Clients' Testimonies

"All my life I had always put aside the idea of counselling, mainly because most times I feel I am capable of handling issues on my own. However, I am truly glad to have gone for sessions with Ms Carol. Before undergoing therapy, I had many buried traumas and feelings. Most that I had put aside for all my life. I needed help coping with incidents from the past and present, ways to cope and overall obtain peace. She used some incredibly useful therapy techniques such as EMDR to work on my past and it worked wonders. I felt released and no longer affected by my past traumas. She uses cute postcards with animals and cartoons on them, with inspirational quotes and motivation that made me feel comforted. Overall, Ms Carol had taught me how to confront my traumas and had also made me feel like my feelings are validated and sometimes it is okay to be affected, that it is indeed okay to be not okay at times. I am more than thankful for the effort she has put into our sessions and I would surely consult her in the future."

Female young adult

"When I first went for the counselling session, I was extremely apprehensive and felt very tense. But as the first session started, Ms Carol helped me to feel more relaxed when she listened to me. It felt very relieving to vent out everything I was feeling. I was confused at first when we started visiting past trauma I had but I trust Ms Carol to know what was best for me, and she did!

We spent 3 sessions going through old memories and experiences that I did not even know affected me today. Previously they would hurt to talk or think about but now, I feel at peace with my past. It does not hurt me to think of anything linking to them at all. Ms Carol was even kind enough to recommend a series of authors and books that would help me and that I would enjoy reading.

Female young adult

"In the beginning, I had trouble finding a method to cope with my anxiety, along with endless thoughts of despair. I always had this need to be heard and this necessity could not be fulfilled by people I knew. Ms Carol was able to cater to my voice as a viable listening ear. Ms. Carol was always open to hearing what I had to say, and she developed constructive feedback almost immediately which was adjuvant to my situation. If I had the opportunity to recommend a counselor I would most definitely think of Ms. Carol."

Male youth

"Having the greatest mother’s love”, this is the impression I have in my mind for Counselor Carol. Knowing Carol was a blessing to me. She pulled me back from the jaws of death during the time when I had suicide ideation constantly. I was involved in a car accident and was in a state of coma. When I woke up from coma, my whole world collapsed. I lost my mother and I lost my health! I managed to nurse back my health and had to change to another secondary school to continue my studies. I had to walk with the aid of a walking stick to school and my new schoolmates made fun of me. This caused me to hide in my own world, not trusting people and not talking to them. I was alone for the entire 3 long years, until I get to know counselor Carol during my poly studies. During counselling session, Carol gave me valuable advice and helped me to overcome my grief over the loss of my mother. She also helped me to resolve my tumultuous relationship with my father. Carol made me feel that there is still love in this world.  This love made me open my heart to accept the world, to accept my situation, to face it, and confront it! I am sincerely thankful to counselor Carol. She is caring, compassion and skillful. I would strongly recommend anyone who facing any psychological issue to look for counselor Carol. Thank you."

Female teenager

"I still remember the first time I went for counselling. I was full of tears, drained and I felt really helpless. As it was my first time, I did not really know how it works, but after going through a whole 4 sessions of it, I can say that going for counselling is a great decision I’ve made. It helped me through my lowest points and I felt so much at peace during the sessions. I felt understood and cared for. After the 4 sessions, I am able to walk out stronger as an individual and I’m coping much better now. I strongly recommend everyone of you who are struggling now with their life to go for counselling! Step out of your comfort zone and take small steps into finding hope again!"

Female client

"My main concern before this was to handle my depression and constant anxiety that I have. After the first session, I realised a lot of things regarding my anxiety and depression. For example, the root cause of it, how do I tackle the issue bit by bit. I have never been to any type of counselling before this but she tries different ways to approach the issue and sees which one is effective on me. For me, she used EMDR therapy on me. I would close my eyes and to imagine certain situations which she would want me to imagine to help me overcome the situation that is causing my anxiety. After 6 sessions with her, I realised how much I have grown as a person, how much more empathetic I have become compared to last time. My perspective of how relationships should be has matured and the way I counter my emotions now are much more under control. I have become more loving towards myself, prioritising myself at the same time still keeping the loving and caring person I am. I have already told a lot of my friends who I think would benefit this counselling and I have said many positive things about it but one of the points that I mentioned the most was that after every session, it leaves me feeling fresher, letting me reflect on myself without feeling afraid that my anxiety is taking over me and it is very eye-opening."

Female client

"Right after the first session my anxiety and panic attack stopped. Compared to other approaches, even though other therapists provided the safe place and I felt being heard, but it was not enough as there was no direct result and I was still experiencing my panic attack at that time. Carol's approach is very direct and her techniques help me to cope with the current issues I'm facing as well as my childhood issues. I feel better every time after seeing her. Carol helped me to work with my emotions. My emotions were out of control and I was overwhelmed to the point I really didn't know what to do about it and hated myself for it as it affected and hindered my daily routines and interaction with people. My overwhelmed emotions subsided and I feel stronger about myself to understand my own worthiness and now still in the process to appreciate and love myself. Her therapy approach is very directive and powerful as long as they are willing to open up, trust and work on it with her she can help you find the light."

Female client

"I often felt down and had very low self-esteem. After the first session I felt much better after sharing what I've been through, as I didn't tell anyone about my feelings. I got to feel my emotions that were blocked off, which was relieving. I've now understood that negative beliefs from past experiences aren't true and hence, felt more confident in life. Her therapy approach helps you understand your thoughts and behaviour by looking back at the past. It then corrects any negative beliefs you have. You will also be encouraged to read good books that help you understand yourself and others better."

Male client

"I first started having panic attacks at ten, I would just be running or looking for something and have a panic attack. Having lost a close friend during the holiday, I was having really bad panic attacks and insomnia. I could not sleep, it was always in my head, and I did not have any appetite. When it was looking like I was going downhill because of my friend's passing, I decided to go for therapy as I needed to talk to someone to seek help. That is when I met Ms Carol. From weekly sessions of one hour, Ms Carol has encouraged as well as tried different methods of overcoming my panic attacks. When I had a very bad experience towards an event such as my mock interview in school, she taught me to visualise what had happened and then visualise it to a better outcome, which has helped a lot. As someone who enjoys writing more than speaking, Ms Carol has encouraged and explained how when I journal, it would help. Because of therapy, the different methods taught, the encouragements and the support, I have not had a panic attack in a long while. Thank you for all the visualising methods! I went for 4 job interviews and did not blank out or stutter or have a panic attack. Josh's memorial was beautiful by the way, a good healing."

Female teenager

"My first concern when I started counselling was that I had to admit I had a real problem which I couldn’t solve myself. I needed real help. I knew since a young age I had suffered from panic attacks and anxiety. But it had boiled out of control and I ended up almost having a panic attack on the MRT and then couldn’t bring myself to go back on it again. I was not able to cope with living by myself and was miserable with the way I was living. So I had to go to therapy as this is a big problem which I couldn’t fix myself. During my first session I was nervous and cried as I had a lot to share and was desperate for change. It wasn’t a quick fix but every session I felt better and better learning techniques to get through panic attacks. I then practised going on the train for one or two stops and eventually I did it. I was able to take the train! I was also able to be alone at home with my parents away for periods of times overseas. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the support and guidance of therapy using EMDR and Schema therapy to provide therapeutic solutions to my problems!"

Female teenager

"Before seeing previous counsellors I would be worried that it would be a waste of my time and money because I didn’t want to do any homework or have conversations with the counsellors that could have been had with normal friends. I was also afraid that the counsellor wouldn’t understand me and think that I am very selfish for the things that I wanted to say. After the first session I felt understood because Carol was able to empathise with the emotions I was feeling and she could understand why I said or did certain things, which I felt that other people did not understand. She always knew the right things to say. I liked that Carol was able to suit her therapy to what I was willing to do. I have been to other counsellors who have given me homework to do which actually made me even more stressed because I didn’t do it and before the session I would just rush something out so that the counsellor wouldn’t be angry with me for not doing the work. But with Carol I could tell her what I was and wasn’t comfortable doing. I also liked that Carol was able to provide some suggestions for my problems. Carol also recommends books which she thinks are helpful to guide me in whatever situation that I am in.

Female in 20s

"I was concerned if my problems can be solved effectively and if my counsellor can understand my problems. After the first session I knew I should come back again for another session because my mind felt a bit free. The therapy used was able to help me reduce my anxiety and depressive thoughts differently. I have found my lost self that I closed up because of my problems. I am able to be myself again. Your counselling approach is different compared to other types of traditional therapy and it’s much better because it helps to address my problems differently as compared to a normal session."

Male client

"They said that it takes time to heal wounds. Although these words may be true for most matters, some wounds may still remain. This was an area I was struggling to cope with. I was struggling to cope with my failures: tests, presentations, my parents' expectations. Even after so many years, I still could not let go of these incidents. This all changed when I recently went to see a counselor and opened up to her about problems that have been bothering me. Of course, it is not a one-day process, it took me months to accept myself for who I am. It took me months of seeing a counselor to accept the fact that I am only human who makes mistakes, and those mistakes do not define me and do not make me less of a human. I have learned that what is written on my result slip does not change my worth as a human, and I have you to thank for that. So, thank you, for being there when I needed to talk to someone and when I needed help."

Female client

"Initially, I came to counselling because I felt very empty and unhappy with life. After several sessions with Ms Carol, I started to feel a little more hopeful and I wanted to get better.  Ms Carol is very analytical, she was able to sense and analyse my issues properly. She has a unique approach where she tackled and processed each of my traumas carefully so that I could be free from them. This has helped me a lot as I didn’t even know that I was bothered by a lot of incidents from the past. She used EMDR to help me and it was effective in helping me to get over my traumas.

She also identified the emotions I felt and made me more aware of myself.
I really love the genuine passion she has in helping her clients. I could sense it during our counselling session, the way she would take my concerns seriously and guide me along. She has also taught me things that I would remember for life and recommended me useful self-help books to increase my knowledge.

Something transformative I have learnt from Ms Carol is that I’m the only one who can save myself. I have to be the one who take all the guidance I’ve received into practice. Even when I fall down, even when I break down, I have to pull myself up together. She taught me the importance of not ignoring my emotions and that I have to solve problems. I used to be really unaware of my emotions but now, I would question myself “why do I feel this way?”, “what can I do?”. Only by solving problems, I can move on. Otherwise, I’ll end up in a spiral chain of thoughts and end up destroying myself.

Female client

"Dear Ms Carol Goh,

Personally, the most important lesson I have learnt from the counselling sessions with you is how to let things go. Through your help, I was able to stop the negative emotions plaguing in my mind about my family. I have come to accept how things are and that I must face the consequences of my own actions. I have discovered that I am an independent individual, and I am capable of following my own path that I desire. I have thus stopped chasing what my family and others around me desire and start to focus on what I really want. This has made me a much happier and confident person moving forward.

Previously, when I first met you, I was not feeling very confident as I was always scared of failure. Now, I have accepted that failure is part of learning, and that I have to fail sometimes in order to move forward stronger. As my internship has ended, I have appreciated the times I was feeling down as now I can learn from them. Making failure a learning point and being positive about it has really changed my mindset towards carrying out my daily life. One example I can use recently would be that I used to be very anxious and stressed out about my daily grades if I didn’t get an A before. However, after we met, I realised that it didn’t really matter. What matters is that I have put in my best effort that I can, and that I cannot control what the facilitator intends to grade me. It is important that I note that I did my best, and that I cannot control external factors as we had discussed. I have thus been more carefree during lessons and more confident of my own abilities.

Moving forward, I have put into practice what I have learnt in my daily life through writing down my thoughts in a diary on my phone. With a clear mind, I would then apply what I have learnt to the situations which I am frustrated or angry about and thus explain it in an objective manner. It is very useful for me as through this, I constantly learn new things about myself and gain a deeper understanding into what are my real objectives. The changes I want to do for myself is to make myself a confident and positive person, no matter the situation. This is because I believe that I should enjoy life and appreciate what I have living in the present. Painting a bigger picture has also aided me in stopping myself from worrying excessively. I now believe that in the future, any failures I will face can be used as a learning point, and I can instead enjoy the pleasure and pain from going through what I am going to experience.

I really feel more positive and confident now even from the little things, such as feeling more confident walking to school, choosing what to wear and during daily presentations. I would sincerely like to thank you for all the help you have given me and understanding my challenges. I am also learning to overcome more challenges ahead as I move forward in life.

Male client

"Counselling was a turning point for me. Not to say that it ‘solved’ the problems but rather gave me an alternate perspective on myself and how to treat how I was feeling. Counselling provides me with a safe and regular space for me to talk and seek help. The counsellor never fails to support and respect my views. Other than advice, they’ll help by finding my own insights and understanding of the problems which I am facing. Personally, I felt that the sessions are nurturing and the sessions are holistic and flexible; also, it has a surprising ability to help me get to the heart of whatever it is I am seeking help with. After every session, I have come away feeling as though I have reconnected to parts of myself that had been missing. It also helps boosts my self-esteem and build up confidence greatly."

Female client

"It is my first time going for counselling ever since I entered my poly life. So I have been going for counselling sessions for more than a year now. Counselling has helped me to overcome all of my problems by giving me both emotional and physical support. I remembered how miserable I felt when I stepped into my poly life but after going for a lot of counselling sessions, I find a big change in myself. I am able to keep my head held high and keep moving forward even though there are a lot of obstacles kicking in along the way. It has never been easy for me to go through those hardship but with the support I get from my counsellor in school, I am more than blessed to feel that she is always there to hear out all of my problems and gives me useful advice. She has been the one who understand me most and know how I feel despite having a hard time to actually express in words whatever that has been lingering on my mind. It helps me to lighten my ‘burden’ in a way. Counselling is also not just about sharing my feelings but also involve self-reflection. There is no straight way to resolve things but rather it is a step-to-step process. Through counselling as well, I discovered other aspects that contribute to my problem in which I did not realise it before."

Female client

"Going for counselling has helped me with problems in my life, even some which I did not realise were problems. The counsellor helped me get over my high and unrealistic standards of myself academically. I used to believe that I had to get more than 90% on tests and exams, otherwise I was letting down myself and my parents. The counsellor helped me realise that understanding the concepts taught in lessons and being able to apply them is more important than just getting a high mark, because what’s the point of getting a high mark if you don’t understand? The counsellor also helped increase my confidence levels, and having someone extra to talk to about frustrations really helps to relieve stress."

Male client

"I am happy to attend counseling sessions with Ms Carol. Counselling sessions have helped me unload my burdens, named my grudges, that have been with me, for quite a while. I regretted not attending counseling sessions early. For quite some time, I have been thinking about the unpleasant events that happened to me during secondary school. That was a very irrational activity that I engaged in. Sigh! I encourage the readers to take actions immediately, if they are having any problems in life to seek help quickly. Just remember, counseling is an investment. You will gain positive benefits and the people around you will be elated to be with you. Attend counseling, experience positiveness."

Male client

"I was suffering from OCD with obsessive thoughts in my mind. It had affected me so badly that I could not really concentrate well in doing my daily activities. I could not sleep too. Anxiety, worry and fear were all over me as I keep on wondering whether I could recover. I consulted Ms Carol for counselling and was advised to remain positive and to regain the confidence that I had lost due to OCD. I was taught breathing exercises and other procedures to reduce my obsessive thoughts. I even attended a mindfulness course recommended by Ms Carol and found it very helpful. When I was doing the above mentioned on my own, I also took time to attend counselling sessions with Ms Carol who gave me strong encouraging advise and techniques which eventually led to my recovery from OCD. Now I am a happy and confident person. I am also enjoying my life. All thanks to Ms Carol!"

Male working professional

"When the pandemic hit, I started to become very conscious of both my own hygiene and the hygiene of those around me. At first, I didn’t think much about it and sought to deal with these obsessive thoughts through various rituals such as repeated washing of my hands and long showers (more than an hour) but these only brought temporary relief and soon I began to have anxiety attacks when I was overwhelmed with emotions. That was when I sought help from Ms Carol and spoke to her about the various fears that I had and shared that the thought of getting sick due to the virus terrified me. Through the sessions I had with Ms Carol, I learnt to identify the various heightened emotions and irrational fears, and how to face them boldly. It helped speaking to Ms Carol as she guided me through this painful season patiently and through the multiple sessions, I learnt techniques such as visualization and mindfulness to calm my anxiety down. In addition, I began exposure exercises with Ms Carol to face my fears and overcome them. It helped to have someone alongside such as Ms Carol processing my feelings and emotions when I was at my lowest point. I am now less fearful of my surroundings and better able to go on with daily routine functions without anxiety plaguing me anymore."

Male working professional

"I was failing all my subjects and was diagnosed to have learning disability. However, my parents felt I am not that bad. We sought therapy with Ms Carol. She helped me to understand that it is the pressure that I face and anxiety that affects my performance during exams. She used her specialised technique to help me calm down greatly, and she taught me visualisations which really helped during my exams. I managed to pass all my subjects in my last exams which showed I can do it. That greatly boost my confidence and I am motivated to study hard to do well."

Secondary school female student