What is therapy and how does it work?
What is therapy?
Therapy, otherwise known as psychotherapy or talk-therapy, refers to meeting with a trained mental health professional for support on mental health challenges.
Therapy sessions focus on improving mental health through understanding of your attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours within the context of your life, relationships, and background. This includes your developmental stage, your social setting, and your upbringing.
Does therapy work?
It is not often talked about, but research on psychotherapy has been growing rapidly.
A report by the American Psychological Society suggested that therapy is often more effective than no treatment (i.e., on waitlist). For certain diagnoses, it was also reported to be more effective than medication.
Recent meta-analyses and reviews have found psychotherapy in general to be effective in alleviating symptoms of:
What makes therapy effective?
Ability to engage in therapy
Therapy requires more time and effort compared to medication. If there are factors in your life right now that make it difficult to engage continuously in therapy, you might find therapy less effective.
This could include:
Limited time off to attend sessions consistently
Being on substances (prescribed or otherwise) that make focusing difficult
Being in active recovery from a major surgery or illness
In those situations, competing priorities like this might mean that it is not the most appropriate to engage in therapy now.
Alternatively, if your mental health impacts your ability to attend regularly (for example, frequent cancellations or lateness, it is important to discuss this openly with your therapist in a compassionate and collaborative way.
Choosing the right therapy
Not all therapies work equally for all mental health challenges.
For instance, with Borderline Personality Disorder, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy was found to be the effective in reducing symptoms whereas Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was less helpful.
It’s important to understand your therapist’s approach, and whether they have training in the type of therapy that is suitable for your needs.
Building a strong therapeutic alliance
Regardless of therapy type, research suggests that therapy is most likely to be effective when there is a strong therapeutic alliance.
This means that both you and your therapist are aligned on the goals and methods of therapy.
What can therapy help with?
Therapy can support people across a wide range of life challenges and mental health concerns. Some of the most common reasons clients seek therapy in Singapore include:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Eating disorders and body image concerns
Relationship and family difficulties
Work-related stress or burnout
Grief and loss
Low mood or depression
Self-esteem and identity concerns
Therapy can also be a space for personal growth. It can help you to understand yourself better, improve communication, or navigate major life transitions.
At its core, therapy is about helping you build insight, resilience, and emotional well-being.
How to find the right therapist in Singapore
In short, therapy works best when you find the right therapist for your specific needs.
Some clinics (like us!) offer a 15 to 30-minute Introduction Call. Taking up that offer can help you to find out more about the therapist’s training, approach, and style. It is a cost-effective way to increase your chances of finding a suitable therapist.
Confidentiality is also a key part of creating a safe space in therapy. You can read more about confidentiality in therapy here.
Get started: Download our free workbook
If you, or someone you care about, is looking for a therapist in Singapore but is unsure of how to start, we’ve created a free, 4-page workbook to help you find the right therapist.
It includes an interview template and some reflection prompts to help you clarify what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is therapy?
Therapy is a process where you meet with a trained mental health professional to explore your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and experiences — with the goal of improving emotional wellbeing and quality of life.
How does therapy work in Singapore?
In Singapore and many other countries, therapy typically involves regular sessions with a psychologist or therapist. You will work together to better understand your emotions and patterns, build coping strategies, and address specific concerns — such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or life challenges.
What can therapy help with?
Therapy can help with a wide range of concerns — including anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, eating disorders, self-esteem, grief, and relationship difficulties. It can also support personal growth and life transitions.
What’s the difference between therapy and counselling?
Therapy (or psychotherapy) is typically provided by a psychologist or trained mental health professional, and can address complex mental health issues. Counselling often focuses on more general life guidance or short-term support.