Agenda Day 2
30 November 2022
09:00 am – 5:00 pm
30 November, 2022

9:00 am to 9:10 am
Opening remarks

Aditi Sharma Kalra
Editor-in-Chief
Sensory-based Relational Art Therapy Approach: Supporting Psycho-Emotional Needs in Children with Autism
There are 400 new cases of autism diagnosed annually in Singapore. There is not one singular cause for it although a combination of genetic and environmental factors appears to influence early brain development. In this session, we will explore: :
- The importance of addressing the psycho-emotional needs in children with autism; balancing behavioral modification, the teaching of skills and emotional needs.
- Personal and professional experience that led to developing the Sensory-based Relational Art Therapy Approach (S-BRATA).
- The theoretical underpinnings of the S-BRATA, an explanation of its 7 themes and their application in the therapy room.

Huma Durrani
Psychotherapist/author

10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Coffee & networking break
10:30 AM TO 11:30 AM
Inside somatic therapy: Healing trauma through talk and touch therapy
Trauma is a largely non-verbal and felt experience. As such it can be helpful to support clients to access the suppressed experiences with a somatic and trauma-informed approach. In this session, we will:
- Explain how somatic therapy can be used to help clients heal from trauma using a relational approach that blends talk and touch therapy.
- Find out the benefits behind engagement and talk therapy which clients often describe as the missing link.
- Cognitively understand client’s experience amid the triggers, disconnection and feelings of powerlessness.

Natalia Rachel
Author/ Somatic Therapist/ Educator
11:30 AM TO 12:30 PM
Couple goals: Staying connected post pandemic
- Help with guiding your clients towards worthwhile couple goals to nurture during these unusual times.
- Facilitate with the discovery of a relationship vision that will promote a healthy relationship.
- Offer strategies that will allow your clients to nurture their marriage towards a more fulfilling connection post-pandemic.

Lissy Ann Puno
Counselling Psychologist/ Certified Imago Relationship Therapist

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 PM TO 2:30 PM
Suicide Bereavement: Working with clients in traumatic grief
According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is the leading cause of death for youths aged 15-19. For every suicide, at least 6 survivors are expected. In this enlightening session, we will have a sharing of:
- The general suicide landscape in Singapore.
- Trauma-embedded grief for bereaved clients.
- Actual case-studies of careworkers in suicide grief work.

Sheila Kaur
Senior Counsellor
2.30PM TO 3.30PM
Mind over body: The correlation of wisdom and positive ageing
Scientific studies on ageing have found that 60% of the variance (reasons) of healthy ageing is attributable to psychological factors. Life wisdom, psychological resilience and flexible coping can contribute significantly to quality of life and wellbeing at all stages of life. In this session, we will explore:
- The unconditional acceptance of self, others and life with compassion.
- Having a growth mindset and resilience facilitate effective coping against life challenges and promote dynamic growth and accomplishment at any stage of life.
- Positive emotions of love, gratitude and long-term intimate social support are both cause and effect of aging with authentic happiness.

Dr. Weining Chang
Senior Research Fellow

3:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
Networking break
4:00 PM TO 4:40 PM
Wellbeing at work: Rethinking workplace mental wellbeing solutions
If you’re working in an organisation with more than 10 people, chances are one or two of them will be living with mental illness. What can we do to support mental well-being at the workplace since we spend most of our time there? In this session we will:
- Review common mental wellbeing initiatives being implemented by organisations in Singapore.
- Understand the challenges faced by organisations when executing such strategies and initiatives.
- Find out the concrete results brought about by organisational support to employees’ mental wellbeing.
Moderator

Nathan Y Andres
Global Wellbeing Leader
Panellists

Dr. Karen Pooh
Clinical Psychologist

Andrew Epaphroditus Tay
Head and Director for Health and Wellbeing, Office of the President

Debbie Ng
Senior Director of People and Culture

Rahul Ramaswami
Head of Benefits
Working together as a collective towards building a trauma-informed nation
While the right to mental health is apparent to more Singaporeans now compared to our yesteryears, the embodiment of safe and supportive mental health care might be befuddling to many. Growing up in Singapore, Cheryl’s personal mental health journey took many twists and turns due to the acute lack of trauma-informed practices in the school and home environments. As a current Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga candidate, she will speak about her journey of utilizing trauma-informed practices in her work, and her personal outlook of the local mental health landscape.

Cheryl Tan
Founder

5:00 PM
Closing remarks – end of day 2

Aditi Sharma Kalra
Editor-in-Chief