Who should I go to?

Ask a Therapist Seeking Help
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Hi, I am going to be turning 18 soon. And when I do I plan to try to find a mental health professional and have a session with them to see if i have any diagnosis. ( I swear I’m overthinking it, but the thought that something is wrong with me keeps coming up and i sometime spiral down some rabbit holes because of that, and for some other reasons. This is for some sort of peace of mind and if not then well)

I’ve done some research independently about the different institutions in sg and I’m considering booking a session with a licensed therapist.

However I’m not entirely sure If that is the right path to go on. I have looked into booking a appointment with a polyclinic and seeing if i need to get referred to IMH but i have looked at some of the things that people were saying and the things people were saying about IMH werent the best…

And I’m not sure if there are any other options for me other then trying to get an appointment with IMH or a therapist.

And even if I did want to book with a therapist, I’m not exactly sure where to start looking. I have found websites with multiple FTF therapists, however most of them are specialized in certain categories while I’m just trying to book a generic consultation.

Pricing is also something that I am also trying to figure out, I’m willing to pay to a certain extent (holiday jobs) but im not sure if they charge per session or per hour. Eg, starting from $130. Is it 130 per session?? Is it per hour?? Will the price go up or down??

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Can try to look for the community mental health teams here, they’re free!

mindline.sg | Free Mental Health Resources & Mindfulness Tools in Singapore

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Dear @shi

Thank you for reaching out—it takes courage for taking this step. Turning 18 and choosing to take care of your mental health shows a lot of self-awareness and maturity. What you’re feeling (the overthinking, the spirals, the constant wondering if something’s “wrong”) is something many people experience, especially when they’ve been navigating it alone for a while. So please know: you’re not alone, and what you’re doing right now—seeking clarity and support—is a really brave and grounded decision.

Let me walk you through some of your questions:

1. Is seeing a therapist the right path?

Yes—starting with a licensed therapist can be a great step, especially if you’re looking for a safe space to explore your thoughts and possibly understand if there’s anything diagnosable. Therapists can also refer you to psychiatrists if needed (for formal diagnosis or medication), but they can absolutely support you in gaining peace of mind, emotional clarity, and healthier coping strategies.

If you’re not in crisis, and you just want to talk to someone for self-understanding, a therapist is a great place to start.

2. Polyclinic > IMH route?

You’re right that going through a polyclinic is the most affordable way to get a referral to a public psychiatrist (like at IMH or a restructured hospital’s psych department). If budget is tight and you’re okay waiting a bit, this route can work.

You can also ask the polyclinic doctor to refer you to a restructured hospital (like SGH, NUH, KTPH) instead of IMH. That’s a common request, and it’s okay to make it.

3. Private Therapy Options

You mentioned looking at therapist directories. Most private therapists in Singapore charge per session, and yes, most sessions are 50–60 minutes long. If it says “starting from $130,” that usually means $130 per session. Some therapists charge more for couples or family therapy, but for individual therapy, it’s usually a fixed rate per session unless stated otherwise.

Here’s how to approach it:

  • Ask directly when you reach out:
    “Hi, I’m interested in booking an individual session. May I ask what the fee is per session, and how long each session is?”
    Therapists are used to these questions and happy to clarify.

4. Where to start looking?

Here are some directories and options to help you get started:

CHAT
The Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) provides confidential mental health checks for young persons between 16 and 30 years old, who are currently living in Singapore. They operate CHAT hub, a mental health centre located at *SCAPE and maintains an online presence through their website and webchat.
6493 6500
6493 6501
https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/

Fei Yue Community Services- EC2
LIVE CHAT eC2 is an online facility offering free counselling to youths.

TOUCH Community Services – TOUCHline
Emotional support and practical advice are rendered through this youth helpline
1800 377 2252

5. If I don’t want IMH or a private therapist, are there other options?

Yes! Some other support pathways include:

  • School or Institution Counsellors (if you’re still in JC/Poly/ITE/Uni)

You are doing your best and you are enough

It’s okay to not know everything. It’s okay to feel unsure. What matters most is that you’re showing up for yourself—and that already means you’re not “broken.” You’re simply trying to understand yourself better, and that is a good start. :yellow_heart:

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I work at a private psych clinic and can offer some information as well :slight_smile: I hope this info can be helpful for you to make an informed decision!

Diagnosis vs Therapy
It’s important to differentiate between diagnosis and therapy. Diagnosis requires a psychological assessment and no intervention or support is given. It is also more costly and therapy is often recommended after that. But some might find that clear label to give closure.

Therapy is the process of working with a trained professional to support in behaviours and emotions of concerns. Though no formal diagnosis is made, as you journey with your therapist you still learn to understand yourself and your therapist may be able to discuss their formulation with you. That is, through your work together, what are some aspects of your concerns that emerge in sessions. The form of answers may be different, but you should be able to get support and understand and make sense of the behaviours you have been struggling with.

Where do I go?
I’ll share a bit about the different options available! Public is as you mentioned via polyclinic. They may refer to IMH, a hospital, or even their internal polyclinic-based psych services. Waiting times are longer but may be more affordable.

Subsidised/Sponsored avenues are also available at non-profits like clarity singapore, and care corner.

Some private organisations also offer therapy with people undergoing placements as part of their training to become professional therapists. This means they are less experienced and unable to give formal diagnosis, but are more affordable. Universities like NUS, NTU, and JCU offer such services.

And finally private route means booking an appointment to see someone totally in the private sector. The biggest difference is being able to choose a therapist, and often to have a shorter waiting time. But it is more costly.

I encourage thinking about your budget, how long you can wait before having a session, how important it is for you to choose the therapist personally, and your goals when deciding who to see :slight_smile: These are also aspects you can share with a private clinic if you’re considering that so they can recommend someone suitable.

What do specialisation mean?
Most therapists, especially with more experience, will list some areas they specialise in. Some have also will have a specific therapy type they pick up and use. If you’re considering private this might be something you can think about more, as it is not applicable to public (since you most of the time you can’t choose who you see)

What might be helpful is considering what behaviours and emotions you’re struggling with and seeing if their specialisation align. You don’t need a diagnosis for this :slight_smile: For example if you experience feeling anxious as one of the key overwhelming emotion, someone who specialises in anxiety is still likely able to help.

Ultimately it’s also possible to get recommendations from the clinic themselves!

In a more personal note, I would recommend most of all to choose a clinic that has experienced therapists :slight_smile: In Singapore, they should have a Masters in clinical psychology/counselling psychology/counselling.

Hope this helps :slight_smile:

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Than you so much for answering. I’m still not sure on what I plan to do on whether i should get a diagnosis or visit a therapist for sessions first. And if so, is there any place you recommend?

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Thank you for answering. Honestly I’m not really sure where I should go. Do you have any suggestions?-

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Hello there!

There are many youth resources out there! :slight_smile:
I can share a link for you to explore further. https://supportgowhere.life.gov.sg/categories/children-youth?activeTab=services

Also, Singapore Children’s Society provides free mental health check-in sessions for all youths aged 13 - 19 years old. Feel free to DM me should you need more information!

Singapore Children’s Society:
Flourishing Minds Mental Health Services & Programmes for children & youth
Youth centres in the community - Jurong youth centre, Roundbox (Braddell), VOX (Bedok), and Fort (Radin Mas)

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Hello @shi
Understand that you have an appointment at polyclinic, I think it’s a good place to start. If you are not comfortable with IMH, you can request for a general hospital. Personally I do follow up at a general hospital and so far, it’s been helpful (personally I think it’s better than IMH - I used to follow up at imh). However the waiting times can be as long as a few months so it’s important to factor/ think about it as well.

Alternatively, some of the users above have shared some great community services that provides free mental health screenings or counselling. I hear that you are looking for something generic, actually all counsellors/ therapist do general mental health, it’s just that usually they would market what they specialize in but most or actually all counsellors/ therapist are able to provide general mental health support.

I hope this helps you give you a bit of direction, wishing you the best and do update us when you can! Take care! :slight_smile:

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