Counselling in Laos

How to Access Counselling in Laos

Benefit from counselling options in Laos through one of Asias leading private practices. Our culturally diverse team of English speaking therapists are highly experienced and ready to support you.

Other languages several languages include Thai, Mandarin, Malay, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindu, Punjabi and Urdu. We are currently advertising for a suitable Laos speaking therapist but in the interim period two of our Thai therapists Jip and Doi understand Laos language so have worked with several of our Laos speaking clients.

The reason for us offering our services in Laos is due to the shortage of professionally counselling available locally. 

Types of Clients Seeking Counselling / Therapy in Laos

We work with a diverse range of clients – adults, children, teens, couples and families and have extensive knowledge and experience in many specialist areas including anxiety, depression, alcohol & substance abuse. gambling, Cross-cultural Relationship Therapy, LGBTQ+ Trauma and PTSD. 

Before making any commitment, we offer a Free 15 minute Zoom video consultation to discuss things further, answer any questions and can arrange a mutually convenient time for the first full counselling session.

To benefit from this, please complete our online client enquiry form. This will give a little extra information to help us select whom we believe the most suitable therapist would be and then we can email you a list of available appointment times for the free initial call.

We offer a range of counselling and therapy services including:

Individual Counselling

Available for adults and children of all ages and many nationalities. Seeking counselling for the first time can sometimes be daunting and overwhelming. Before making any commitment to counselling or therapy we offer a free initial consultation before making any financial commitment.

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy, or couples counselling, helps to improve romantic relationships, resolve interpersonal problems, build or rebuild trust, and help partners commit to each other and their relationship.

Much of our couples therapy in Laos involves cross-cultural relationships. Each of these presents unique challenges including communication issues (verbal and non-verbal), family issues, and misunderstanding each other’s religious or cultural background. Other problems relating to trust, jealousy, intimacy, infidelity, alcohol abuse, social media and gambling addiction are also common. Our skilled relationship counsellors have extensive experience working with cross-cultural couples and are very familiar with all these issues and the tools and skills to address them.

Teen Counselling

Our Thai and English-speaking counsellors are trained to help teens manage the challenges and successfully navigate their way through this tumultuous time. We believe by doing this at an early stage, we can provide our young clients with a significant advantage for their future. For more information, please visit our Teen Counseling page.

PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a psychological disorder that may develop after an individual has been exposed to or been threatened with a traumatic event. If you are struggling with PTSD, you might find yourself frequently having vivid flashbacks and nightmares, avoiding certain situations which may act as triggers and struggling with constant feelings of anger, sadness and anxiety. For more information please visit our specific PTSD page.

Trauma Therapy

Our Trauma therapy is a specialised form of therapy where our trauma therapists actively assist clients in dealing with the emotional responses caused by traumatic events, they may have experienced or been exposed to.

Research suggests that over 50% of individuals will experience at least one traumatic event through the course of their lives. Trauma can include a variety of situations, these could range from bullying, harassment, sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, chronic abuse and many more.

Trauma therapy differs from traditional counselling and we offer this via indivudal sessions or via a specific 12 week coping with trauma programme created by one of our trauma specialists Sustriana Saragih (SUS) 

LGBTQ+

Most people who identify as LGBTQ+ seek therapy for the same reasons as straight people, this can include anxiety, depression, relationship problems or general difficulty in adjusting to situations. Their sexual preference may be of primary importance or sometimes, of no importance to their issues and reasons for seeking help.

Individual, couples, teen and family counselling. We have both male and female therapists with extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Problem drinking can occur at different levels of severity, from mild to life-threatening. Although alcoholism and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most severe stage, there are also less severe drinking problems that can be just as dangerous and harmful to the individual and those around them. It is important to learn more about the different levels of severity before reaching out for help.

We can assist in both alcohol counselling as well as 30 day programmes on both an outpatient or inpatient basis.

Stress, Anxiety and Depression (SAD)

These can either present themselves in isolation or all together and can be helped with counselling that is both supportive and therapeutic. More information for each issue can be found on the relevant pages for anxiety and depression.

Counselling Approaches and Therapy Modalities

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is a goal-oriented therapy that focuses on changing negative thoughts and behaviors. It emphasises identifying and challenging irrational beliefs, developing coping strategies, and implementing behavioural changes to improve overall well-being.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT – Mindfulness): DBT combines cognitive and behavioural strategies with mindfulness techniques. It aims to help individuals regulate emotions, manage distress, and develop interpersonal skills. Mindfulness exercises are integrated to increase awareness of the present moment and enhance emotional regulation.

Satir Therapy: Satir therapy focuses on improving communication and self-esteem within relationships. It emphasises the exploration of family dynamics, enhancing self-awareness, and fostering healthy expressions of emotions to create more authentic connections and promote personal growth.

Gestalt Therapy: Gestalt therapy emphasises the integration of mind, body, and emotions in the present moment. It encourages individuals to explore unresolved issues, enhance self-awareness, and take responsibility for their actions. Techniques such as role-playing, empty-chair work, and guided imagery are used to facilitate self-discovery and promote personal growth.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): EFT is an approach that focuses on emotional bonding and attachment patterns in relationships. It aims to help couples identify and change negative interaction patterns and foster more secure attachments. The therapist helps individuals express and validate emotions, leading to increased understanding and intimacy within the relationship.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment while committing to behaviors aligned with their values. It emphasises mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment to help individuals overcome psychological challenges and live a meaningful life.

Person-Centered Therapy: Person-centered therapy focuses on providing a supportive and empathetic environment for clients to explore and understand themselves. The therapist offers unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence to facilitate self-discovery, personal growth, and self-acceptance.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): ERP is a technique commonly used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It involves gradually exposing individuals to feared situations or thoughts while refraining from engaging in the associated compulsive behaviours, leading to decreased anxiety over time.

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT): REBT is a directive and action-oriented therapy that aims to identify and challenge irrational beliefs and replace them with rational, constructive thoughts. It focuses on understanding the connection between beliefs, emotions, and behaviors to promote positive change and emotional well-being.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Psychodynamic therapy explores the unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts that may contribute to psychological distress. It emphasises the therapeutic relationship and uses techniques such as free association, dream analysis, and interpretation to gain insight into underlying issues and promote personal growth.

Humanistic Therapy: Humanistic therapy emphasizes the individual’s capacity for self-awareness, personal growth, and self-actualization. It focuses on creating a supportive and non-judgmental therapeutic environment to facilitate self-exploration, enhance self-esteem, and promote personal development.

Motivational Interviewing: Motivational interviewing is a collaborative approach used to elicit and strengthen an individual’s intrinsic motivation for positive change. It involves exploring ambivalence, identifying personal values, and helping individuals resolve their concerns and build commitment towards achieving their goals.

How to Arrange a Free Initial Consultation

Costs for individual and couples, teen and family counselling can be found on our fees and appointments page. (Unlike many other companies we DO NOT charge extra for couples or family therapy)

Before you make any financial commitment we offer a free 15 minute Zoom video consultation to discuss things further, answer any questions you may have and can arrange a mutually convenient time for first full counselling session.

Please complete our online enquiry form and we will reply within 24 working hours.

Support Groups for expats living in Laos

In addition to online therapy, we highly recommend all of our Laos clients living Laos research available resources within their local area. These can include one or more of the following:

Internations: https://www.internations.org/laos-expats

Facebook groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpatLaos/