How do I chat with a counsellor?
To begin online counselling, you would first need to sign up for an account with us.
Once you have created an account, you can log onto our online counselling portal and a chat widget (orange button) will appear at the bottom right hand side of the screen. You can then click on the 'Chat' widget to start chatting with one of the counsellors.
How much does it cost for online counselling at CPH Online Counselling?
This service is a pilot national program and is provided free of charge for Singapore residents who are above 18 years old.
I want to chat after office hours and on the weekends. Why is there is no chat button for me to click on?
The chat button will only show on the screen if you are a registered user. If you have not registered with us, please click on the Sign-in/Sign-up button. The live chat button will appear for registered users. Our live chat online counselling service is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, excluding public holidays. After 6pm, the chat button will become a “Support” button for you to leave a message for us. You can let us know that you had signed in and wanted to chat with a counsellor. One of us will receive your message and get back to you within 3 working days.
Do I have to make an appointment to chat with a counsellor?
You do not have to book an appointment to chat with a counsellor when you are on the online counselling platform for the first time. However, if you would like to have more online counselling sessions with us over live chat, you can schedule for a follow-up appointment with the counsellor.
Will I have the same counsellor if I come back for more online counselling?
To the best of our abilities, you will be assigned the same counsellor when you return for more online counselling. However, there will be times when your counsellor is not available to conduct online counselling with you, due to various circumstances, such as being sick or the counsellor is on leave. In that case, another counsellor will attend to you.
Can I chat using my mobile phone or tablets?
Yes, you can chat with us or leave us a message through the CPH Online Counselling portal on any smartphone or devices with an internet browser. However, we recommend you use Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari as CPH Online Counselling is most optimised with those browsers.
Do I have to give my full name?
No. We respect your privacy and understand that you may not want to provide us with details of your full name for online counselling. You can sign up for an account using your first name or an alias.
To help us serve you better, we will address you by the name you have given. Please refer to our privacy policy for more details on how you can protect your identity.
What happens if we lose contact over the live chat?
If we lose contact during the live chat, please refresh the web page and select the live chat button.
We may also try to reach you on email so we can reconnect again. Alternatively, you can choose to email us through the website.
What happens when I am facing a crisis?
If you are facing a crisis and require immediate emergency assistance, online counselling would not be suitable for you. For urgent emergency situations, please go to the nearest hospital, or call 999, or call Samaritans of Singapore at 1800 214 4444.
If your crisis is non-life-threatening, you may try online counselling with us, but if you would require more appropriate form of counselling like face-to-face counselling, we may refer you to another suitable counselling agency.
Is all information confidential?
Yes, information is confidential as per CPH Online Counselling's policy on confidentiality and privacy.