Meet Dr. Magdalen Cheng, Founder of Encompassing Therapy.
Having experienced the profound effects of existential therapy, I am committed to imparting its benefits to help others find their inner strength and live life purposefully.
My care philosophy is not to diagnose, label, or categorise but rather to work with the individual in front of me in the here and now.
Hi, I'm Mag: a UKCP-accredited counselling psychologist and founder of Singapore’s first ever existential practice.
My clinical credentials certainly play a significant role in defining my professional identity. But to foster a deeper connection and authenticity, I invite you to discover my other “Selves”, the various facets of who I am.
Beyond being an existential therapist, I am equally an Asian, Chinese, female, heterosexual, daughter, wife, mother, career woman, and academic. Each of these roles has contributed to my growth and shaped my understanding of the world.
While these personal experiences grant me insights and perspectives that allow me to resonate with your lived experiences, my training in existential work enhances my ability to assist you in reflecting on your own journey and facilitate your search for meaning in life.
I am here to support you as a fellow traveller on life’s journey, not just a therapist-client relationship.
Education
- Doctorate in Existential Psychology, New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, London, U.K.
- Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
- Bachelor of Psychology, Monash University, Australia
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Workshops, Programmes, and Speaking Experience
In my career, I have developed psycho-educational workshops and programmes with existential themes to improve the overall mental health and professional development of social workers, counsellors, and employees. Additionally, I am a seasoned public speaker at regional and international conferences on existential topics and a researcher of authenticity in Singaporean millennials.
Organizations I have worked with include:
- National Council of Social Service
- ABLE
- Big Love Child Protection Specialist Centre
- Asian Women’s Welfare Association
- Singtel
- Family Life Society
- Society for Existential Analysis Conference 2020
- Global Conversations Workshop 2022
- 2021 International Conference on COVID-19 and the Givens of Existence (organised by the International Institute of Existential-Humanistic Psychology)
Accreditations
- Full Clinical Member, U.K. Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP Reg)
- Level 4 Certified Master Practitioner, Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors, Singapore (MAPACS Reg)
- Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society, U.K. (CPsychol)
- Member, Society for Existential Analysis, U.K.
- Member, Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association, U.K. (MUPCA Accred.)
I support you as a fellow traveller on life’s journey, not just a therapist-client relationship.
Professional Experience
Before founding Encompassing Therapy, I was a behaviour therapist, counsellor, and volunteer for numerous organizations in Singapore, including:
- Autism Partnership Singapore
- HealthServe
- Assisi Hospice
- Singapore Anglican Community Service
- Singapore Council of Women’s Organisation
- Clarity Singapore
- Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre