Dr. Karen Pooh

Clinical Psychologist

Adjunct Faculty and Alliance Counselling

Dr Karen Pooh is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, holding registrations with the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom. As a recipient of the Ministry of Health scholarship, she achieved her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University College London.

Dr Pooh’s professional journey has taken her across the globe, from London to Singapore, where she has worked in a wide array of mental health settings, including hospitals and communities. Presently, she practises at a group private practice known as Alliance Counselling.

Dr Pooh’s passion lies in journeying with adolescents and adults who strive to cultivate healthier relationships with themselves and those around them. At the core of her practice, Dr Pooh employs a compassionate approach to empower individuals, helping them tap into their inherent strengths, fortify their resilience, and align their growth with their core values.

Dr Pooh’s clinical approach is marked by its integrative nature, tailoring her treatment plans to meet the multifaceted needs of her clients. She draws upon a rich tapestry of evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Systemic Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness approaches.

Her commitment to mindfulness is evident in her completion of teacher training in Mindful Self-Compassion. This deep dive into Mindful Self-Compassion arose from her keen observation that many individuals grapple with feelings of inadequacy or engage in self-criticism.

Beyond her clinical endeavours, Dr Pooh holds esteemed teaching positions at renowned institutions, including Yale-NUS, University College London, and Sigmund Freud University Vienna. Her research has been published and presented at prestigious international conferences.

Driven by a mission to destigmatise mental health within communities, Dr Pooh is an advisor at Calm Collective Asia to promote mental well-being and self-compassion in Asia. She actively collaborates and works with various corporations and community partners, including Spotify, Sephora, the National Gallery, the Human Capital Leadership Institute, the Singapore Institute of Legal Education, and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). Dr Pooh’s insights have been featured in prominent media outlets, including interviews with the Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia (CNA) on the state of mental health in Asia.

Dr Pooh’s overarching philosophy is firmly rooted in the belief that mental health transcends the mere absence of illness. She ardently believes that individuals possess the resilience to flourish and lead meaningful lives, even in the face of life’s most formidable challenges.