019ve guided couples through a variety of relationship concerns, such as communication problems, rebuilding trust, navigating infidelity, enhancing emotional intimacy, and managing life transitions like parenting or career changes. In many of my cases, couples often feel that they are \u201cstuck\u201d and are clueless or helpless in getting unstuck. I help them to move past repetitive patterns that hinder their connection and growth.<\/p>\n

        I typically use an Integrative approach incorporating evidence-based approaches in my practice, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) These approaches allow me to address both emotional and practical issues in the relationship, helping couples to build skills while deepening their understanding of each other.<\/p>\n

        In my work, I’ve seen couples overcome significant challenges by learning to communicate openly and effectively, resolve conflicts respectfully, and develop empathy for one another\u2019s experiences. I feel privileged to witness partners rediscover connection and trust, even in relationships that initially seemed strained beyond repair.<\/p>\n

        I always believe that success in couple\u2019s counselling lies in collaborative work with my clients. I encourage them to believe that they are equally empowered to make a difference in their relationship through their hard work and effort to change, and the ability to apply new found knowledge and skills to experience a more positive outcome in their relationship.<\/p>\n

        I believe each couple is unique, so I adapt my approach to meet their specific needs, helping them to achieve their goals at a comfortable pace.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

        What is your approach to couples counselling? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

        My approach to couple’s counselling is rooted in collaboration and an impartial and non-judgmental position. My aim is not to take sides but to create a safe, supportive space where each partner feels heard and respected. My role is to guide both partners to communicate openly, understand each other\u2019s perspectives, and work together toward shared goals.<\/p>\n

        Depending on the relationship problems, I usually draw from evidence-based methods, primarily integrating approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method. Through EFT, I help couples explore and express underlying emotional needs, while the Gottman Method offers structured tools to build trust, improve conflict management, and increase relationship satisfaction. These approaches allow us to address emotional patterns and establish healthier communication practices to build closer connections.<\/p>\n

        Through the therapy process, I will encourage each partner to understand their individual contributions to relationship dynamics and develop empathy for each other\u2019s experiences. Together, we work toward enhancing intimacy, rebuilding trust, and creating sustainable relationship connection and commitment.<\/p>\n

        I also emphasize the importance of self-awareness. Understanding personal patterns, attachment styles, and triggers can be powerful for each partner, empowering them for change. By developing this awareness, both individuals can begin to shift unproductive mindset and behaviours and create positive changes that support the relationship.<\/p>\n

        No one couple is the same, every couple is unique, so my approach is flexible and tailored to the specific needs, values, and goals of each relationship. Whether the focus is on rebuilding trust, enhancing intimacy, or navigating a life transition, I adjust my work to meet each couple where they are.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

        What can I expect during a session? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

        The first few sessions often continue with the counsellor gathering a more in-depth understanding of each partner\u2019s perspective, relationship history, and underlying issues. Couples may explore patterns in communication, areas of conflict, or past events contributing to present dynamics. Based on this, the couple will work with the counsellor to set specific goals for therapy. These goals might include improving communication, rebuilding trust, increasing intimacy, or resolving specific recurring conflicts.<\/p>\n

        As sessions continue, the counsellor may guide the couple to look beyond surface-level conflicts to uncover deeper, often unspoken feelings, such as fears, insecurities, or unmet needs. This phase can be challenging, as it often brings up vulnerabilities, but it\u2019s essential and necessary for healing and fostering genuine understanding and connection and treatment can be targeted at identified root causes.<\/p>\n

        Once root problems and goals are identified, couples will learn strategies to address disagreements constructively, aiming to prevent escalation and encourage a more respectful, solution-oriented approach. Over time, the counsellor will periodically review progress, celebrate improvements, and adjust goals or techniques as needed. This keeps therapy focused on what\u2019s working and allows flexibility to address new issues as they arise.<\/p>\n

        Eventually, as the couple builds a strong skill set and resolves their core issues, therapy will focus on maintaining these improvements independently. The counsellor may help them prepare for potential future challenges, practicing problem-solving skills they can use after therapy ends.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

        I want to go for couple sessions but my partner is resistant. How can I approach this? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

        It\u2019s common for one partner to refuse to go to couple\u2019s therapy. Threatening to get a divorce if your partner doesn\u2019t go to therapy isn\u2019t a good idea.\u00a0 If your partner refuses to go for whatever reasons, you are still empowered to make a difference to the outcome of your relationship. Relationships are like a dance. When you change your steps, your partner naturally changes their steps. When you start doing things differently, your partner\u2019s behaviour will shift. Couples get into patterns of behaviour that get repeated. When you change how you respond, communicate, manage your emotions, or solve problems, you help both you and your partner break free from old patterns and develop new ones. Once your partner experiences these changes from you, he or she is more likely to be open to couples counselling as they can see the benefit of it through your positive actions and behaviours.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

        What should we expect during the first session? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

        Typically, in a first couple\u2019s counselling session, you can expect a structured and supportive environment where both partners are encouraged to share their perspectives. The counsellor\u2019s main goal is to understand each person\u2019s individual concerns, as well as the issues you both want to address together. Here\u2019s what typically happens in that initial session:<\/p>\n

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        • Understanding the reasons for counselling<\/li>\n
        • Sharing relationship history and background<\/li>\n
        • Identifying individual\u2019s perspective of the marital relationship<\/li>\n
        • Understanding couple\u2019s dynamics and patterns that could be leading to and maintaining couple\u2019s communication problems<\/li>\n
        • Establishing goals for therapy<\/li>\n
        • Explaining the therapy process and how therapy should move forward<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

          How do you handle confidentiality in couples counselling? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

          Confidentiality plays a key role in building a\u00a0therapeutic relationship. Clients, whether they are new to a particular counsellor or to\u00a0therapy\u00a0altogether, often feel a sense of comfort in knowing that they can be honest in their sessions without having their privacy leaked to a third party. Therapist confidentiality lays the foundation for trust, which can allow the therapy to become\u00a0more individualized and effective.<\/p>\n

          There are a few specific and clear instances when therapists are required to report personal information about their clients:<\/p>\n

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          • If the client poses a danger to themselves or others<\/li>\n
          • If the therapist suspects the abuse of a child or an elderly or otherwise dependent adult<\/li>\n
          • If they are legally forced to by court order<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Most counsellors will include a detailed explanation of these exceptions in their privacy policy, which the client reviews and signs before their first session. They may also mention it in conversation in one of their early sessions in case the client has any concerns about confidentiality that could prevent them from fully engaging in therapy.<\/p>\n

            Even when a therapist is compelled to break confidentiality, they are generally careful about only disclosing what is necessary to protect their client or others, and they only tell third parties who urgently need to have that information.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n

            Do you specialize in certain types of couple\u2019s issues (e.g., infidelity, sexual issues, communication problems)? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

            I specialize in handling infidelity, sexual and intimacy concerns, and communication problems.<\/p>\n <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>
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            Book an Appointment with Kenny<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n