Pearlyn Yap, Practicum Counsellor
Pronouns: she / her
Hi! I’m Pearlyn. I am a Counsellor in-training and a Practitioner in Equine-Assisted Intervention (EAI).
My passion is in empowering my clients to find competence and value, and to support them in healing from distress, fear and pain.
I have over 5 years of dedicated EAI experience supporting children, adolescents and youth in enhancing social-emotional competencies, and am familiar journeying alongside persons with neurodiverse conditions (i.e. ASD, ADHD, intellectual disabilities) and who identify as LGBTQI+. I have special interests in ending the stigma associated with men seeking mental health support, and in working with parents/caregivers to enhance well-being.
Sessions with me are collaborative in nature – I take a humanistic, solution-focused and trauma-informed approach that may include mindfulness practices, and strive to create a safe space for my clients to talk about who they really are and to feel accepted and respected.
Age groups
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Areas of focus
Anxiety
Depression
Child development
Self-esteem
Stress and burnout
More About Me
I have a special needs cat called Tobi; he is paralysed waist-down due to a trauma. Despite his disability, he scoots around faster than I could ever run, and enjoys playing at any time of the day!
Professional Credentials
Credentials and Additional Training
- Master of Counselling, Flinders University, Australia (Graduating in 2024)
- Graduate Certificate in Counselling, Swinburne University of Technology (Australia)
- Bachelor of Arts, National University of Singapore
- Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist Individual (CCTSI), Trauma Institute International
- Certified Equine-Assisted Intervention Practitioner, Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A, USA)
- Diploma in Equine Psychology, Centre of Excellence
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Professional Training, by Dr Joel Yang (Social Service Institute)
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), by Adj. A/Prof Angie Chew (Brahm Centre)
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), by Adj. A/Prof Angie Chew (Brahm Centre)
- Engaging Reluctant Adolescents Using Motivational Interviewing/Approaches, Social Service Institute
- Understanding Children with Special Needs, Social Service Institute
- APCATS Modular Training in Geriatric Psychiatry: Understanding & Screening for Depression and Dementia, Institute of Mental Health
- Understanding Dementia – A Counselling Support Perspective, Executive Counselling and Training Academy
- Certified Advanced Psychological First Aid, and Training of Trainers, Singapore Red Cross
Professional Experience
- Certified Practitioner in Equine-Assisted Intervention (EAI) with over 5 years of hands-on experience designing and conducting programmes and workshops for vulnerable children, adolescents, youth, caregivers, adults and seniors (i.e. behavioural challenges, special needs and/or mental health conditions).
- Group work facilitating the development of life skills, such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, stress management, relationship-building, and self-care.
- Volunteer befriender to provide vulnerable seniors with social and emotional support.