Finding support · Singapore
How to find counselling in Singapore without citizen or PR subsidies
If you live here on a work or dependant’s pass, find out which fee actually applies before planning your first session.
You can look for counselling in Singapore even if you’re neither a citizen nor a permanent resident. Start with any employer benefit you can use, a community service whose eligibility fits, or an individual counselling fee you can pay yourself. Singapore’s public specialist outpatient subsidies require citizenship or PR and an eligible referral. Community organisations set separate rules for their own services.
See the Ministry of Health’s specialist outpatient subsidy rules.
Compare the fee you would actually pay
We chose individual counselling options in Singapore with a published fee that helps answer this question and a route to enquire. Counsilio publishes this guide and is one of the options. The table is alphabetical. Each fee applies to the arrangement described in that row.
| Provider | Who and how | Fee and next step |
|---|---|---|
| AWARE Women’s Care Centre | Adult women living in Singapore. One hour at the centre or on Zoom, by appointment. | S$40–S$150 per session on the published income scale for new enquiries. For example, monthly income below S$3,000 is listed at S$40 a session. AWARE counselling and fee bands · Women’s Helpline for appointments |
| Counsilio | Individual online counselling in Singapore. We talk with you about your needs and help find a suitable counsellor. Sessions last 50–60 minutes. | Long-term sessions start at S$80. We discuss the proposed fee and timing with you before you decide. Counselling and matching for people living in Singapore |
| O’Joy | Beacon offers individual counselling for people aged 18–49. O’Joy has a separate service for people aged 50 and up. Beacon programme · Services for older people | The fee page lists S$250 per counselling session, including the first, for people without citizenship or PR. It asks for at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel. Call for intake and to discuss the appropriate service. O’Joy fees, cancellation and intake |
Suppose you can set aside S$160 this month. Two S$80 appointments would fit that budget if that’s the fee you’re offered. A S$150 appointment leaves S$10 for the rest of the month. Put the confirmed fee and the number of sessions you can afford in the same calculation. Our counselling fees guide explains how to plan for follow-up costs.
Check the support you can access through work
If your employer offers an employee assistance programme, use its booking instructions to see which service you can use, how many sessions it covers and who can use it. If you’re on a dependant’s pass, look for the policy’s definition of an eligible dependant. A private provider may be a separate arrangement. See our guide to employer support and private counselling.
HealthServe’s mental health team supports migrant workers and offers a 24-hour helpline, with individual counselling among its services. If you’re a migrant worker and unsure what help is available for your situation, the helpline is a starting point. The team can explain the next step.
If you need a medical assessment or medication
Start with a GP to discuss what’s happening and whether you need a referral. Public specialist clinics can assess and treat mental health conditions. If you’re neither a citizen nor a PR, ask the hospital which fee applies to your appointment. IMH says its published outpatient table is for Singapore citizens, with separate rates for resident foreigners and non-residents. See IMH appointments and referrals and its charges page.
If you need help now
National mindline offers 24-hour support in Singapore at 1771. For immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 995 or go to an emergency department. See the official mindline support page.
If individual online counselling fits
You dont have to do this alone
If you live in Singapore, you can tell us briefly what you’d like help with, what you can spend and when you can attend. We’ll talk with you about what would fit. Counsilio takes responsibility for quality and guided matching, and explains the proposed arrangement. The WhatsApp step opens an enquiry. We arrange the appointment separately.
Explore CounsilioCommon questions
Does a polyclinic referral change my subsidy eligibility?
It can help a doctor direct you to the right care. The public specialist subsidy rules also require citizenship or PR. Ask the clinic what your visit will cost under your actual status.
What should I have ready before I enquire?
One sentence about what’s been difficult, your budget and a time you can usually make are enough to start an enquiry. If you’ll be travelling when the session happens, tell the provider where you’ll be so they can check the arrangement. Our first-session guide describes what a counselling appointment can involve.