• Multicultural Counselling &

    Client-Centered Therapy

    Helping people from diverse backgrounds simplify the many perspectives and knowledge they have into a source of strength and possibilities.

    If you're facing numerous questions and answers and find it challenging to weave them into your ideal self, I am here to guide you through those obstacles and honor your distinctive cultural identities.

  • Multicultural Counsellor

    Hello, I’m Justin Tanyavutti, a U.S.-Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC, California) practicing in Singapore and working with clients internationally.

    I offer individual therapy for culturally diverse clients—from university-age through adulthood—who are seeking to understand the intricate layers of their personal and cultural identities. I’m especially drawn to individuals from multicultural, multiracial, and multiethnic backgrounds, as well as those in cross-cultural relationships.

    Together, we explore the challenges that can come with navigating different cultural expectations, communication styles, and generational perspectives—whether in family life or at work. I also support new parents in mixed-race families as they think through the values and identities they hope to nurture in their children.

    You can learn more through my Psychology Today profile.

  • Areas of Focus

    Intercultural Relationships

    Explore cultural values and how those influence your exprience and impact others. Overcome communication obstacles with loved ones, including partners and family members.

    Cultural Identity

    Integrate various cultural backgrounds to build a cohesive identity. Identify the qualities you wish to embrace and those you prefer to leave behind on your journey of self-discovery.

    Family Backgrounds

    Understand generational differences and traumas and their impact to your relationships and behaviours.

    Life Transitions

    Appreciate the adjustment difficulties associated with relocation, career shifts, and new caregiver roles and how these impact your sense of identity.

    Anger Management

    Recognize the triggers that lead to frustration or overwhelming feelings, and learn alternative ways to communicate your needs and manage emotions effectively.

    Stress & Anxiety

    Understand the circumstances that cloud your judgment and examine internal dialogues and external influences. Explore methods to unwind while embracing challenges that foster growth.

    Concerns for Men

    Feel empowered to express your worries openly and without judgment. Delve into masculinity across cultures, recognizing how you've been socialized versus what you hope to be as a man for yourself and your family.

  • My Approach

    My professional training in therapy is humanistic and client-centered focused, which means it's important for me to completely and wholly understand your unique experiences and present concerns as the building blocks in addressing your challenges. I strive to understand the nuances and details that express what is salient and impactful in your daily life and provide support, perspective, and acceptance to foster your innate capacity for clarity and growth.

    The framework of my practice considers identity through culture, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality because these directly impact our relationships and behavior patterns, coping mechanisms, and emotional reactions. Life experiences are complex and our decision-making process is impacted by the various cultures, regions, and meanings we attribute to this diversity. Choosing to express oneself wholly requires great personal reflection—there often is not just one way to do it.


    I take a multicultural counseling perspective that honors the individual’s right to self-determination within the context of their greater societal and familial cultural values and norms. Through this framework, clients express a greater capacity to develop strategies and coping methods to address the difficulties they face in daily life.

    Challenges can arise as a result of overwhelming information and circumstances. Laying out what is presently happening can help clear space to move forward. I encourage you to express what is important and relevant to you, and when unsure or stuck, I can offer assistance.

    "Powerful is our need to be known, really known by ourselves and others, even if only for a moment."

    - Carl Rogers

  • About Me

    Background

    As a first-generation Asian-American influenced by my Cantonese and Thai heritage, my varied identities have significantly shaped my worldview both personally and professionally. Frequent visits to Hong Kong and Thailand during my upbringing allowed me to immerse myself in the vibrant cultural legacies of my parents, fostering a unique understanding of both Eastern and Western viewpoints.

    Throughout my graduate studies at The George Washington University, I contemplated my own experiences alongside my roles in public education, community counseling, and private practice. Working with clients from diverse cultural, socio-economic, and racial backgrounds, who sought to express their complex identities, resonated deeply with my personal journey. Hearing clients express being a different person depending on who they were with or feeling exhausted constantly explaining themselves, solidified my dedication to creating a practice that meets these essential needs.

    Now, as a parent to two young children of mixed ethnicities and cultures, the process of helping them forge identities that reflect a spectrum of existence beyond what I once understood has made navigating life's challenges an ongoing journey. This experience has added to my core philosophy, which is to view individuals as whole and intricate people, capable of significant transformation when embraced fully.

    Education & Experience

    M.A., Education and Human Development (Counseling), The George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Barbara Temaner Brodley Post-Graduate Fellow/Therapist (Client-Centered Therapy Intensive), in Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Licensure

    • California, USA Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 6651) - Active
    • District of Columbia, USA Licensed Professional Counselor (PRC 14855) - Inactive
    • Illinois, USA Licensed Professional Counselor - Inactive
    • USA National Certified Counselor (NCC) - Inactive

    Awards

    Clemmont E. Vontress Cross Cultural Award, The George Washington University, 2014

  • Client-Centered Therapy

    Client-centered Therapy (CCT), often referred to as the Person-Centered Approach, prioritizes a holistic understanding of individuals through anthropological, epistemological, and ethical lenses. Developed in the mid-20th century by Dr. Carl Rogers, CCT represents a transformative approach that trusts in an individual’s inherent capacity for growth and self-realization. Unlike traditional behavioral and psychoanalytic methods that position the therapist as the authority and the client as a passive recipient, CCT empowers clients to determine their own explorative journey. The therapist assumes a role of facilitator, providing empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and genuine support.

    The influence of Client-Centered Therapy extends to education, interpersonal dynamics, and the resolution of intercultural conflicts. Its principles have been leveraged to enhance student empowerment in educational settings through workshops and to foster cross-cultural engagement in American universities with diverse international student communities. Dr. Rogers further contributed to racial diversity awareness initiatives during South Africa's Apartheid and played a role in addressing the Catholic-Protestant tensions in Northern Ireland.

    What Clients Experience:

    Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) recognizes and values the individual phenomenological experience of clients, creating an environment that is accepting and validating. CCT is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, encouraging therapists to immerse themselves in the client’s lived experience and to understand the significance of those experiences and their present implications. As such, CCT is attentive to the client’s preferred direction, pace, and content, while remaining open to inquiries and providing insights as requested.

    Clients typically find CCT to facilitate a liberating and open exchange between individuals. It embraces various forms of communication, including storytelling, analogies, thoughts, and physical expressions. This approach stands in contrast to conventional therapy models that predominantly focus on explicit feelings or thoughts. CCT can be utilized at the client’s direction for gathering insights, personal exploration, or dialogue. There is no singular method to conduct Client-Centered Therapy.

    My Practice:
    Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) guides my ethical framework and guides the care I bring to understanding each client’s concerns. I approach clients as whole individuals who already hold insight into their needs when supported with the right conditions. I’ve worked with adolescents through adults who have benefited from this approach, especially when other therapeutic models have overlooked or misrepresented their varied experiences.

    CCT resonates personally with me as someone whose life experiences and struggles are influenced by diverse identities and perspectives. With familial ties to Hong Kong and Thailand, along with professional experiences across various U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and the San Francisco Bay Area, I have encountered a rich tapestry of cultural values and communication styles. I have come to appreciate that while certain human experiences are universal, the methods we employ to navigate our challenges are deeply personal and culturally specific. Client-Centered Therapy adeptly honors these distinctions.

  • Individual Psychotherapy & Counselling

    Three Approaches to Engagement

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    Traditional Office

    Experience personalized therapy in a serene office setting, where clients and counsellors engage in meaningful, uninterrupted conversations that promote clarity and focus.
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    Telehealth

    Engage in therapy through online platforms, providing flexibility for clients with busy schedules— accessible from the comfort of your own space.
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    Walk & Talk

    Outdoor sessions are conducted at a mutually chosen time and place, alleviating the tension often associated with traditional face-to-face discussions.

    Fee Structure

    1. Single 55-minute session - SGD 239
    2. Five sessions* - SGD 1,100 (SGD 220/session)

    If you require sessions longer than 55-minutes, we can discuss them at a prorated rate.


    *Must be used within 3 months from date of purchase

    Complimentary 15-minute Consultation

    Finding the right therapeutic fit is crucial for successful outcomes; therefore, I provide a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your requirements and address any inquiries you may have.

    Support for Social Service Workers and Educators

    I am committed to aiding social service professionals and teachers to ensure they can carry out their essential roles with a clear and focused mind. A sliding scale for individual sessions is available based on need. Please reach out for further information.

  • Contact Me

    111 North Bridge Road, Peninsula Plaza, #06-23, Singapore 179098
    Monday-Friday: By Appointment Only
    8775 8790 (WhatsApp)
    8775 8790 (WhatsApp)
    jt@culturalcounselor.com

    "When someone really hears you without passing judgment on you, without trying to take responsibility for you, without trying to mold you, it feels damn good...

    When I have been listened to and when I have been heard, I am able to re-perceive my world in a new way and to go on. It is astonishing how elements which seem insoluble become soluble when someone listens. How confusions which seem irremediable turn into relatively clear flowing streams when one is heard."

    - Carl Rogers

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