MCOU 15th Anniversary Celebrations

From Roots to Resilience: 15 Years of the SUSS Master of Counselling Programme

In 2025, the SUSS Master of Counselling (MCOU) programme marked 15 years of nurturing counsellors, who support Singapore’s evolving mental health landscape. As mental health needs evolve, the programme’s anniversary was an opportunity to honour the programme’s roots, reaffirm its mission and celebrate its growing community.

To commemorate this journey, a two-part celebration was held in August and November 2025, each designed to reflect the heart of the programme: connection, reflection, and community.

Grounding in Nature (August 2025)

The celebrations began with an inaugural ecotherapy experience at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Twenty-five students, alumni, faculty, and eco-therapists, gathered in nature to slow down, reconnect, and reflect on their personal and professional journeys.

Through mindful walking, barefoot grounding, and sensory exercises, participants deepened their presence and self-awareness alongside the natural surroundings, qualities essential to therapeutic practice. The ecotherapy session set up a reflective and meaningful tone for the anniversary activities, affirming a shared commitment to personal grounding, professional growth, and the strengthening of our counselling community.

Eyes Closed, Hearts Open

Hear from the participants themselves; their thoughts on the event are shared below.

I appreciate the reflections from various participants for the forest walking; it struck me the dried leaves are resilient and they do make sound, and we tend to walk more carefully in this ground, just like our clients.

I have always enjoyed my connection with nature, hence when the invitation to join a forest bathing/ecotherapy session popped up, I jumped in (almost) immediately.

I loved the structured process and the authenticity of my fellow participants’ sharing. Perspectives of looking at the sky when you lie down on the field will never be the same as looking up at the sky/trees.

The last activity was especially close to my heart. I have had a couple of colleagues/friends sharing with me about not finding joy in their current employment and were looking to move. I experienced nature telling me how the grass is always greener on the other side. It was also a perspective of where we are looking at the glitter from. The picture does not do justice - the experience is forever itched in my mind (and soul).

Click on the newsletter for full event details.

Honouring Legacy and Community (November 2025)

Three months later, the community gathered for an anniversary lunch, attended by the inaugural batch of MCOU alumni, current students, faculty, and Programme Advisory Committee. The gathering served as a cross-generational meeting point, an opportunity to honour the programme’s beginnings while celebrating the vibrant, growing community.

A highlight was the presence of Dr Esther Tan, the programme’s very first Head of Programme and the pioneer of the BCOU and MCOU offerings. Her attendance underscored the continuity of the programme’s vision and its lasting impact on the SUSS MCOU programme and community.

1^st Batch of the SUSS MCOU Alumni

Conversations flowed easily as alumni reconnected with faculty, students sought wisdom from their predecessors, and everyone reflected on the shared mission of supporting mental wellbeing in Singapore. The lunch not only celebrated past achievements but also strengthened the bonds that continue to anchor the programme today.

Looking Forward: A Continued Commitment to Growth and Impact

As MCOU embarks on its next chapter, the anniversary serves as a timely reminder that counselling is grounded in connection, reflection and lifelong learning. SUSS remains committed to nurturing counsellors who are equipped to support Singapore’s emerging mental health needs.

SUSS MCOU 15th Anniversary Celebration Lunch

Here’s to the next 15 years of growth and meaningful impact.

Explore our bachelor, master's or graduate diploma programmes to help shape the future of counselling and beyond.

Bachelor: Bachelor of Counselling (BCOU) | Part-time Degree | SUSS

Masters: Master of Counselling | Master's Degree | SUSS

Graduate Diplomas

Systemic Therapy: Graduate Diploma in Systemic Therapy | SUSS

Psychodynamic Approaches: Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Approaches | SUSS