I'm Ian Ong
I work with adults who often carry significant responsibilities in their work and personal lives, yet notice certain emotional reactions repeating despite their efforts to manage them.
Many people I meet already understand their situations clearly. Yet in moments of pressure, reactions may still unfold in ways that later feel surprising, frustrating, or difficult to explain.
In counselling, we slow these moments down and look more closely at how thoughts, emotions, and physical responses interact in difficult situations.
As these patterns become clearer, reactions that once felt confusing often begin to make more sense.
Over time, this can create space for different responses to emerge.
Situations People Often Explore in Counselling
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Some are navigating specific challenges, while others are trying to understand reactions or patterns that continue to repeat.
Situations people often explore in counselling include:
- persistent anxiety, worry, or emotional overwhelm
- reactions such as anger or frustration that feel stronger than intended
- the lasting impact of difficult or overwhelming past experiences, including trauma
- low mood or a gradual loss of motivation or emotional energy
- difficulty sleeping when the mind or body remains on high alert
- strong self-expectations and the pressure of holding everything together
- periods of transition, uncertainty, or questions about direction and meaning
Many people continue managing demanding roles in their work or personal lives while privately carrying the strain of these experiences.
Approach
My work draws on several evidence-based therapeutic approaches. These are integrated in a way that fits each person’s situation rather than applied as a fixed method.
Approaches I draw from include:
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Choice Theory / Reality Therapy (CTRT)
- mindfulness and body-based awareness practices
These approaches provide different ways of exploring how past experiences, present pressures, and internal responses interact.
Alongside understanding situations intellectually, the work often involves paying attention to how reactions unfold in the body and in the moment.
Professional Background
Ian Ong is a counsellor registered with the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).
He holds a Master of Counselling from Monash University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) with clinical specialisation.
His clinical training includes Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Choice Theory / Reality Therapy.
Ian is also a certified mindfulness teacher trained through the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA).
His work integrates psychotherapy, neuroscience-informed perspectives, and mindfulness-based practices.
Outside the Therapy Room
Outside counselling work, Ian is interested in the connections between psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice.
He values quiet spaces for reflection, good coffee, and conversations that explore how people make sense of their experiences and the choices available to them.
Therapy Location:
12 Middle Road,
#06-02C Midland House
Singapore 188970
By Appointment Only
+65 9668 3517
ampelostherapy@gmail.com
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