Serena In

My journey into mental health began with my curious observation of extraordinary human behaviours and dynamics from my schooling days. Throughout my higher education years, I continued to actively serve for a decade in a local youth ministry in multiple settings. All these hands-on experiences opened my eyes to the needs and plights of individuals and families in our local community.

To date, I have worked with a diverse population of clients, including expatriates, as well as, underprivileged refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, to help them effectively cope with life transitions, financial difficulties and adjustment issues that come with living in a foreign country. I have also worked with children, teenagers and working adults with behavioural, emotional difficulties, such as dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, academic/work stress, pregnancy, postpartum challenges, parenting and relationship difficulties. Specifically, my passion lies in working with couples and families. I believe that the family is the most fundamental unit in society which has so much potential to thrive amidst complicated life situations, given the right support.

I adopt an integrative approach to therapy, which incorporates a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, Brief Therapy. I also integrate religion/spirituality into therapy for those who specifically request for it. I believe in empowering my clients to learn skills for themselves in order to be more psychologically adaptive. Where necessary, I advocate for collaboration with other professionals in a multidisciplinary approach to ensure clients get the best mental healthcare possible.

My research interests are in the areas of family resilience and adolescent mental health among Malaysian families. Ultimately, my vision is for Malaysians to adopt more preventive approaches with regards to mental well-being and it starts with using evidence-based information.

Apart from work, I am a busy mother of three children, from whom I learn the most about life. My marriage and family continue to humble and inspire me to become a person who “walks the talk” in life and work.