Psychologists can help with the following and more for both children and adults:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) / Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and other learning difficulties
• Intelligence & cognitive assessment
• Anxiety & depression
• Down Syndrome
• Phobia, stress, trauma
• Global developmental delay
• Marriage & relationships
• Intellectual disabilities
• Executive functioning
• Social & communication skills
• Personality & self-esteem
• Giftedness & school readiness
• Social communication disorders
• Adaptive functioning skills

Individuals who would benefit from seeing a psychologist include:

• Individuals with neurodevelopment, cognitive, behavioural, social and emotional challenges
• Individuals with long-term mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety
• Individuals who want intelligence and psycho-educational testing
• Individuals coping with major transitions or life changes such as grief, job loss, trauma or abuse
• Couples with relationship difficulties or distress
• Children who refuse to go to school
• Individuals with workplace difficulties and sustaining jobs

Psychiatrists have a degree in medicine like a medical doctor, as well as specialised training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders and behavioural problems. Psychiatrists do not typically provide in depth psychotherapy and may more often choose to prescribe medication to treat conditions.

Clinical Psychologists have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and graduate training in Clinical Psychology. They specialise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders and behavioural issues. Clinical Psychologists help people understand the nature of their difficulties, develop insight and skills to minimise and manage such difficulties, and coordinate with other health service providers, including physicians.

Counsellors have a range of backgrounds, like a master’s or doctoral level degree from a counselling programme. Some refer to themselves as a ‘therapist’ or ‘counsellor’, but may or may not have training in the assessment or treatment of mental health issues. A counsellor’s basic role is to provide vocational guidance and advice. A counsellor’s focus is typically on the normal client population - people without serious or persistent mental illnesses - although there is no set rule and the lines can be blurred.

Educational or School Psychologists work within the school system and are trained in teaching and education. They work with parents, children, teachers and other allied professionals to provide assessment and support to improve the social, emotional and educational outcome of students.

Clinical Psychologists work in a clinical setting and are trained in mental health. They work with people of all ages addressing mental health issues, and a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems. Clinical Psychologists specialise in both assessments and the formulating of treatment plans for individuals with learning differences and/or mental disorders. The psychology team at Oasis Place are all trained to support clients in the school and education system.

A psychological consultation begins with an initial appointment with the psychologist. The aim is to gather as much information about the individual including medical, family and school background. During the consultation, the psychologist will provide professional advice and will assist in planning for further assessments and/or intervention according to the client’s needs. A psychological consultation typically takes 60 to 90 minutes.

A clinical assessment is a comprehensive investigation to gather information needed to determine the client’s diagnosis and to conceptualise symptoms and difficulties faced by the client. Information may also include classroom observations, analyses of work, questionnaires, curriculum-based assessments and standardised assessment tools. A full assessment may take 4 to 6 hours that can be divided in two or more sessions. The findings of the assessment will be compiled into a detailed report and shared with the parent/caregiver or the client within two weeks. Some of the standardised assessments that the psychology team administers include cognitive tests (WISC, WPPSI, WAIS, Leiter), achievement/learning test (WIAT), autism diagnosis (ADOS2, 3Di, CARS), ADHD diagnosis (Conners) and adaptive functioning (Vineland).

Psychotherapy is a range of therapies provided by a psychologist, counsellor or psychiatrist. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, explores an individual’s feelings, thoughts and behaviours that may be distressing, and works towards changing these to more positive experiences. Psychotherapy works for individuals with mental health conditions and also by people who just want to understand themselves better.

After a diagnosis has been made, our psychologists will propose intervention and treatment plans based on the individual’s needs and goals. Interventions are evidence-based and are regularly evaluated to ensure they are effective and relevant to the client’s current situation. In a classroom setting, we work with Learning Support teachers to achieve goals in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). We also use the Individualised Family Service Plan (IFSP) - a written treatment plan that records a detailed account of the individual’s current level of functioning, as well as specific needs and goals. The IFSP adopts a family-based approach and is a collaborative effort between parents/caregivers and practitioners.

Our psychologists are available to train and collaborate with teachers and educators in the areas of behaviour, child development, special education, classroom management, curriculum design, and learning support. Some examples of our training topics include:

• Knowing the Signs (Learning Difference)
• The ABC’s of Behaviour
• Executive Functioning
• Managing the Social-Emotional needs of Children/Adolescents
• Differentiation in the Classroom
• Stress Management
• Neurodiversity at the Workplace
• Sexuality and Safety

As every individual and case is different, therapy sessions will vary depending on the individual’s needs. We offer sessions at school, onsite at our centre, or online through OPConnect. Sessions are typically one hour and include a combination of direct therapy with the child and indirect intervention with parents, caregivers or educators who work with the child.

A place of love and nurturing, Oasis Place is the heart of change in Malaysia and beyond. We host regular events, workshops and programmes for children, parents, educators and health professionals to help the learning different community grow and thrive. Ready to jump on board? Check out our current and past events here.

Ready to seek help but prefer to do it from home, school or work? OPConnect is your gateway to all the assessments and therapies you need online. All you need is a computer with a camera, a microphone and internet connection. We use a range of videoconferencing applications including WhatsApp, Facetime, Skype and Zoom. You can connect safely and conveniently to all our psychologists and therapists - any time or place that suits you. Sounds good? Reach out to us today. We are here to help.

Oasis Place is Malaysia’s largest transdisciplinary intervention centre specialising in emotional and clinical psychology therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, music therapy and nutritional advice. Our team of experienced psychologists and therapists can assess and treat a range of learning and mental health issues including Autism, ADHD, Asperger's, Dyslexia, Down Syndrome, global developmental delay, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma, stress and more. It’s never too late to seek help. To find out more about how Oasis Place can help you or a loved one, please reach out to us. We are here to help.