One of the key features of the iSabel holistic well-being App is the iSabel Counselor. Our users have been able to seek on-demand emotional and mental health support and guidance easily and 100% confidentially through chat or voice. Whilst some are firm believers of counseling, some are still a little trepidatious. So we spoke to Portia, Lead Counselor at iSabel, to learn more about WHAT this service is, WHY they should use it and HOW they can benefit from this easy-to-use service.
1. What is mental health care and why should we care about it?
Portia: Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being contribute to our mental health. It impacts how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It influences how we deal with stress, interact with others, make decisions, and can also affect our physical health.
Mental health care is about getting the help we need by recognizing warning signs, talking it out, caring and being kind to oneself, and staying connected. Mental health is a crucial component of our well-being, and it’s therefore important that we care for and prioritize it.
2. When should we seek out a Counselor?
Portia: Knowing when to seek assistance can be difficult at times. Keeping track of how we regulate our emotions, achieve our goals, manage our relationships, cope in healthy ways, and see personal growth is a good yardstick here. When we find it too overwhelming to handle on our own, we should seek the help of a Counselor – someone who’s trained, certified and experienced.
3. Who would benefit from using the iSabel Counselor service?
Portia: Counseling is beneficial for anyone facing challenges or life transitions, handling emotions like sadness, loneliness, anger or worry, going through grief and loss, relational conflicts and stress. It’s also helpful for someone who’s seeking self-improvement. Being able to talk things through with a qualified counselor can be very beneficial.
4. How is iSabel Counselor different from other counseling services?
Portia: Apart from the 1-on-1 sessions, we also schedule topic-based group coaching sessions that’s fully facilitated by iSabel Counselor on the iSabel App. Everyone who is part of this group coaching session is 100% anonymous. Over the past 15 months, over 21% of our users have participated in these regular sessions. This is truly a safe space for open conversations where everyone can learn from their peers as well as share their experiences. We’ve been very encouraged by the positive feedback from our users on these group coaching sessions.
5. What are some of the most common reasons users reach out to the iSabel Counselor?
Portia: In the past 15 months, over 25% of our users have come to us to seek help for a wide variety of work and personal life issues. They include relationship conflicts, poor work-life balance, interpersonal issues, anger management, fear of failure, low self-esteem, parenting anxiety, and more.
6. How often should we reach out to iSabel Counselor?
Portia: Typically, the user and Counselor jointly agree on the number of sessions required. This is dependent on the nature of the issue as well as whether the individual sees a significant change or feels they have accomplished the goal/s mutually agreed upon with the Counselor. Some issues can be resolved in just one or two sessions, but some can take as many as 4 to 6 sessions, and occasionally, it might take longer.
We proactively check in with our users to provide them quick-reads to various mental health scenarios as well as quick-tips that they can incorporate into their daily routines.
7. Does counseling really help?
Portia: Our 1-on-1 sessions, which are completely anonymous and confidential, have assisted our users in reframing their unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and instead, learn to adopt healthy coping skills. Many of our users have indicated that the counseling sessions have been pivotal and transformative, resulting in self-discovery and understanding, higher potential, harmony, acceptance, and a meaningful and deeper level of exploration of existential issues.
If you are seeking mental health services, have questions about iSabel Counselor or are keen to receive more information about the iSabel digital well-being solution, please contact us at hello@isabel.sg
About iSabel Counselor
iSabel Counselor is a panel of LIVE certified and qualified counselors. This service supports individuals who seek change from difficult circumstances and challenges, whether work-related or personal, and helps relieve their emotional distress. It is a key feature, accessible via chat or voice, and is part of the user-centric iSabel Well-being App.
About Portia
Our Lead Counselor has a Master's degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy and has actively worked in her chosen field for nearly 12 years. Her approach is pragmatic, genuine, and caring, as she listens, guides, and empowers those who reach out to her.