Larry Lai

Larry Lai

Larry is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with extensive experience and training in the fields of individual, marital, and family therapies. Over the years, he has helped individuals, couples, and families navigate complex challenges and difficult transitions, such as:

  • Cross-cultural marriages and integration
  • Marital and family relationships
  • Family crisis: extramarital affairs; separation and divorce; sudden loss and trauma
  • Intimacy
  • Gender and sexuality
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Depression

Larry has been married for 40 years and has two adult children and two grandchildren.

Prior to working in Psychotherapy/Counselling, Larry spent over 35 years in the private and social sector at senior management and board levels. During his career, Larry has travelled extensively across the globe and has also resided 8 years overseas with his family as a career expatriate. With his cross-cultural experiences, Larry has helped individuals navigate the challenges associated with cross-cultural marriages, cross-border career and personal transitions and integration.

Please contact me at: [email protected]

Website: http://www.ctcounselling.com.sg/

Profession

Bilingual Cert. and Reg. Psychotherapist / Counsellor / Clinical Supervisor

Specialities

ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDERS
DEPRESSION
GENERAL RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES (FAMILY, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS)
LGBTQIA+
PERSONAL GROWTH AND SELF-ESTEEM
ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE
LIFE TRANSITIONS
MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIPS
PARENTING
GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH
MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH
GRIEF AND LOSS
RACE AND ETHNICITY
SEX AND INTIMACY
CHILDREN & YOUTH
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

Finances

$$

Training

  • MSc. Psychotherapy and Counselling (Edith Cowan)
  • B.A. Soc. Sci. (NUS)
  • Diploma in Counselling Psychology
  • Certified Professional Supervisor (ACA)
  • Certificate in Transformative Coaching
  • Certificate in Marriage, Family and Parenting Education
  • Certificate in Prepare Enrich Couple Relationship Facilitation
  • Certificate in Peak Assessment Practice
  • Family Therapy Master Class by Dr. Karl Tomm (KTPH)
  • The Homosexuality Context in Counselling workshop by Dr. Janelle Hallman (FLS)
  • “Pain & Pleasure” training in Addiction by NAMs (IMH)
  • Psycho-Emotional States & Consequential Disordered Behaviours by NAMs (IMH)

What kinds of treatment or therapy do you provide?

  • Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
  • Interpersonal Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Family Therapy
  • Couple Therapy
  • Faith-Based Counselling
  • Gender Therapy
  • Premarital Couple Counselling
  • Clinical Supervision
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Family Crisis

What language can you conduct the session in?

English, Chinese, and Cantonese

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

No different from all my other clients. It is to be able to walk with my clients through their life challenges.

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

None.

What was your path to becoming a therapist?

It was an initial interest and desire to acquire a people helping skill that eventually became a passion and profession.

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

The younger generation are more open to seeking help early in their individual or relational challenges. It is a healthy development.

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

A posture of a life long learner through supervusion, skills training workshops, and self learning through reading. My clients are also my best teachers.

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

We all encounter challenges in life. When that happens, we all can do with a little help or a listening ear from a family member, friend or a professional coach / Counsellor. It is wisdom, not a sign of weakness, when we reach out to others to gain clarity and understanding of our issues that caused us to feel stuck. It is when we have clarity that we are able to muster up the needed resolve and necessary resources to overcome our own challenges.

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

I provide counselling and run support groups for sexual minority population.

What should someone know about working with you?

A trusted, experienced and seasoned partner to walk with through life's many challenges.

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

I adopt a Client Affirmative approach and believe clients have the necessary agencies and autonomy to make choices that are in line with their own values and belief system.

Are you a queer affirmative practitioner?

No