Inner Voice
Counselling Studio · Kloris Lau
If your question isn't answered here, you're welcome to reach out through the contact page in whichever way suits you.
Everyone's needs and circumstances are different, and so is the time it takes. There's no absolute answer.
As a general guide, I suggest at least ten sessions, so you have enough time to digest and sit with what we explore in counselling, see what's changing, and then decide together whether to continue.
That said, this isn't a promise that ten sessions will achieve any particular result. Everyone's situation is unique and therapy outcomes vary from person to person, so I won't make grand claims that a certain number of sessions will solve your problems.
Whether it actually takes ten sessions to finish, or when a case that has gone beyond ten sessions comes to a close, is something we'll gradually assess and discuss along the way.
You can also decide to stop the service at any time. I promise to fully respect your wishes, and I will never push you into anything you don't want to do. Please note, however, that whatever the reason for ending a case, sessions already conducted are non-refundable.
No. None of my services carry a minimum number of sessions. After each session you're free to decide whether to continue, and I'll respect your wishes and your pace.
This depends on each person's situation, and we'll discuss the spacing individually.
Generally I suggest leaving at least a week between sessions, because you also need time to sit with what we've talked about. Everyone has their own pace, and meeting more often isn't necessarily better.
On the other hand, it's best not to leave more than a month between sessions. Life keeps happening, and if we meet too infrequently, much of each session goes into catching up on your latest situation, leaving little room to go deeper into what you want to work through.
Overall, at the start of counselling I usually suggest meeting every one to two weeks, then gradually spacing out to every two or three weeks as your needs allow, while we start discussing an end date together.
In-person clients:
Online counselling:
Details of all non-cash payment methods will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed.
Online counselling takes place on Zoom. Each client has their own private meeting link, and no one else knows your link or password, so no one can enter the room mid-session. Your privacy is protected.
During online counselling, both the client and I keep our cameras on. This lets me know you're in a safe place and state, and it also lets us see each other's expressions, which helps build a more genuine and trusting counselling relationship.
Online counselling has to take each client's needs into account: whether there's a risk of self-harm, whether your home environment lets you talk about your struggles safely, and whether you have enough privacy to do counselling at home. So not everyone's situation or circumstances suit online sessions.
Generally, unless you're a Hongkonger who has moved overseas and can't find a suitable therapist, or one who works in Cantonese, where you live, I'd suggest trying in-person sessions first.
Once you've completed the counselling application form, I'll contact you by email within 5 working days of receiving your information, explain the service details, and arrange your first session. Sessions take place at the counselling room in Mong Kok.
That unease is completely understandable. Most people feel a little lost their first time, and that's very normal.
You don't need to figure out what to say beforehand. Even a simple "I don't really know why I'm here" is fine.
No one is "not qualified enough" for counselling, and you don't need to wait until things are "serious enough" to deserve being heard.
One important angle in counselling psychology is the non-pathological perspective: even if you don't have any mental illness, there may still be experiences that leave you confused and worth untangling with someone. Some struggles simply come with different stages of life, like career uncertainty, relationship issues, or losing someone you love. Feeling sad doesn't necessarily mean being ill, but those feelings still deserve to be taken seriously.
Counselling also has a preventive side: emotional distress tends to build up slowly, and finding a space to sort through your feelings early can stop things from piling up and affecting your sleep, your body, your work, or the people around you. Just as the body needs regular care, the mind also needs room to be sorted out and to settle.
So instead of weighing how "serious" it is, try asking yourself: is there something on your mind you'd like someone to really listen to? If there is, you're welcome to come and talk.
Strictly confidential. Nothing you say, no records, and no personal information will be shared with any third party without your consent.
The only exceptions are situations set out in professional codes of conduct (for example, an imminent risk to life, or where the law requires disclosure), and I'll explain these clearly in your first session.
Yes. Every testimonial published on this site was shared with that client's consent before publishing. To protect privacy, clients are referred to as A / B / C and so on.
No question is too small, too strange, or too late. If you're still wondering about something, you can find me on the contact page.