Psychology

The Department of Psychology at Sengkang General Hospital provides psychological assessment and intervention services for various health and mental health issues. Our team of psychologists focuses on helping patients learn skills to manage their mental health and emotional challenges, as well as to handle stressful life events better. Our psychologists aim to help our patients live fuller, healthier and more meaningful lives.

Our team of psychologists supports patients with conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and more. We provide psychotherapy services to help patients develop a greater understanding about themselves and to make changes in their lives. Please refer to the list of conditions below for more information.

In addition, the department provides neuropsychology assessment services for dementia and other neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.).

Our Clinical Services

Our psychologists provide inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy, as well as neuropsychology assessment services.

Other services: The department also works within multidisciplinary teams with doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals in the management of patients with various health-related issues such as:

Dementia
Diabetes
Pain
Sleep Disorders
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury
Weight Management

Our Treatments

Depending on your presenting issues and goals, your psychologist will discuss with you the best approach to manage your mental health difficulties. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Through ACT, patients learn new ways to manage their thoughts and emotions so that they can take committed actions to enhance their well-being. The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life that is guided by an individual’s values.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
- CBT focuses on the relationship between patients' thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. One main aspect of CBT is to help patients identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviours that can lead to improvements in mood and quality of life.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions guide patients to be attentive to their experiences in the present moment in a non-judgmental way. Mindfulness helps to create space between emotions and actions. Practicing mindfulness can help patients to better cope with their day-to-day experiences.

Schema Therapy
- Schema Therapy focuses on emotion and thought patterns (schemas) that have developed in early childhood and that have been reinforced over time. The goal of Schema Therapy is to help patients reduce the impact of unhealthy schemas in their lives and to develop healthier coping strategies.

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Psychological Conditions We Treat

Psychological Disorders

Adjustment Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Eating Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Insomnia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety Disorder
Somatic Symptom Disorder

Other Psychological Issues

Anger Management
Grief and Bereavement
Stress and Burnout

Health-Related Issues

Adjusting to/Coping with physical health issues
Chronic Pain
Diabetes
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Sleep Disorders
Weight Management

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FAQs

What should I expect from my first psychotherapy session?

At your first appointment, your psychologist will ask you questions about yourself. These may include questions about your background and current difficulties, as well as your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. You may be given questionnaires that measure your mood and/or other difficulties. Your psychologist will work with you to understand how your difficulties came about and/or are maintained. Your psychologist will also discuss with you the goals you would like to work on during your subsequent psychotherapy sessions.

How long and frequent are psychotherapy sessions?

Typical psychotherapy sessions last between 45 minutes to 1 hour. They may occur on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis. The total number of sessions required depends on your needs such as the types of difficulties you face, your goals, the things going on in your life, and how fast you make progress. Typically, patients attend between 8 to 12 sessions of psychotherapy before discharge.

Is what I share confidential?

Yes. Information shared in our sessions are confidential. You do not have to talk about anything that you are not comfortable with sharing. While your psychologist will record information relevant to your care in your hospital notes, the only people who can rightfully access these notes are your doctors and your treating team. Please note that there are some special circumstances where your psychologist may need to break confidentiality. These circumstances will be explained to you by your psychologist at your first session.

How do I prepare for my appointment?

To make the most of your session, prepare a list of the things you would like to discuss and work on in psychotherapy. You may bring a notebook to write down any useful information during sessions. More importantly, keep an open mind so that you can use the opportunity to learn more about yourself.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a doctor who has received specialised training in the assessment and treatment of mental illnesses. Psychiatrists treat mental illnesses primarily by prescribing medication. A psychologist is someone who has received specialised training in human behaviour, including emotions and how to regulate them through a wide variety of strategies and psychotherapeutic skills.

How can I access psychotherapy?

If you think you may benefit from psychotherapy, do speak to your GP or doctor who can refer you on to a psychologist at our hospital.

What is psychotherapy used to treat?

Psychotherapy can be useful in the treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

Psychological Disorders

Adjustment Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Eating Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Insomnia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety Disorder
Somatic Symptom Disorder

Other Psychological Issues

Anger Management
Grief and Bereavement
Stress and Burnout

Health-Related Issues

Adjusting to/Coping with physical health issues
Chronic Pain
Diabetes
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Sleep Disorders
Weight Management

Who should consider psychotherapy?

People seek psychotherapy for a wide variety of issues, including the following:

Emotional struggles that make it difficult to function from day to day. For example, being unable to concentrate on assignments or job performance suffering as a result.
Actions that are harmful to themselves or to others. For instance, they drink too much alcohol and become aggressive.
Prolonged or extreme difficulties in interpersonal relationships.

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