COUNSELLOR
Amoy YM Ong
"I am intercultural competent and fluent in both English and Cantonese."
amoy@thecompanions.com.hk
PHONE
+852 6740-3898
PRICE RANGE
HK$1200-HK$1500/hour
amoy@thecompanions.com.hk
PHONE
+852 6740-3898
PRICE RANGE
HK$1200-HK$1500/hour
ABOUT AMOY YM ONG
Amoy has worked in the human and education services sectors for the past 40+ years, both in Canada and in Hong Kong. Fluent in both English and Cantonese, and adopting a global perspective, Amoy is fully intercultural competent. She examines individual’s life experiences holistically, and views clinical situations from multiple perspectives, and within the larger context of the community and society. Bringing to her clinical work, both practice wisdom and wisdom derived from diverse and challenging personal life experiences, Amoy holds the deep belief of the importance of hope, and in the human capacity to heal and transcend from the most difficult life circumstances. Trauma work, mental health, immigration and re-settlement, diversity, and inter-cultural relationships are Amoy’s primary foci areas of counselling.
With experiences in multi-migrations, my last stop prior to Hong Kong was Canada where I lived for 30+ years and where I worked in the mental health, health care institutions, university and community settings as a clinician, lecturer, trainer and researcher. I taught at Canada’s York University (Identity and Diversity; Anti-racism and Anti-oppression; Women) for a number of years before I moved to Hong Kong in 2008 and taught at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Social Work; Counselling and Psychology; Aging), and the University of Hong Kong (supervising Master in Counselling students’ practicum).
I am intercultural competent and fluent in both English and Cantonese.
Therapeutic Approach:
In my work with individuals and couples who seek help to deal with relationship trauma and other forms of distress, with symptoms of depression and anxiety, I primarily adopt body-oriented psychotherapeutic approaches that include Somatic Experiencing (SE), Bodynamic, Integral Somatic Psychology (ISP) and Dynamic Attachment Re-patterning experience (DARe), all of which I integrate with Psychodynamic Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Spiritual Psychotherapy. I find that a combination of these approaches facilitate efficacious healing at a deeper level compared to the more conventional talk therapy. In addition, eclectically, I also incorporate Positive Psychological Intervention, Existential Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, Feminist Therapy, and Past Life Regression.
Many of the presented problems can often be traced to challenges experienced in the individuals’ family-of-origins. Unhealed wounds (abuses, dysfunctional and poor parenting, mental and physical illnesses) are known to re-produce themselves a least 5 generations back through thoughts, feelings and behavioural patterns created and re-produced within the traumatized families and communities. This process can be interrupted only when healing starts to take place, even by one family member whose healing journey will have systemic impact inter-generationally. I have found this to be the case cross-culturally as well.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Trauma (early developmental; shock-PTSD; intergenerational; sexual trauma; emotional; relationship; discrimination and injustice)
- Mental health
- Somatic Intervention for chronic pain and syndromes
- Immigration and re-settlement
- Intercultural relationship
- Identity and diversity (LGBTQI; racial/ethnic minorities; women)
- Discrimination and exclusion (racism; sexism; hetero-sexism/ homophobia; ageism; faithism; intersection of these issues, and as they are related to mental health, trauma and attachment)
- Loss and grief
- Aging
- Sexual health
Credentials and Licenses
- Master in Social Work (Canada)
- PhD Studies in Community Health (Canada)
- Certified Counsellor (HK Professional Counselling Association – HKPCA)
- Approved Counselling Supervisor (HKPCA)
- Registered Social Worker (Social Workers Registration Board, Hong Kong)
- Registered Social Worker (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, Ontario, Canada)
- Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner Certification on Trauma Healing
- Integral Somatic Psychology ® (ISP) Practitioner
- Bodynamic Somatic Psychotherapy (Foundation; Shock/PTSD; Developmental Trauma; Shame; Parenting; Archetype)
- Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) 1-4 (with Patricia Meadows)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Externship, Core Skills 1-4
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Associate Fellow (HKPCA)