Being a good psychologist requires a professional calling. Clinical psychologist in Singapore, DR SANVEEN KANG is living proof. Here she tells us about how her lifelong passion for hearing people’s stories and improving their mental health led her to open her clinic Psych Connect.
Tell us about yourself and your journey to becoming a clinical psychologist.
I realised my interest in understanding human behaviour at the age of 14 when I read Sidney Sheldon’s book Tell Me Your Dreams. As cliched as it sounds, I was drawn to learning more about why people are the way they are, and curious to hear their stories. I was fascinated to read about people’s lives, their struggles and above all their triumphs. People asked me, “Isn’t it depressing to read about people’s hardships?” My response was a resounding no – it’s intriguing to learn about the human spirit, how people endure tough times, and what they need to get through.
Initially, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to become. I knew I wanted to work with people and not in a desk job. I knew it had to do with listening to their stories and that it had to be around mental health. At that time, I thought I’d decide between being a psychologist and psychiatrist. So I went off to university and double majored in psychology and pre-med. I remember my college advisor telling me that “most pre-med students do a science as a second major as opposed to psychology as it looks better, but psychology is different I guess.”
During the four years, I did everything I could to get into medical school. I completed the pre-med curriculum and volunteered at the university medical clinic in the NICU and ambulatory services. On my last stint I had a choice between the morgue and the psych unit. Needless to say, you can imagine what I chose. And boy, did this experience change my life. I saw first-hand the workings of a psychiatrist and a psychologist.
One day, I observed a group therapy session and saw the psychologist sitting, listening and holding space for all of the stories she heard. That was the moment I decided that my path was to become a psychologist. So I went on to do my postgraduate training in clinical psychology. And here I am today: still intrigued to hear the stories, still humbled to be allowed to hold space, and still curious about the lives of people, and why people are the way they are.
What was your vision for your clinical psychologist practice Psych Connect?
To create a space for all – a space that welcomes people of every walk of life, every age and every culture, and invites them to tell their story. But sometimes stories aren’t just told using words, or we don’t have the words to tell them. They are felt in our bodies, and are experienced metaphorically. Language sometimes distracts and pulls aways from the emotional aspect of our stories and, sometimes they are experienced by others in our lives. My dream for my practice was also to normalise mental health to that of a human experience.
As part of my initial meeting (and I’m sure that of many other clinical psychologists in Singapore too), I ask about family histories and mental health needs of the family. Often I’m met with shame, discomfort or denial – downcast eyes, shifting bodies and occasionally a quick, “no” or “why do you need to know?” All of this tells me there’s an unease and stigma attached to mental health. This led to the birth of Psych Connect.
What types of challenges and concerns do you assist your clients in addressing?
We work across the lifespan. To date, my youngest client has been 15 months old, and the oldest 90 years.
One of my passions is psychological testing. I love listening to stories and understanding the processes that led individuals to where they are today. These assessments range from diagnostic tools to assess for autism, learning disorders, ADHD, personality disorder, motor disorder, language and social communication disorder, trauma (PTSD, complex PTSD, and developmental trauma), and also medicolegal assessments.
Through this, I developed a program that is unique to Psych Connect called Mental Health Check-ups, which is akin to getting your physical check-up that informs about your mental health status. Then you can decide if you want to tell your story and understand yourself better through the journey of therapy.
This brings me to my second passion – therapy. We work with all presentations that impact one’s lives. As a clinical psychologist, this includes common conditions such as mood disorders (different types of anxiety and depression), trauma, self-injury and suicidal ideation, disordered eating patterns, attachment issues, grief and loss, interpersonal issues and, disruptive behavioural patterns.
Over time, I found myself working with clients with physical conditions that were impacted by their mental health such as pain, IBS, other gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, menopause and pelvic venous insufficiency. I have also supported clients with peanut allergy immunotherapy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, EhlersDanlos syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Anyone who knows me knows my interest and commitment to the mind-body connection.
Psych Connect has a tight-knit team with different areas of speciality. Tell us about the services you offer.
We offer a range of services that support wellbeing. This includes psychological testing and intervention done by psychologists. We also have counsellors, psychotherapists, art psychotherapists, educational therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists.
We work holistically supporting every aspect of presentation, focusing on supporting the underlying reasoning that contributes to one’s needs. Over time, we help our clients generalise these skills to other parts of their lives. This stops what I call the “revolving door therapy approach” where clients find themselves in and out of therapeutic relationships for a large part of their lives, with the same issues left unresolved.
What do you love about your job as a clinical psychologist in Singapore?
The brave people I meet and their stories. The ability to observe both the vulnerability and strength of the human spirit. The passion and commitment I observe working with the people I do, daily. I see miracles happen every day – what a privilege!
Psych Connect is at 10 Winstedt Road, #03-13
6493 0244 | IG: @letstalkdrsanveen | psychconnect.sg
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This article first appeared in the September 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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