CATHIE WU
Director
Counseling Psychologist
EDUCATION
M. A. Counselling Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) (University of St. Thomas, MN, USA)
B. A. Psychology (University of Calgary, AB, Canada)
PROFESSIONAL STATEMENT
The concept of mental health being an essential requisite of our general wellness has gained great momentum in the last few decades. In pursuit of a holistic concept of well-being we invariably need to address our psychological, emotional, social, and behavioural difficulties and needs. Despite our best efforts, we may come to face obstacles and conditions in life requiring a competent and empathic guide who is professionally trained to tackle your problems collaboratively with you. I have been a practising Psychologist since 2007 through a multitude of settings including some renowned national and international hospitals and universities as well as outpatient mental health clinics.
I have worked with a truly diverse mix of clientele in USA and Malaysia including US army veterans, international expatriates, and patients with psychiatric conditions. I regularly see clients with mood disorders (e.g. Depression, Bipolar I & II); anxiety disorders (e.g. Panic, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Phobias); PTSD and complex traumas, life adjustment; grief and bereavement; chemical and non-chemical addictions; gender identity disorders; schizophrenia and delusional disorders; as well as personality disorders. I also conduct select psychological screenings for mood and anxiety disorders, and for dementia and progressive neurocognitive decline. My client cohorts range in age from young adults to the elderly.
I am trained in and practice a variety of psychotherapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Client-centred therapies (e.g. Humanistic and Rogerian Therapy); Behaviour Modification for Tourette’s Syndrome; Brief (e.g. Solution-focused) Therapy; EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing); and Integrative Psychotherapy. Experience has taught me that the tailoring of therapy modalities to clients as individuals is an important factor in the overall process of getting better. Therefore I will always remain cognizant and respectful of individual needs. I assess the progress of each client on a continuous basis throughout the therapy process and will remain flexible in my approach in order to maximize your therapeutic outcome and overall recovery.
I am a Canadian expat from western Canada. I have lived in various cities around the world including Calgary, Minneapolis-St.Paul, Shanghai, and am currently residing and working in Kuala Lumpur for more than 7 years. I regularly teach, train, and supervise students and collaborate with other clinicians in psychological research and publication. I've contributed regularly to national newspapers, magazines, radio, and corporate panels. In my personal time, I'm a student of competitive figure skating and strive to embody the integrative health concept from the intermix of healthy biology and psychology.
