Quick Links
General Public
- What is APACS?
- Is APACS an legal entity?
- What is Counselling?
- What is Psychotherapy?
- What is a Counsellor?
- What is a Psychotherapist?
Mental Health Practitioners / APACS Members
- Is the membership affordable?
- Why an association for mental health?
- What are the benefits of joining APACS?
- Am I able to seek employment in the mental health / healthcare industry?
- Am I able to join APACS if I do not have a Psychology / Counselling Degree?
- I have a master’s degree in counselling with 100 hours of supervised face-to-face. Am I able to join APACS as a Practitioner?
- I have a bachelor’s degree in counselling. Am I able to join APACS as a Practitioner?
- What is APACS Life Membership?
- What is Corporate Membership?
- How do I register as a Level 4S Supervisor?
- I am a mental health practitioner registered with APACS. I have been bullied and harassed by XXX (person / organisation). Help!
Professional Indemnity Insurance
- What is the eligibility for application for the APACS Professional Indemnity Insurance?
- How long is the coverage?
General Public
What is APACS?
APACS is the acronym for Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors (Singapore).
Is APACS a legal entity?
Yes! The association was legally registered with the Singapore Registrar of Societies in February 2012. For more information on the Executive Committee, click here.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is a process that focuses on enhancing the psychological well-being of an individual. This is done by assisting and guiding the individual to resolve issues, difficulties, and / or problems in personal, social and / or psychological well-being. It can help individuals to reach their full potential and live an enriching life.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is the short form of the term ‘Psychological Therapy’. It is similar to counselling with the exception of the mental health practitioner using a specific modality that they have specialised in.
What is a Counsellor?
Counsellors are trained mental health clinicians. Most Counsellors in Singapore have a master’s degree in the field of Counselling. Counsellors are trained in the art of providing counselling to clients. Not all counselling master’s programme equip Counsellors with a specific psychotherapeutic tool or research skills. Many of them further their training in a specific psychotherapy modality after graduation.
What is a Psychotherapist?
Most mental health clinicians who are trained in a specific set of psychotherapy tools may call themselves a Psychotherapist. Some examples are ABA Therapist, Art Psychotherapist, Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, Hypnotherapist, Play Therapist, etc.
Mental Health Practitioners / APACS Members
Is the membership affordable?
Yes, please refer to the online application form here to find out more.
Why an association for mental health?
APACS is here to protect the interests of all mental health professionals in Singapore. We are an inclusive association and are here to assist mental health professionals to grow in their clinical competencies. Fresh graduates from mental health-related programmes (e.g. Psychology, Counselling) are most welcomed to join our family.
APACS advocates for the mental health professional’s community in Singapore. We work closely with many key organisations to advocate for our members. These includes but not limited to the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU), National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
What are the benefits of joining APACS?
The mental health in Singapore is currently self-regulated. Working with various industries and governmental bodies, both locally and internationally, APACS provides members with the professional recognition, skills enhancement training, and networking opportunities. For more information on membership benefits, click here.
Am I able to seek employment in the mental health / healthcare industry?
You can seek employment as a Counsellor or Psychotherapist even without joining APACS as a member. However, as an APACS member, you would be provided with networking opportunities to meet and interact with people from the counselling and psychotherapy industry to learn from one another. APACS also provides the professional recognition of your knowledge and skills in counselling and / or psychotherapy. In addition, being a member of an association puts you in a better position if you are looking for employment in the future.
Am I able to join APACS if I do not have a Psychology / Counselling Degree or Diploma?
Yes. You may join us as an Associate member if you have a degree or diploma in an unrelated field and if you would like to eventually pursue advanced education and training in psychology/counselling to become a practitioner with us. Social work, nursing and other allied health practitioners are welcome to join us.
If you are currently a student, you may join us as a student member.
I have a master’s degree in counselling with 100 hours of supervised face-to-face. Am I able to join APACS as a Practitioner?
No. You would be required to accumulate another 50 face-to-face clinical hours before registering for Level 1 Practitioner status. The criteria for Level 1 Practitioner is 150 hours of clinical hours.
I have a bachelor’s degree in counselling. Am I able to join APACS as a Practitioner?
Yes, if you have also completed 150 hours of supervised practicum hours. You may join us as a Level 1 Practitioner.
Upon successful completion of another 150 hours, you may request for Level 2 Practitioner (300 hours in total.)
What is APACS Life Membership?
Life membership covers the Ordinary membership with the one-time payment of $800. That means that a member no longer needs to the renewal fees for their Ordinary membership ($50). However, Life membership does not cover the renewal fee for the practitioner level (L1, L2, L3, L4, L4S). The practitioner level is still subjected to yearly renewal fees.
E.g. A member is an Ordinary + L1 (Life) so he/she pays $40 every year instead of $90 (non-Life)
What is Corporate Membership?
Corporate membership allows organisations to receive professional recognition similar to individual members. Signing up as a corporate member does not cover one’s individual membership or any other staff working for the organisation. Individual and corporate memberships are two different categories of membership
How do I register as a Level 4S Supervisor?
You must be an APACS Level 4 Practitioner and complete the APACS accredited course “Certification in Professional Counselling Supervision”.
I am a mental health practitioner registered with APACS. I have been bullied and harassed by XXX (person / organisation). Help!
Please lodge a police report to seek legal investigation. If that person is a registered mental health professional, you are advised to lodge a formal complaint to the appropriate association that the person is registered to, and update APACS for recording purposes. You are encouraged to keep all communications in written form (email, SMS, WhatsApp, recorded phone call, recorded video call) You may approach APACS for legal advice through our free legal clinic services.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
What is the eligibility for application for the APACS Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Only Practitioners (L1 to L4S) can apply for our APACS Professional Indemnity Insurance.
How long is the coverage?
The coverage is from 1 Jan to 31 Dec of each year if you renew/apply before 1 Jan of the following year. If you apply in the midst of the year, the coverage will start from the time you made payment to 31 Dec of the same year. When you renew, the coverage will be from 1 Jan to 31 Dec of the following year.