“I would go home and just cry,” recalled clinical psychologist Dr Charmaine Lim. “It was so heartbreaking to hear about the abuse and trauma that my clients at Boys’ Town had faced, despite being so young.” Those early experiences strengthened her resolve to make mental healthcare more accessible, especially to vulnerable communities. That is precisely what she has done with Talking Therapy, the mental health clinic she started with the aim of democratising mental health care. Dr Lim specialises in care for individuals, offering various forms of therapy. She also prides herself on being an LGBTQ-friendly counsellor.

“I got into psychology to help people, so these services are a way of making an impact,” she said, explaining her decision to start Talking Therapy. But there are days when the 35-year-old needs to trade the psychologist’s chair for the client’s one. “Most days, I can get by with a cuddle from my dog Pumpkin or spending time with my family and friends, but there are days when I do benefit from the perspective of a psychologist,” she said. “Helping myself helps me help others better too.”

“A common misconception is that you have to have poor mental health to see a psychologist,” she continued. But that’s not always the case: for some, the process of psychotherapy — simply talking to a psychologist — can be a useful and routine way of understanding and managing your emotions. It is a misconception she tries to correct with the patients she sees. “Some of my clients are guilty about coming for therapy, because they feel that there are others who are worse off who would benefit from a session,” Dr Lim shared. “But I remind them that you can drown in one inch of water.” 2