Fernanda Maurer-Stroh

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Fernanda Maurer-Stroh

Fernanda Maurer-Stroh (she/her/hers) is the founder and director of The Psyche Counselling PTE. LTD. She obtained her Master of Counselling at Monash University (Australia) and did her clinical training at the Yale-NUS Counselling Centre and at a local private clinic where she offered individual consultations for adults and young adults. Although

Fernanda was born and raised in Brazil, she has accumulated experiences living in four countries over three continents for over 20 years. In 2007, she established herself with her family in Singapore while pursuing her career as a researcher and raising her children. It was during Covid-19 when Fernanda felt the need to contribute more directly to the health and well-being of those undergoing mental health issues and dedicated her time to become a professional Counsellor.

With a lifetime in Sciences, Fernanda is particularly driven by challenges and likes to see the individual as a unique combination of past and current experiences. An advocate of preventive mental health through self-knowledge, Fernanda is passionate about the nature of human emotions, their thoughts, and how they play a role influencing our behaviours.

Fernanda is open-minded and has been exposed to a diverse group of beliefs and has supported people from different faiths and cultural backgrounds and is a very strong ally for the LGBTQIA+ cause.

Profession

Counsellor

Specialities

ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDERS
DEPRESSION
GENERAL RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES (FAMILY, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS)
LGBTQIA+
GENDER DYSPHORIA
TRAUMA AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
PERSONAL GROWTH AND SELF-ESTEEM
LIFE TRANSITIONS
MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIPS
PARENTING
GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH
WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH (PREGNANCY, INFERTILITY AND POST-PARTUM)
GRIEF AND LOSS
SEX AND INTIMACY
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

Finances

Sliding Scale Fees

Training

Master of Counselling
PhD in Sciences
Master in Biological Sciences (Biophysics)
Master of Advanced Studies in Bioinformatics
Bachelor Cum Laude in Biomedical Sciences

What kinds of treatment or therapy do you provide?

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive therapy
Behavioural Activation
ACT
Person-Centered Approach
Jungian Tarot Reader

What language can you conduct the session in?

English and Portuguese

What is the greatest reward in being a counsellor for the queer community?

Working on normalizing what should have never been a problem in the first place is one of the many satisfactions I get when working with the queer community. But one of the greatest rewards I have is to be able to witness first hand their personal progress not just in mental health, but in all other aspects of life as they grow in confidence, improve their self-esteem, and feel more empowered.

What is the greatest challenge in being a counsellor for the queer community?

The greatest challenge is to interact within a social system where stigma exists, prejudice is present on a regular basis, and how this ends up affecting each person’s mental health differently. When a therapist works with the queer community, the work goes beyond the therapeutic sessions, as you naturally advocate for social change, because you know how a non-inclusive society can impact people’s life on a personal level.

What was your path to becoming a therapist?

Before I became a therapist, I worked as a researcher in biomedical sciences. It was during Covid-19 that I joined the Master of Counselling program. My path to become a researcher was led by my personal desire to help society and improve the general well-being of others through research and knowledge. However, little did I know that it would be through a more direct contact with others, as in therapy/counselling sessions, that I would find personal satisfaction when working to help others to overcome difficulties, challenges and consequently promote a more direct impact in their lives.

What are you most excited about within the evolving mental health landscape?

To see it becoming less stigmatized. I look forward to the day when most clients will seek preventive mental health care rather than treatment.

What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?

I participate in conferences, workshops, and courses. I do voluntary work when possible and I enjoy reading books that help me gain further knowledge.

What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to try therapy?

It’s very common to be hesitant. Respect your timing. Keep in mind that it can take a few trials to find someone you feel comfortable with and that resonates with you. But if you are reading this, consider allowing yourself this opportunity. Take advantage of some “get-to-know” sessions therapists offer to find someone suitable for you. It can feel daunting at first, but usually, at the end of the day, we hear, “I wish I had started therapy earlier.”

What kind of training have you had in working with the LGBTQ population?

My journey in becoming a counsellor has been alongside the LGBTQ+ community since the very beginning. In fact, I have always wanted to help marginalized groups more directly and this contributed to my decision in changing career. Recently, I attended the Singapore HIV Congress (2023) and the NHIVP HIV Community Engagement Forum to be further inclusive when working with the PLHIV marginalized group.

What should someone know about working with you?

Anyone working with me should know that I welcome all sorts of questions. Any concerns can be addressed in advance before starting therapy, either by e-mail to [email protected], or during my complimentary 15 min online session for new clients.

How do your own core values shape your approach to therapy?

I value mutual respect, privacy, and confidentiality to create a safe space to ensure that my clients can be heard and understood.

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