TITLE:
Therapist Support, Professional Growth, and the Therapeutic Relationship in Mandated Counselling in Singapore: A Qualitative Study
AUTHORS:
Denise Edna Jeevan Ponnampalam
KEYWORDS:
Mandated Counselling, Therapeutic Relationship, Therapist Support, Professional Growth, Qualitative Research, Singapore
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This qualitative study explores therapists’ experiences of providing mandated counselling within the Singapore court-referral system, with a focus on therapist support, professional growth, and the centrality of the therapeutic relationship. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with 22 therapists, five overarching themes emerged: (i) therapists’ perceptions of mandated clients, (ii) managing dual-role conflicts, (iii) sustaining therapeutic relationships during breaches and resistance, (iv) integrative psychotherapeutic interventions, and (v) professional support and growth. Verbatim accounts highlighted the role of empathy, unconditional positive regard, humour, and collaborative goal-setting in transforming resistance into therapeutic opportunity. Findings also reveal how supervision, reflective practice, and continuous training are crucial for therapists’ resilience and mental growth. This paper argues that mandated counselling, while complex, can serve as a profoundly positive and transformative process—for both clients and therapists—when relationships are nurtured and supports are embedded.