PROFILE
Yuka Aiga Tay, Counselling Psychologist / Marriage and Family Therapist
Yuka is an officially Licensed Psychologist in Japan, Licensed Psychotherapist / Marriage and Family Therapist in California, US, and Registered Counsellor (SAC) and Registered Practitioner (APACS). Full member of Singapore Psychological Society (SPS), Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) and Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors in Singapore (APACS).
適応障害
Adjustment Disorder
Yuka specialises in assisting primarily clients who are facing adjustment disorders due to sudden changes in environment or lifestyle. Adjustment disorders encompass feelings of stress and sadness triggered by events such as divorce, life changes, health concerns in oneself or a loved one, relocating, or financial issues. Individuals might find themselves responding excessively or unusually to minor life stressors. Symptoms of anxiety and low mood related to adjustment disorders arise within three months of the stressor and typically diminish within six months after the event has passed.
不安障害
Anxiety Disorder
Feeling anxious occasionally is a common human experience. However, clinical anxiety ,which requires attention, manifests as severe symptoms disrupting with daily life. Some individuals might experience hesitations about leaving their home or entering specific spaces, which might seem irrational to others.
Panic disorder
- The main symptom includes frequent panic attacks which are abrupt feelings of intense fear causing increased heartbeat, breathing difficulties and sweating for around 10 minutes
- Frequently appear in teens and young adults under the age of 25
- Often associated with major life changes such as marriage, college, giving birth
Social anxiety disorder
- Difficulties talking to new people or attending social gatherings
- Affects the patient’s ability to go to school, work or develop close relationships with anybody including their family and friends
- Symptoms include worrying intensely about social events days in advance, needing alcohol to overcome social events, feeling judged by everybody
- May be caused by experiences with bullying, family conflict, sexual abuse
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Feeling the need to complete simple tasks repeatedly with abnormal effort
- Needing to check things repeatedly for reassurance
- Feeling anxiety at unsymmetrical things
- Fear of physical contact
- Constant need to wash hands
- Spending an hour on repetitive thoughts, phrases or actions
- Mostly occurs before the age of 25
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Occurs after a being in or witnessing a traumatic experience
- Traumatic events often include natural disasters, deaths, sexual abuse or assault
- Symptoms include vivid flashbacks or memory loss on the particular event
- Inability to express personal emotions
- Bursts of anger exaggerated response to trivial things
- Negative thoughts towards yourself
- Insomnia
- Associated with panic attacks
うつ病
Depression
There's a distinction between the occasional low moods everyone faces and clinical depression that need attention. Clinical depression is recognized as a mood challenge that can lead to a sudden disinterest in activities, pervasive feelings of sadness, and, in extreme cases, a diminished drive to engage in daily tasks.
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Causes Changes in weight
- Insomnia
- Constant feelings of fatigue, guilt or worthlessness
- Lack of concentration
- Repetitive thoughts of death and suicide
- Bipolar Disorder
- Affects the patient’s sense of reality
- insomnia, lethargy
- Unexplained aches
- Loss of self-esteem
- Irritability and anxiety
- Sudden disorganization and indecisiveness
- Postpartum Depression
- Occurs in women who have recently given birth, causing hormonal shifts
- Constant sadness, confusion
- Hallucinations
- Atypical Depression
- Experiences signs of depression occasionally but still feel emotions of excitement and joy at a positive event
- Excessive eating or weight gain
- Excessive sleep
- Fatigue, weakness
- Sensitivity, overreactive responses
マインドフルネス認知療法
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a type of psychotherapy that combines practices of mindfulness and cognitive therapy to address various forms of psychological distress. Mindfulness, roots in Buddhist practices, involves breathing exercises and mindful meditation. By incorporating this into cognitive therapy-which helps clients understand the relationship between their thoughts and feelings-it enables them to accept their negative emotions rather than evading them. Through this acceptance, clients can develop healthier strategies to cope with negative thought patterns. Regular meditation practices enhance their ability to manage emotions, especially when feeling underwhelmed.
The programme is normally used to manage clients with stress, depression, anxiety or any repetitive thoughts or emotions and lasts up to 8 weeks. Most of the practice is done outside of class as the clients are recommended to self-direct the concepts that the therapist suggests to them and incorporate the mindfulness activities into their everyday lifestyle.
Yuka Aiga Tay, Japanese Speaking Counsellor, Marriage and Family Therapist in Singapore
相賀ゆか / シンガポール 在住 カウンセラー・結婚家族療法士