Psychotherapy for interpersonal trauma in childhood

Interpersonal trauma is one of the most common issues of my clients who come to seek psychological help. Many clinical manifestations, such as clinical perfectionism, attachment issues, poor self-image and self-neglect, may be related to the clients’ traumatic experiences in relationships in childhood and adolescence. A healthy mother-infant relationship will facilitate the development of secure …

What is psychotherapy? Is it just a chit-chat?

Despite seeking for psychotherapy is becoming more common in Hong Kong, there are still many people who do not understand what psychotherapy is.  Many people had asked questions such as “Why do I have to pay for chatting with a stranger?”; “Is it the same as talking to a friend about my problems?”; “Can talking …

Between helplessness and hope: a reflection on the movie “The Life of Pi”

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 drastically increased in recent few weeks. Many people may already know someone who is undergoing COVID-19 testing, compulsory quarantine or is confirmed to have been infected. Even without undergoing such, we all face lots of uncertainty that causing sense of helplessness. For instance, we may worry if we …

What happens to the brain when a person has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? (Part 2)

Last week, I talked about symptoms of post-traumatic stress occur when a person cannot release his or her sympathetic response (fight-or-flight response) at the material time of the event. In this case, the person cannot disable the alarm system of the brain and keeps responding as if there is a threat. What are the possible …

Hongkongers need more self-compassion in the face of the current social unrest

The Hong Kong College of Psychiatry presented a survey result on 3rd January revealing that about 60% of the young people in Hong Kong suffer from moderate to severe depression in the past three months.  Despite the survey did not cover the major factors contributing to the onset of depression, the college speculated that the …