COUNSELLOR
Amoy YM Ong
"Trauma work, mental health, immigration and re-settlement and, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as inter-cultural relationships are my primary foci areas of counselling"
amoy@thecompanions.com.hk
PHONE/WHATSAPP/SIGNAL
+852 6740-3898
PRICE RANGE
HK$1200-HK$1500/hour
amoy@thecompanions.com.hk
PHONE/WHATSAPP/SIGNAL
+852 6740-3898
PRICE RANGE
HK$1200-HK$1500/hour
ABOUT AMOY YM ONG
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 and Policy) 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). Currently in private practice as a psychotherapist and workshop facilitator, I also provide clinical supervision to psychotherapists/ counsellors and counselling trainees.
I am biracial, and intercultural competent and fluent in both English and Cantonese.
Therapeutic Approach:
In my work with individuals and couples who seek help to deal with emotional and relationship traumas, and other forms of distress, with symptoms of depression and anxiety, I primarily adopt body-based psychotherapeutic approaches that include Somatic Experiencing (SE), Bodynamic Somatic Developmental Psychology, 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 facilitates efficacious holistic healing (mind, body, emotion and spirit) at a deeper level compared to the more conventional talk therapy. In addition, eclectically I also incorporate Mindfulness, Existential Psychotherapy, 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, and food insecurity) 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. Recent studies even find evidence that trauma can also be passed between generations epigenetically. This process of intergenerational transmission of trauma 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 (LGBTQ+; racial/ethnic minorities; women; Impostor Syndrome)
- 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 (SEP) Certification on Trauma Healing
- Integral Somatic Psychology ® (ISP) Practitioner
- Bodynamic Somatic Psychotherapy (Foundation; Shock/PTSD; Developmental Trauma; Shame; Emotions; Parenting; Woman; Acute Stress; Reorienting Birth; Archetypes)
- Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) Practitioner (pending), with Patricia Meadow
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), (Externship; Advanced Core Skills 1-4)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Associate Fellow (HKPCA)