“I don’t think therapy is for me, and it’s tough to find help in Hong Kong anyway.”
We agree it is often confusing, but here are some tips to help:
You might feel that getting therapy or support for your mental health is for people with more troubles and challenges than you. This thought process stops lots of people from accessing help.
Common reasons you might visit a therapist
Something traumatic has happened
You’ve experienced a loss
You’re using alcohol or drugs to cope
You’re frequently stressed and overwhelmed
People around you are concerned
Equally important reasons to speak to a therapist
You want to improve relationships in your life
You want to practice for real-life
You want to find your purpose
You want to thrive at work
You want to explore new things
You want to be a better communicator
You want to talk about family challenges
What are my options?
There are different types of support available and also other styles of support. Ask your therapist what kind of support they offer. “Some people prefer help with immediate concerns, and some want to explore deeper issues. What kind of support do you offer?” Many CBT-based therapies focus on immediate challenges, while psychodynamic approaches focuses on the original cause of the problem, often found in earlier life.
Counsellor
Counsellors work confidentially with people experiencing various emotional and psychological challenges and general life issues. They provide support and empathy, help clients anticipate and prevent difficulties, and help clients discover and develop their potential. They work with individuals, couples, and groups online and in person; a typical session lasts 50 minutes.
Clinical Psychologist
A psychologist works with clients in a similar way to a counsellor, but they are trained to diagnose mental disorders. They have completed more advanced training to support clients with many different diagnoses, but they cannot prescribe medication.
Counselling Psychologist
Counseling psychologists help people recognize their strengths and find resources to cope with everyday problems and adversity. Counseling psychologists focus on interactions between people and their environment, and on educational and career development.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medically qualified doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating, and managing mental health conditions and mental illnesses. Psychiatrists may recommend a combination of medication and therapy with a counsellor or psychologist.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
EAP is usually a free confidential hotline service offered by your employer. You initially speak with a person with mental health training who will ask you some questions, and they will then help to arrange an appointment with either a counsellor or clinical psychologist.
What can I do?
Here are some places to start when looking for help in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association – for all types of counsellors
Hong Kong Psychological Counselling Center – for all kinds of counsellors
Institute for Cognitive Therapy – for cognitive behavioural therapy
Hong Kong Institute of Clinical Psychologists (HKICP)– for clinical psychologists
The Hong Kong Psychological Society – for local therapists
www.psychologytoday.com has a helpful search function
What to check
If you search online to find local therapists, be sure to check their credentials. Before committing to paying for therapy, you should ask:
How much do they charge per session?
Do they offer a free consultation to allow you to decide whether you can work together?
Do they offer reduced rates or sliding scale fees for people on lower incomes?
Do they charge for missed appointments (and if yes, how much notice do you need to give them to avoid being charged)?
Look for qualifications and accreditation, for example:
The Hong Kong Institute of Clinical Psychologists (HKICP)
The Hong Kong Professional Counseling Association (HKPCA)
The Hong Kong Association of Doctors in Clinical Psychology (HKADCP)
The Hong Kong Pychological Society (HKPS)
The Hong Kong Psychological Society Division of Clinical Psychology (HKPS-DCP)
The challenges
In Hong Kong, public health wait times may be very long.
Employee health insurance will often only cover psychiatric treatment and not counselling.
Private healthcare services are very expensive.
There are other options if you cannot access public health services (due to waiting times) or workplace assistance or cannot afford private services.
Charity provided services
Mind HK iACT programme - 6-8 free sessions with a Wellbeing Practitioner for mild and moderate symptoms.
Open Up HK - free online counselling sessions for those under 35
The Samaritans Befrienders - counselling for those impacted by suicide
OCD and Anxiety Support Hong Kong - free counselling services
Shall We Talk HK - lots of useful resources for finding appropriate care
Sliding Scale
Some services will reduce the price of treatment based on your financial situation. These include:
Peer support groups are almost always free and can connect you with people who have experienced similar life challenges.
