Over her decade-long career as a psychologist, Michelle has been animated by the drive to empower her clients. She believes that cultivating emotional awareness, turning against self-defeating habits, and confronting one’s fears are necessary steps toward this aim. Her therapeutic philosophy centres on exploring the impact of early childhood experiences on present patterns, looking clearly at one’s pain and experiencing it honestly, taking active responsibility for present choices, and viewing past choices with self-compassion. Her therapeutic orientation includes psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, motivational interviewing and schema therapy approaches.

Michelle’s special interests include:
– Chronic or recurrent anxiety or depression
– Problems in relationships (with family, intimate partners, friends and colleagues etc.)
– Existential issues; problems of meaning and purpose
– Gender dysphoria
– Mental health needs of LGBTQ+ individuals
– Mental health needs of Siblings of individuals with special needs
– Chronic pain
– Insomnia

Trained in Singapore, Michelle served for 10 years as a psychologist in the public service. She practiced as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Changi General Hospital, with roles in the psychodynamic, gender dysphoria and chronic pain teams. As an educator, she provided training and supervision to fellow professionals in SingHealth institutions and community mental health, as well as clinical supervision to students from her alma mater, the graduate clinical psychology programme of the National University of Singapore. Prior to her work in the hospital, Michelle was a psychologist in the Singapore Prisons Service. She has also volunteered her time as a therapist with Oogachaga, a non-profit organization supporting the mental well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Michelle was born and bred in Singapore, and studied International Relations in London before deciding to change directions and pursue her dream of becoming a psychotherapist. She is an enthusiastic collector of fountain pen inks, and a former dancer who loves watching choreography videos. Michelle deeply values autonomy, enjoyment, and clear thinking, and believes that everyone has the right to work towards them.