Meet Pauline
As a trained counsellor and certified Focusing-oriented Therapist, I can help you to resource inside, connect the dots, and explore the root of your issues.
Imagine a life with more joy, flow, and vitality, and one where you feel more connected with yourself, others, and the planet at large.
I particularly enjoy working with adult clients who are ready for change and for depth work, and who have curiosity to bridge the conscious and unconscious. In my own journey, I have learnt that it is OK, as a human being, to fall apart sometimes. I have learnt that it is OK to be imperfect while learning something new. I have learnt that my body knows the way towards healing.
To cultivate balance and well-being, I engage in Tai Chi and meditation regularly, and take the time for personal retreats to nourish my mind, body and spirit. I enjoy parenting, nature walks, travel and cuisine, novels, movies, and music. Being in community nourishes me, whether I am participating in a forest singing camp, grief and loss ritual, full or new moon gathering, martial arts class, or dancing.
Born in Malaysia, I moved to Canada as a teenager. Later, I worked for a span of 13+ years based in Hong Kong (and a brief time in Singapore), in regional media, conferencing and events. Towards the end of my stint as Vice President, Marketing, at National Geographic Channel Asia, I was ready for some new input.
In 2005, I enrolled in a Master of Arts program in Counselling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, which changed the trajectory of my life for the next two decades to come.
After many years of tending to hundreds of clients out of my practice in BC, Canada, I am now delighted to be of service to clients, in-person and online, from my new private practice in Hong Kong.
The path towards consciousness, love, and authenticity, is indeed a humbling process. It would be my privilege to witness your path with you
“Your physical body is part of a vast system of knowing and wisdom. I’m here to help you to tap into this.”
Resume
- Certificate in Focusing-Oriented Therapy, International Focusing Institute (80 hours of courses, 50 supervision hours, 50 practice hours, over 4-5 years)
- Master of Arts, Counselling Psychology (Emphasis on Integral Counselling Psychology), California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco
- Music-Integrated Therapy (12-Week Training), Seabrook Music Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (4-Day Externship), ICEEFT
- Gottman Couples Therapy (Level 1)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Travel Industry Management major, French minor), University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu
Languages
- First language: English
- Conversational Cantonese
Counselling Work Experience
- Integral Counselling BC, Nanaimo & North Vancouver, Canada (Also provider for EAP, victim assistance program, multicultural society, first nations)
- PAES Counselling & Pre-Vocational Services, San Francisco (Addictions counselling for welfare-to-work clients; diverse populations)
- Golden Gate Integral Counselling Centre, San Francisco
Relevant Training
- Psychedelic Psychotherapy Forum
- Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) training
- Psychological First Aid (PFA): Guide for Field Workers
- The Art and Science of Somatic Meditation
- The Psychology of Action: The Role of the Body in the Treatment of Trauma and Attachment, with Pat Ogden
- The Fundamentals and More of EAP/EFAP
Volunteer Work
- Christian Action, Hong Kong – Counselling Support for Refugees
- Mid Island Tai Chi Club, Vancouver Island – Instruction Team & Executive Committee
- World Tai Chi & Qigong Day – One World. One Breath, Vancouver Island Project Lead
Relevant Cultural Information
- Formative years in Malaysia; Grade 9 - 12 in Canada; Bachelor’s and Master’s in USA
- 17+ years as counsellor in Canada; serviced 80% western populations, and 20% Asians, First Nations, new immigrants from Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe
- 13+ years of corporate career, based in Hong Kong and Singapore, with experiential understanding of regional/global work cultures, impacts of mergers and acquisitions, and work life balance.
- Well-travelled throughout Asia (largely business travel), and parts of Australia, Middle East, and Europe. Previous internships in France, Vanuatu, Hawaii.
I rate my work with Pauline a hearty five stars, because even after 18 months, I am still reaping extensive benefits from our therapeutic relationship. Focusing Oriented Therapy was a key that unlocked a new core skill: Feeling my feelings, identifying them, and letting them have a seat at the table without driving the bus. While no practitioner or methodology is a panacea, I think that Pauline and FOT have given me the tools I was sorely missing from my toolbox. If you have trouble with understanding how you feel, knowing/asserting your needs, and trouble regulating your own nervous system, this might be a helpful path for you, too.
Pauline has the ability to gently guide you to a safe space within yourself. Returning back to my centre and greeting the lost child within. Something I never thought possible. Through working with her I was able to learn to be in my body again and stop dissociating out of my trauma. It was a blessing to hold space with her. After years of trying other counsellors, I met Pauline and I was finally able to break through and meet myself, allowing me to greet the day fully present. Can’t express my gratitude enough.
Pauline is an amazing Professional, with a wealth of knowledge and insight. Pauline uses a variety of methods to guide a person through their healing journey. Each one being selected and presented in a way that made them highly effective in my experience. Her repertoire truly is impressive. I particularly enjoyed the outdoor sessions in nature, and the use of musical instruments. I feel deep gratitude for my time with Pauline, and cannot recommend her strongly enough.
Pauline is a very sensitive, empathic, and insightful counsellor. I had my first session with her, and she was able to zero in on one of my major issues related to food. I had a recurring habit of constantly feeling hungry and planning several meals in advance. My wife was often annoyed by it. During our session, this issue came up, and Pauline was able to tune in and asked if it was related to food deprivation. Immediately, it triggered childhood memories when I was hungry and feeling that there wasn’t enough to eat. As I processed out the emotions during the session, I experienced a major release of the underlying reason for my food planning obsession and was able to transform that behaviour permanently. I highly recommend Pauline.
Pauline is the best couples therapist I have seen. She is deeply present, holding empathy and discernment. She encouraged us to take on our responsibilities of the work and guided us when we were lost in anxiety and hurt. She has helped us find love through the most painful of experiences. We now are walking a path unimaginably good from where we started.
Working with Pauline Goh for couples therapy was transformative. Pauline is highly skilled in somatic work and helped me to stay present in my body when I felt overwhelmed. This is a skill I have been able to continue to develop beyond our work together. She guided my partner and I toward a beginner's mind with one another, which opened the door to real healing in our relationship. This has been priceless for us. Pauline is very skilled at creating a safe, steady space where I felt heard, seen, and supported. I'm so grateful for her warmth, professionalism and care and I highly recommend her wholeheartedly to any couple or individual seeking support.
We started seeing Pauline as a couple of 9 years with some very ingrained and difficult patterns of communication. While one of us was experienced in accessing counselling, the other felt quite hesitant to approach counselling support for the first time. Pauline helped us to work across our differing perspectives and ways of communicating. Through her thoughtful inquiry and invitation, we have come to care better for ourselves and for each other. Our communication has improved measurably, and we are better able to express personal requests, hear the other person without judgement, and work together on mutual goals. Thank you Pauline!