Selena Ong
Clinical Team Lead / Senior Clinical Psychologist
BPsych, BA (Hons) Psych, MAppPsych (Clinical)
PsyBA Approved Supervisor
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay
Days of Practice: Monday - Thursday
*currently not available for new referrals
Even before I embarked on the university journey to earn the piece of paper endorsing my clinical psychology skillset, my 12-year-old brain had been pondering the complexity of life: What stopped my teacher from fully hearing what I was saying? Why did my brother react so differently to the same rule at home?
And here I am, after 6 years of formal studies, plus years of volunteering, unpaid placements, and supervision. Every morning, I head to work feeling pumped and passionate to listen to various stories of how people experience their lives, and how our brains and bodies attempt to survive no matter what challenges life presents. In moments of deep struggle, the physical and emotional pain is absolutely real, and I feel all that my patients feel as I sit with them through their toughest times. Yet, after 10 years in this field, I remain passionate about my work, because we always get through to the other side when we have just one other person standing by us.
My main approach to therapy is building safe attachment. When a child has a secure bond with their primary caregiver, they feel pride in their own achievements, can soothe themselves when they make mistakes, and are not afraid of future challenges because they trust they have someone as their safety net when they fall. Whether I'm working with individuals, couples, kids, or families, I delve into attachment styles to help folks through tough times. I also blend different therapies like Psychodynamic Therapy, Schema Therapy, CBT, and mindfulness to create a plan that fits each person's needs. For people who have experienced trauma and need to get those memories "unstuck," I use EMDR and Imagery Rescripting.
With experience in hospitals and communities, I've tackled all kinds of mental health issues, from childhood trauma to mood and anxiety disorders and everything in between. As a therapist, I've helped neurodiverse patients adjust to late diagnoses of ADHD or ASD, and I've undergone extra training to assess autism in young people and adults. My view of neurodivergence is working towards unmasking, rather than attempting to change natural behaviours to fit into a neurotypical mould.
When I'm not working, you can find me hanging out with my husband and two little boys at the playground or trying out a new restaurant. And when I get a moment to myself (which isn't often with a toddler around), I'm mindfully cleaning my house or binging Korean dramas on Netflix. And when life gets too hectic, I head out for a long walk while tuning into a Sophie Kinsella book on Audible, or punching and kicking imaginary enemies in a Body Combat session