ASSOCIATION FOR MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY, SINGAPORE
Association for Marital and Family Therapy Singapore (AMFTS) seeks to set standards for the practice of Systemic Psychotherapy in Singapore. We do so by working with training providers to ensure their training programmes meet our requirements. At the same time, the Association also seeks to protect the interests of individuals and families who seek help by giving information about practitioners who are recognised by us. Finally, the Association also seeks to educate and increase awareness amongst the public and professionals about Systemic Psychotherapy.
ABOUT US
AMFTS was inaugurated on 3rd November 1995. It was founded by the late Mr Anthony Yeo, who had been the longest serving president of the association. This association is made up of clinical members who are trained formally in systemic psychotherapy and associate members who are interested in ideas related to systemic psychotherapy and wishes to be part of this vibrant and exciting community. AMFTS is a Professional Association with constitution that was established and approved by the Registrar of Societies. Membership is open to all mental health professionals. For more info, please email us at amft.singapore@gmail.com. If you like to participate in the forums in this website, please join as a member of this website in the members page. However, if you merely want updates about this website, you may subscribe to this website in the link below.
KEY STRATEGIES
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS
Driving awareness to public and professionals
ENGAGING TRAINING PROVIDERS
Ensuring Standards and Professionalism
ENGAGING INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Building relevance
THE EXCO
About why we love systemic ideas
Our dedicated team of experienced professionals are always on the ball, utilizing their unique skills and passion to move the work of our Non-Profit Organization forward. We’re always pushing ourselves to stay ahead of the curve and striving to perfect our programs. Meet some of our incredible leaders below.
DR CHUA WEI BIN
President
Systemic thinking invites us to see the world in a more enlightened manner. It reminds us to see how we are all inter-connected and there is no way we could "build up walls" and disconnect ourselves from those whom we see as the "other". It encourages us to see complexities within every situation and promote considered responses instead of reacting in vulgar simplicity. It is about being more humane, more real and more compassionate to ourselves and those around us.
DR PATRICIA YAP
Vice President
I love Systemic Psychotherapy for three reasons. Firstly, it allows for paradigm enlargement in my ability to help clients, and it helps enrich my supervisory relationships. Lastly, I love the kindness in Systemic questions.
CHARLOTTE STEPHEN
Secretary
Systemic practice allows a deeper understanding of the client in the context of their environment. When clients learn skills, I am mindful to explore how they feel about the skills, who might notice the skill if they practice it, what might that person say or do. It helps to make my practice attuned to the needs of the client, how people in their environment respond and to plan together for successful outcomes. Systems practice helps me to deepen my practice as I am able to draw from numerous concepts such as ‘Homeostasis’ and how systems will try to restore itself when change is introduced. In my work with women clients, I am drawn to re-read ideas of ‘Invisible loyalty’ and ‘Narrative Attachment’. It does stretch the therapist to see multiple layers, spoken and unspoken conversations and to discern and make meaning in a coordinated manner. A nod to brilliant practitioners before us.
LEE SIN YAN
Treasurer
Sin Yan is an acclaimed social worker in the community setting and a dedicated systemic family therapist with over 10 years of experience.
“Listening to both sides of a story will convince you that there is more to a story than both sides.”
Frank Tyger
Employer's Interview Series
Employer's Interview Series
Interview with Chan Lay Lin
Reflections of Family Therapists
Reflections of Family Therapists
Paolo Bertrando (episode 2: Family Therapists: on reflection)
Barry Mason (Ep 4. Family Therapists: on reflection)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Find out the latest career opportunities with agencies who are looking for clinicians who are systemically trained!
COUNSELING AND CARE CENTRE
Sign up to be a Clinical Member or Accredited Systemic Practitioner today!
Email your application to amft.singapore@gmail.com
To Apply for Accredited Systemic Practitioner
•Have attended and obtained a Post Graduate Certificate or equivalent in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy
•Certificate has at least 56 hours
•At least 25 sessions with couples and families (or more than one person in the counselling session) in two consecutive years
•To receive 5 individual supervision sessions from a clinical member of AMFTS
•Accreditation is awarded for 2 years. Administration fee of $100 will apply
To Renew:
•To have attended any relevant training in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy for at least 28 hours in 2 years
•Able to achieve at least 25 sessions with couples and families (or have more than one person in the room) in two consecutive years
•To receive 5 individual supervision sessions from a clinical member of AMFTS
•Renewal will be for 2 years. Administration fee of $100 will apply
To Apply for Clinical Membership:
•Have attended and obtained at least a Post Graduate Diploma in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent
•Post Graduate Diploma must have at least 300 hours of curriculum contact time
•Able to have at least 50 sessions with couples and family (or more than one person in the counselling session) in two consecutive years
•To receive 10 individual supervision sessions from a clinical member of AMFTS
•Accreditation is awarded for 2 years and an administration fee of $150 will apply
To Renew:
•To have attended training related to Systemic Family Psychotherapy for at least 63 hours in two years
•Able to achieve at least 50 sessions with couples and families (or have more than one person in the room) in two consecutive years
•To receive 10 individual supervision sessions from a Clinical Supervisor of AMFTS
•Renewal will be for 2 years and an administration fee of $100 will apply
Barry Mason (1948-2021)
We at AMFTS bid our dear friend and teacher farewell on his passing on 17th Jan 2021. He will be remembered fondly by many of us here in Singapore.
A Tribute from AMFTS
A Haiku on Barry’s Legacy
Memories of you
Cornerstone of our practice
Build Therapists up
Unassumingly he came
Profoundly, our thinking he flamed
To own your expertise
And sit with safe-uncertainty
Complex ideas shared simply
Take years to master amply
Quirky charisma he does possess
Many lives indeed he blessed
Dr Patricia Yap
Dr Chua Wei Bin
I remember Barry who was soft-spoken, almost shy but crafted his thoughts well. Some of his articles are worked their way into the ‘family therapy lexicon’ and will be remembered and utilised for many years to come ! He served his generation!
Words are tools and methods of interventions. The many times you share with us your knowledge and practices. So giving in allowing us to watch your practice and always wanting to be better. You introduced me to your book, The Space Between...Working across all these context. We were so privileged to have you teach us, The Msc class of 2008. It was a wonderful journey you took with us. I recall most your sense of humour and dry wit. Key ingredients of a therapists but also important to living a good life. As your journey here ends and another one continues, I wish you all the best.
Joseph John
Your Student Always. Charlotte
Upcoming Events
Systemic Practice ConferenceMon, 26 FebSingapore- AMFTS EOGM 2023Fri, 29 DecZoom Meeting
Use of Enactment in Marital and Family WorkTue, 31 JanZoom
AMFTS AGM 2022Fri, 23 SeptSingapore
The Myth of Attachment TheoryWed, 11 MayZOOM
Intimate Strangers?Thu, 14 AprZOOM, Singapore
25th Annual General MeetingTue, 28 Sept25th Annual General Meeting
The Future of Family Therapy in SingaporeTue, 03 AugZoom
Virtual Open House by Counseling and Care CentreWed, 04 NovOnline
Journeying through COVID-19 Promoting Community and Family Resilience in SingaporeSat, 30 MayOnline, Webinar
