Academic Qualification
- Master of Arts in Counselling and Guidance, NTU
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Hons), NTU
Professional Affiliation
- Clinical Member, Singapore Association for Counselling
- Full Member, EMDR Singapore
Professional Trainings
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), EMDR Institute Basic Training
- Certified Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) Expert within HCSA Dayspring Therapeutic Group Home, by New York University
Chrystella has over 17 years of experience working with youth. Starting from a personal mentorship role, Chrystella has also led small groups, outreach events and overseas mission trips. She has also taken on supervisory roles and been part of executive committees leading youth.
She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Hons) and Master of Arts in Counselling and Guidance from Nanyang Technological University. Her dissertation on Positive Psychology titled “Effects of the Best Possible Self Activity on Subjective Well-Being and Depressive Symptoms” was published in the Asia-Pacific Education Researcher.
Chrystella is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is a certified Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) expert at New York University. Chrystella has worked with clients facing various challenges. These include acute and complex traumatic experiences, self-harm, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and adjustment issues.
Chrystella has worked in a Voluntary Children’s Home and Therapeutic Group Home for more than 7 years, where she provided therapeutic services for children and young persons who experienced trauma and abuse as well as boys who are under probation for criminal offenses.
In addition, she has worked as a counsellor in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) at the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Counselling Centre for 2.5 years. This provided her the opportunity to be involved in overseas critical incidents, hotline management of suicidal callers and training of commanders, on top of providing individual counselling for SAF staff.
Aside from seeing clients directly for therapy, Chrystella has also been heavily involved in providing training and is certified in the Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA).
Driven by her passion to help individuals reach their full potential, Chrystella embodies the quote by Benjamin Disraeli: “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own”.
