As mindsets shift, we see an increase in the number of job-hoppers in recent times. Gone are the days where blind loyalty to a company would be rewarded and we see many people taking a leap of faith and exploring careers they would not even consider at the start of their journeys. Such was the case of Roxanne Yeo, a hawkerpreuneur turned counsellor who recently joined the OJ family!
Before Roxanne made the switch to mental healthcare, she worked in business development roles before becoming an entrepreneur. She ventured into the F&B industry with a friend, selling Korean Food in a foodcourt.
Growing up in a typical Asian household, and in Singapore, academics were at the core and Roxanne felt that there was a lack of emphasis on emotional needs, self-identity, interests and values which are important to lead a happy and meaningful life.
“I grew increasingly unhappy with my life as the years went by, unable to explain “Why” even when I was doing the “right” thing; working hard and doing my best in achieving. I started feeling very unhappy and unfulfilled, but I bottled up my feelings and problems, trying to be ‘strong’ even though I was feeling very alone, especially during my teenage years.”
Though difficult, these experiences allowed her to relate well with others, even before becoming a counsellor.
She found great fulfillmemt in being there for my friends with similar experiences and becoming a professional counsellor allowed her to learn more about mental health and to use this knowledge to help others who are going through difficult times in their lives.
Armed with a new sense of purpose, Roxanne decided to take a leap of faith, completing the Master of Counselling programme with Monash University.
How has your experience been as a counsellor so far?
“It has been really rewarding, meeting and connecting with so many different people. It is an absolute honor to be able to journey with them through their ups and downs.”
How has covid affected your learning and training? How have you adapted to it?
Continuous learning is part of a cousellor’s profession, so even after graduation, I was taking on courses but most of them were done online due to the pandemic. The lack of human interaction part of it was definitely apparent, similar to what most people would experience from a WFH setting. However, functions like Zoom breakout rooms do help us adapt in engaging with our peers online and that definitely helped in facilitating the learning and training e.g. role-play, group discussion etc.
Being a consellor requires patience and continuous upskilling, especially with the onset of covid-19, practicing active listening and learning to read body language over a screen was challenging, but it may have improved my intuition when it comes to certain cues.
What has been the most fulfilling part of the job?
Holding space for the clients, supporting them through their healing journey and witnessing their growth are definitely some of the most fulfilling parts of the job. Having a trusting relationship with clients is also something I treasure a lot because it is not easy to open up to a stranger about the things that matter, so I hold that really close to heart.
What is your best hope for Mental Health Space
I hope that more people will be educated about the importance of mental health and to overcome the stigma that addressing mental health = crazy / weak. The clients I’ve seen so far are the strongest and most resilient people I know, who are brave enough to seek help when life calls for it, and to work on themselves so that they can become the best versions of themselves and live a meaningful life.
Roxanne found purpose after making the switch and is doing such a great job. Many people have the misconception that you should only seek out mental health professionals when they have emotional struggles, but speaking to someone else might just help you reach the clarity you need to make a switch in your life. We hope Roxanne’s journey inspires you to carve out a path for yourself too.
Check out Our Journey for more information, inspiration, or simply to have a conversation.
Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Till next time!
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