Cecilia Soong

Associate Professor Cecilia Soong

Associate Professor, Bachelor of Counselling Programme

S R Nathan School of Human Development

Tel: +65 6248 6122

Email: Y2VjaWxpYXNvb25nZmhAc3Vzcy5lZHUuc2c=

Educational Qualifications

  • 1998

    PhD Nanyang Technological University -- Multicultural Counselling

  • 1988

    MEd (Hon) University of Waikato -- Education, Psychology, Counselling

  • 1983

    Dip Ed National University of Singapore -- English, History

  • 1982

    BA National University of Singapore -- Social Work, Sociology

Academic and Professional Experience

  • 2020 - 2023

    Associate Professor, Head of Programme (Bachelor of Counselling), Singapore University of Social Services

  • 2019 - 2020

    Head, Filiae Centre, Raffles Girls School

  • 2017 - 2019

    Senior Lecturer / Head of Programme: Bachelor of Counselling; Graduate Diploma in Professional Life-coaching, Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy, Singapore University of Social Sciences

  • 2014 - 2017

    Senior Lecturer / Head, Counselling Programme, SIM University

  • 2010 - 2014

    Senior Guidance Specialist, Ministry of Education

  • 2009 - 2010

    Senior Lecturer / Head of Counselling Programme, School of Human Development and Social Services, SIM University

  • 2008 - 2009

    Director of Specialised Services, Lakeside Family Centre

  • 2005 - 2008

    Assistant Director (Corporate Services), Lakeside Family Centre (External School Counsellor at Jurong Sec Sch and Pioneer Junior College)

  • 2000 - 2005

    Director of Counselling, Care Community Services Society (External School Counsellor at Dunman High School, St Theresa’s Convent, Marsiling Sec Sch and Woodgrove Sec Sch)

  • 1998 - 1999

    Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University

  • 1991 - 1997

    Lecturer ‘A’, Nanyang Technological University

  • 1990 - 1991

    Lecturer, Institute of Education

  • 1988 - 1989

    Teacher, ACS (I)

  • 1983 - 1985

    Education Officer, Div One

  • 1981

    Student social worker, Anglican Welfare Services

  • 1980

    Student social worker, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

  • 1980

    Student social worker, Ministry of Community Development

Part-time:

  • 2017 - 2022

    Clinical Supervisor of School Counsellor of Singapore Sports School

  • 2017 - 2019

    Clinical Supervisor of School Counsellor of Hwa Chong International School

  • 2016 - 2017

    Clinical Supervisor of School Counsellor of School of the Arts

  • 2007 - 2011

    Practicum supervisor, M Guidance and Counselling, James Cook University; M Soc Sc (Counselling), Monash University

  • 2007

    Part-time course writer, course chair, lecturer, The Helping Relationship Module, B Counselling, SIM University

  • 2006 - 2008

    Part-time supervisor, Counselling Practicum (M Soc Sc, Counselling), Edith Cowan University and University of South Australia

  • 2005 - 2010

    Part-time lecturer, Multicultural Counselling, Executive Counselling and Training Academy / Swinburne University of Technology

  • 2005 - 2010

    Part-time supervisor, Diploma in School Counselling, Nanyang Technological University

  • 2004 - 2006

    Part-time tutor, Child Development, SIM-Open University Centre

  • 2000 - 2010

    Part-time lecturer, Basic Counselling Skills for Teachers, Ministry of Education

Courses taught / supervision of practicum at National Institute of Education/Nanyang Technological University:
(1990 -1999: full-time; 2000 to 2010: part-time)

  • Undergraduate/Graduate Levels:
    • BA/BSc with Diploma in Education - Child Development
    • Postgraduate Diploma in Education - Adolescent Development, Motivation and Classroom Management, Group Dynamics, Pastoral Care and Career Guidance, Basic Counselling Skills
    • MA (Applied Psychology) - Cross-cultural Counselling, Counselling Special Populations, Marital and Family Therapy, Supervision of Practicum in Counselling Psychology, Supervision of Research Thesis
    • Diploma in School Counselling: Supervision of Counselling Practicum
  • In-service Courses:
    • Pastoral Care and Career Guidance
    • Group Guidance
    • Basic Skills in Pastoral Casework
    • Advanced Skills in Pastoral Casework
    • Group Counselling
    • Organising and Managing Pastoral Teams
    • Theories and Techniques in Counselling

Courses taught / supervision of practicum at other institutions:

  • Basic Counselling Skills for Teachers: Ministry of Education
  • Multicultural Counselling: Executive Counselling and Training Academy / Swinburne University of Technology
  • The Helping Relationship (B Counselling): SIM University
  • Advanced Clinical Practice 1: Working with Individuals (M Social Work): SIM University
  • Integrative Approaches to Counselling (M Counselling): SIM University
  • Supervision of Counselling Practicum (M Soc Sc): Academy of Human Development/Edith Cowan University
  • Supervision of Counselling Practicum (M Soc Sc): University of South Australia
  • Supervision of Counselling Practicum (M Guidance and Counselling ): James Cook University
  • Supervision of Counselling Practicum (M Counselling ): Monash University

Courses taught at SIM University (now known as Singapore University of Social Sciences:

  • Social Emotional Learning (B Counselling)
  • Cross-cultural Counselling (B Counselling with Honours)
  • Integrative Approaches to Counselling (M Counselling)
  • Techniques of Counselling and Therapy in an Asian Context: Core Skills and Methodologies (Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy)

Journal Papers -- Refereed:

Carlson, J., Chan, A., Chen, C., Kurato, Y., Soong, C. & Yang, J.
The influence of technology on families: An international perspective. The Family Journal, California (1999), 7(3), 231-236.

Soong, C. & Khoo, A.
Teachers’ attitudes towards sex education in Singapore. Pastoral Care in Education, United Kingdom (1994), 12(1), 23-26.

Soong, C.
Towards an indigenised approach to counselling. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, New Zealand (1993), 15(1), 13-17.

D’Rozario, V., Khoo, A. & Soong, C.
Using the creative arts in the training of pastoral care-givers in Singapore. Pastoral Care in Education, United Kingdom (1992), 10(1), 43-49.

Journal Papers -- Non-refereed:

Soong, C.
Adapting western counselling methods to the local context. ASCD REVIEW (1994), 4(2), 59-62.

Soong, F.H. & Khoo, C.E.
Sex education in Singapore schools. REACT (1993), No 1.

Soong, C.
Experiential learning in groups. ASCD REVIEW (1992), 2(2), 40-43.

Soong, C. & Khoo, A.
How do teenagers relate to one another? REACT (1992), No 1.

Conference Papers:

Soong, C.
Raising a 21st Century Child in the Digital Age: Tips for Parents. MOE’s EXCEL Fest, Singapore (2013).

Soong, C., Tan, E. & Wee, A.
Sexuality Education - Pedagogies that Work. Educational Research Association of Singapore Conference, Singapore (2013).

Soong, C.
Family Intervention Programme with Trainees at the Reformative Training Centre. Conference on Rehabilitation of Youth Offenders, Singapore (2008).

D’Rozario, V., Khoo, A. & Soong, C.
Working with adolescents. National Conference in Counselling: Towards Dynamic Change - New Frontiers. Conference Proceedings, Singapore (1998).

Soong, C.
A vision of an intelligent island. 6th International Conference: Counselling in the 21st Century Conference Proceedings, Beijing, China (1997), 7-13.

Soong, C.
Worldview and counselling: Perceptions of Singaporean students. 6th International Conference: Counselling in the 21st Century Conference Proceedings, Beijing, China (1997), 223-227.

Soong, C.
Towards an indigenised approach to counselling. 18th International Round Table for the Advancement of Counselling International Conference Proceedings, Auckland, New Zealand (1993), 205-208.

Khoo, A. & Soong, C.
Work values of teachers. 5th Annual ERA Conference Proceedings, Singapore (1992).

Khoo, A. & Soong, C.
Pupil counselling in Singapore schools. 3rd International Counselling Conference: Counselling in the 21st Century Conference Proceedings, Singapore (1992), 67-76.

2012 - Present
Singapore Association of Counselling

1994 - 2005
American Counseling Association, institutional member

1991 - 2000
Singapore Professional Centre

1982 - 2000
Singapore Association of Social Workers

  • “What Do Needy Families REALLY Need?” An exploratory study on chronic poverty in Singapore. (2009), NCSS Research Grant, Singapore.
  • Suicide and Suicide Attempts of Indian Students in Singapore - Preliminary findings based on school reports, Ministry of Education (2006-2012).

I was one of the nine counsellors identified by a process of peer nomination as master therapists in Singapore in a piece of research on this topic. It is a replication of the research done in the US on Master Therapists by Thomas Skovholt and Len Jennings. The Singapore findings were published in Jennings, et. al. (2008) Psychotherapy Expertise in Singapore: A Qualitative Investigation. Psychotherapy Review, 18(5), 508-522. Over the subsequent three years, Jennings and colleagues have done follow-up interviews with existing master therapists for longitudinal and cross-cultural analyses.

  • Teens
  • Scholarship Guide
  • DARE
  • Compass
  • Simply Her

2023 - Present
Volunteer, KidSTART Singapore

2023 - Present

Volunteer, Gardens by the Bay  

2022 - Present

Volunteer / Befriender, New Hope Community Services

2022 - Present

Volunteer / Tutor, Catholic Welfare Services 

2018 - Present

Volunteer Counsellor and Trainer, Cornerstone Community Services

2017 - 2019
Volunteer, Trolley Ministry at Mercy Centre/YWAM

2017 - 2022
Founding-member of People and Career Development Association

2017 - 2019
Volunteer, Reading Odyssey at Students Care Centre

2016 - Present
Volunteer, Singapore Cancer Society

2015 - 2016
Befriender/Counsellor, Care Corner Singapore

2015 - 2016
Volunteer Trainer, United Medicare

2014 - 2016
Mentor/Counsellor/Trainer, Residence @ St George’s / Methodist Welfare Services

2013 - 2014
Counsellor for column in SPH’s IN (Secondary school newspapers)

2012 - 2014
Counsellor on radio talkshow ‘Between Us’, MediaCorp 938LIVE

2009 - 2011
Member, Board of Advisors / Clinical Team, Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre

2007 - 2017
Trainer / Volunteer Counsellor / Clinical Supervisor, CEFC

2005 - 2009
Deputy Registrar of Marriages, RoM / MCYS

2005 - 2006
Member, Advisory Committee, ITE College East

2003 - 2005
Writer / Presenter, QuickQuips, NewsRadio 93.8

1997 - 1999
Volunteer Counsellor, NIE Student Advising and Counselling Service

1996 - 2004
Member, Board of Advisors; Member, Management Committee, Care Community Services Society

1996 - 1999
Volunteer Counsellor, Care Community Services Society

1995 - 2000
Chairperson, Professional Practice Committee, TRANS Centre

1995 - 1999
Member, Social Service Committee, Fei Yue Family Service Centre

  • Reading, Writing
  • Tennis, Trekking
  • Performing Arts: Movies, Drama, Music, Dance
  • Travelling
Back to top
Back to top