COUNSELLING WEEK
WELCOME TO THE OPEN HOUSE OF
THE SCHOOL OF COUNSELLING
(ENGLISH SECTION)
4–6 August 2025
The School of Counselling (English Section) at Singapore Bible College invites you to attend our lectures online for free from 4–6 August, Singapore time. The Faculty and some friends of the School of Counselling will be giving lectures and sharing their insights on current issues, as well as counselling concepts, approaches and skills. A freewill offering will be collected during the event.
No certificate of attendance will be issued for the Counselling Week webinars.
04 Aug (Monday)
8:15 am – 9:30 am
Integration of Psychology & Theology
This course aims to explore the integration of theology and psychology across various dimensions, including worldview, theoretical concepts, and clinical practice. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the nature and models of integration, examining key topics such as sanctification, mental health, psychopathology and treatment, sin, faith values, and religious experience. The course encourages students to reflect on their own integrative perspectives. Additionally, it introduces the process of incorporating religion and spirituality into the entire process of counselling, equipping students with a holistic care model and preparing them to provide ethical psychological treatment in diverse religious and spiritual contexts.
SPEAKER
Dr. Kwong-Liem Karl Kwan
Dr. Kwong-Liem Karl Kwan is a counselling psychologist. His vocation encompasses that of a professor, counsellor, clinical supervisor, researcher, and community mental health consultant. He also serves in the teaching and caring ministries in churches.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Counselling Process and Skills
Asking good questions is an important foundational skill in counselling. Appropriate use of questions by the counsellor enhances assessment in obtaining necessary information, and accurate understanding of the counsellee. It also promotes self-awareness, insight, and often helps the counsellee to gain new perspectives about self, and the issue. The objective of this lecture informs students on the what, why, and how in using questions.
SPEAKER
Ms. Esther Tan
Esther transitioned from nursing to counselling over 30 years ago. Holding two master’s degrees, she has lectured at the School of Counselling (English) for 14 years. She firmly believes that effective counselling begins with a strong foundation in active listening. Guided by this conviction, she equips students with deep, empathetic listening skills, shaping them into Christlike, compassionate ‘wounded healers’, ready to support those who struggle and suffer in silence.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Integrating Biblical Worldview and Care for the Sexual Minorities: Navigating the Personal Hurdles
The session looks at understanding how a traditional biblical worldview can be integrated to providing care for sexual minorities (defined as individuals whose sexual, gender identity, orientation or practices differ from the majority in a given society) by looking at core concepts in Systematic Theology and how it dovetails with a care framework like the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual framework alongside Case studies to facilitate discussions on the discomfort among churches/Christians providing care for these individuals.
SPEAKER
Dr. Ng Liang Wei
Dr Ng Liang Wei is the Executive Director at Indigo & Co, an organisation focusing on Sexuality and Gender and concurrently serves as Director of Sexual Wholeness Services with Lakeside Family Services. He was previously pastoring Young Adults and Youths at Mount Carmel BP Church. He is married and blessed with two children.
Dr Ng has served as an in-country Consultant supporting unplanned pregnancies, community health development among under-resourced communities and also served in private healthcare settings in the region.?
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
05 Aug (Tuesday)
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy
This course provides an overview of key theories and practical applications within the realms of counselling and psychotherapy. The content encompasses the historical context of diverse major theories, fundamental theoretical principles, viewpoints on psychological wellness and pathology, objectives of transformation, intervention methodologies, and introduced techniques. Additionally, the course aims to help students comprehend potential factors that impact the adoption and formation of individual theoretical frameworks throughout their professional growth journey. This includes exploring the interplay between the Christian faith and the values that underpin counselling and psychotherapy theories.
SPEAKER
Mr. Laurence Ho
Laurence has over 25 years of experience in counselling, including work with families, couples, children, and youths on issues such as marital conflict, parenting, abuse, mental health, and more. He is currently a Counselling Psychologist in private practice and also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer, Clinical Supervisor, and Trainer. He teaches in counselling programmes at Singapore Bible College and SUSS. Laurence is a Registered Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor, and Psychologist, and is certified in Solution Focused Therapy by the Canadian Council of Professional Certification.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ministering to Ministers: Church Care & Self Care
Burnout is an occupational phenomenon, and could become a vocational hazard in church ministry. Ministers can be burned out on and from many fronts. A caring church can support a minister’s self care through ministering to his or her physical health, relational boundary, financial planning, and family role conflicts.
SPEAKER
Dr. Kwong-Liem Karl Kwan
Dr. Kwong-Liem Karl Kwan is a counselling psychologist. His vocation encompasses that of a professor, counsellor, clinical supervisor, researcher, and community mental health consultant. He also serves in the teaching and caring ministries in churches.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
06 Aug (Wednesday)
8:15 am – 9:30 am
Introduction to Christian Spirituality
Christian spirituality is discovering and understanding one's relationship with God in Jesus Christ through a lived Christian experience. It is learning what the Scriptures teach and how the church, throughout history has understood and practiced spiritual disciplines and experienced the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in individuals’ lives. Christian spirituality is about life and living in this fallen world as we await the return of our Lord and Savior.
SPEAKER
Pastor Kenneth Goh
Pastor Kenneth (or just “Kenneth” as he likes to be called) holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (USA), where he also received training in counselling modules. He has been a pastor for nearly 20 years and joined Adam Road Presbyterian Church in 2013. He has a passion for counseling and mental health, having journeyed with individuals and couples with mental health and marital issues. In addition to his preaching and teaching responsibilities, Pastor Kenneth leads various ministries within the church, including the Discipleship Group (small group) ministry, Marketplace ministry, and Mental Wellness ministry.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Developmental Psychology: Middle Childhood
Developmental psychology is a science of human development across the lifespan. It explores physical, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social development and changes. In this course, basic concepts, characteristics, and principles across lifespan development and the interaction among various factors such as heredity, society, culture, and education will be discussed. This lecture will focus on the development in children and the theories and research about the cognitive, physical, and socioemotional factors pertaining to middle childhood (approx. 7 – 11 years old), which include key milestones such as schooling and expanding social horizons.
SPEAKER
Ms. Joyce Tan
Joyce is a clinical psychologist with a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from Regent University (USA, APA-accredited), and provides therapy to individuals and couples. Her previous roles in MOE as a primary school educator, special needs officer, and head of department provided experience with diverse students and families, inspiring her to broaden her focus and seek training to holistically address complex systems that influence an individual’s mental health across their lifespan.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Benefits and challenges of adopting a Systemic Lens in Counselling
We don’t just see the world, we interpret it through conceptual lenses. These lenses shape how we understand clients and their challenges. While individual counselling often zooms in like a magnifying glass, the systemic lens offers a wide-angle view of relational dynamics and contextual factors. This webinar invites you to explore the benefits of using a systemic lens in practice, the issues it brings into sharper focus, and the challenges that may come with broadening our perspective.
SPEAKER
Mr. Benny Bong
Mr Benny Bong is a Family and Marital therapist with about 40 years of experience. Besides the Singapore Bible College where he teaches counselling courses, he also teaches in institutions like The National University of Singapore and the Singapore University of Social Science and training bodies like the Social Science Institute and The Family Resource and Training Centre. An area of professional interest is in the area of ending domestic violence. About 30 years ago, he helped form the Society Against Family Violence. Amongst its achievements is the completion of the Violence Against Women’s Survey: The Singapore Report in 2014. For his contribution to the community, Benny has been awarded the Friend of MCYS in 2007 and the AWARE Hero award by SCWO 2011.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: 21 JUL 2025
Registration
