Welcome to Chiang Mai Counseling
Professional Chiang Mai counseling services with male & female counselors in both English & Thai language.
Individuals
Providing personalised counseling services to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing for individuals of diverse backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. Utilising therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Satir, Humanistic, Existential, and Psychodynamic approaches
Couples & Familes
Our experienced therapists provide tailored support for couples and families, assisting them through life transitions, improving communication skills, and resolving conflicts to foster deeper connections. We offer a safe, culturally inclusive space for healing and growth, backed by evidence-based practices.
Children & Teens
Through the dedicated efforts of our counselors fluent in both Thai and English supporting children & teenagers to confront challenges and skillfully navigate through tumultuous periods. We firmly believe that early intervention equips our young clients with a significant advantage for their future
Thai Western Relationships
We pride ourselves on our extensive experience and expertise in navigating the intricate dynamics of Thai-Western relationships. With a deep understanding of the nuances and complexities we are well-equipped to address a wide range of challenges that may arise Whether the challenges involve cultural, linguistic, communicative, trust, or intimacy issues, our fully bilingual counselors are here to offer the necessary guidance and support.
Alcohol & Substance Abuse
At Chiang Mai Counseling, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive services tailored to meet the needs of adults and teens seeking outpatient counseling for alcohol & substance abuse. Additionally, we collaborate with various licensed drug & alcohol rehab centers across Thailand. Whether individuals prefer independent counseling sessions or require integrated services within a rehabilitation setting, we strive to ensure that our clients receive the highest quality care and support.
Trauma, Grief & Loss
Experiencing a traumatic event can evoke a spectrum of emotions, both immediately and over time. Individuals may grapple with feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, anger, and struggle to process their experiences. Our experienced trauma informed counselors work with a range of modalities to help clients effectively manage emotional responses resulting from traumatic experiences they’ve encountered or witnessed.
WHY PEOPLE SEEK OUT A COUNSELOR
There are a variety of reasons why someone might seek the support of a professional counselor, and doing so is certainly not a reflection that you can’t handle it, or have failed in any way. Seeking out professional help to navigate tough situations is a testimony to your intelligence, strength, and courage. We are social beings, and naturally benefit from connection with others. This is how we learn and grow as humans. People may come to see a counselor for many reasons including:
- Not feeling heard, appreciated, or understood
- Self-doubt or uncertainty
- Symptoms of anxiety or depression
- Dealing with life transitions (relocation, job reassignment or demotion)
- Grief and loss (death of a close friend or loved one)
- Relationship issues including conflict resolution, separation, or divorce
- Increased substance use that has resulted in negative impacts on your life or relationships
- Difficulty adjusting to a new culture or setting
- …and more!
The adage “a problem shared is a problem halved” is even more true when working with a counselor or therapist. A trained professional can provide a new and more objective perspective that can help one to see their issues in a new light and guide them towards relief and resolution. A skilled counselor will allow you to recognize your own abilities and talents which will instigate and sustain positive change in the long-run, without over-reliance on anyone else.
What to expect when looking for counseling in Chiang Mai
The process of trying to find the right counselor (especially in a foreign country!) can be quite daunting, but the potential benefits far outweigh the initial fears. Word of mouth, internet research, and online reviews are just some of the tools that you can use that make the process of finding a counselor even easier. Clients have the option to meet with a counselor in-person in a private setting like a therapy room, or from the comfort of your own home via a secure virtual platform. You can always have peace of mind knowing that all counseling sessions are private and confidential. Most counselors will also offer a free consultation prior to any financial commitment, so that you can see if they might be a good fit for your individual needs and preferences. It’s important to select a counselor that you feel understands you, but who can also challenge you to think outside of the box and encourage positive change.
COUNSELING SERVICES IN CHIANG MAI
Relationships
- Codependency
- Compatibility
- Conflict Resolution
- Couples Counseling
- Divorce
- Family Dysfunction
- Fear of Intimacy and Rejection
- Jealousy & Trust Issues
- Resentments
- Thai Western Relationship counseling
Alcohol & Substance Abuse
- Alcohol Counseling
- CBT Alternative to 12 Steps
- Interventions
- Family Education
- Recovery Mentoring
- Recovery Planning
- Relapse Prevention
Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
- Anxiety
- Burnout
- Disconnection
- Depression
- Bereavement
- Grief & Loss
- Irritability
- Overworking
- Restlessness
- Sleep Problems
- Stress
- Worrying
Alternative Therapy
- Life Coaching
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness Immersion
- Personal Development
Brett James Thornton
Counselor and Therapist – Chiang Mai
BA HONS, BHRT MASTERS AND PRACTITIONER DIPLOMA IN HYPNOTHERAPY & COUNSELING
Brett is an experienced, British-trained counselor who has lived in Thailand for over five years. Before launching his private practice, Brett served as the Clinical Coordinator and Deputy Clinical Director at The River Rehab in Chiang Mai from 2018-2019. Prior to this, he acted as lead counselor, Relapse Prevention Coordinator, and Aftercare Manager for the largest addictions rehab in Southeast Asia.
Brett’s personal experience with addiction recovery in addition to his professional training duly qualifies him as a counselor. He has a strong degree of understanding and empathy, not only for those struggling with addiction, but for individuals struggling with various issues and life circumstances that affect mental and emotional well-being. In his work with clients, Brett offers a person-centered, nonjudgmental, and holistic approach that integrates multiple modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), emotionally focused therapy, and hypnotherapy in order to help to balance all aspects of the person – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Brett is capable of working with both expat clients and Native Thai speakers. His contagious cheer, energy, and dedication to bettering himself and others provides motivation and inspiration for all who cross his path.
Potchara To-Uam (Prieo)
MS COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY, BA COMMUNICATION ARTS
Prieo’s first language is Thai and later adopted English as her second tongue while living an adolescent and adulthood life abroad. Therefore, she holds an insightful understanding and experience of how to build and maintain an intimate multicultural relationship as well as an adaptation.
Prieo has a diverse counselling experience with a range of clients encountering relationship issues, stress, anxiety, depression, grief and life transitions. Her aim in therapy is to facilitate clients in self-discovery and utilising their inner resources to cope with any challenging circumstances that occur in any stage of life.
Prieo offers a holistic approach in her practice which covers a range of therapy modalities such as Person-centred, Existential, Satir and Mindfulness as she is a certified yoga instructor and extensive practitioner herself.
Penthai Thewin (Doi)
Counsellor: Adolescent, Teen, Individuals, LGBT & Active Aging
Location: Chiang Mai or online
PHD APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY IN COUNSELING, MA GUIDANCE & PSYCHOLOGY COUNSELING, BA THEOLOGY
Doi has experience in the areas of: adolescent & teen struggles, healthy relationships, handling workplace stress, finding one’s sexual identity, LGBTQ Empowerment, gender affirmation, releasing childhood traumas, mental health, detaching from religious prejudice to find a personal connection with Supreme Being.
While Doi was born in Thailand to a farming family he learned how to keep improving his life by continual learning, self improvement and traveling extensively. He has visited and studied many societies to get an objective understanding of the bigger world beyond our cultural conditioning. He believes that self-compassion, mutual empathy and resilience living are the main keys to a successful life.
Doi believes everyone has the capacity to change and improve their lives. He enjoys supporting people to do this with friendly and supportive conversation and using Satir Model, DBT (Mindfulness), and CBT approaches.
Nattanahree Mintakhat (Jip)
Counselor & Therapist: Chiang Mai
MSC COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Jip has a strong passion for helping people and has worked as a freelance counselor assisting the Thai Judical system for adolescents with behavioural issues along with in person counseling for adults, couples and families both in Chiang Mai and online.
Jip is extremely empathetic and her approaches include humanistic, CBT, ACT, person centered and self-healing including art therapy and mindfulness.
Many Thai clients are unfamiliar with counselling or talk therapy. Jip’s natural caring for others has allowed many clients with nerves and reservations to develop themselves and overcome many issues including anxiety, depression stress, burnout and many more Finding an experienced Thai therapist in Chiang Mai is rare and we are very lucky to have Jip as part of our counselling team.
Suppasit Kiatpattananon (Boat)
Counselor & Therapist: Chiang Mai
MSC COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY, BA ENGLISH
Boat’s mother tongue is Thai. He later learned and adopted English as his second language while living as an exchange student abroad. As a result, he has a great understanding of western and eastern cultures and is experienced in building and maintaining a healthy multicultural relationship.
Boat is empathetic and his approaches include humanistic, socratic question, CBT, and person-centered.
His previous experience includes assisting the Thai judicial system for adolescents with behavioral issues helping them find their meaning and purpose and working with clients encountering stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. He finds being open and compassionate often helps many clients to open up and overcome their issues. His aim as a therapist is to help clients become able to live peacefully with their current circumstances.
PIM ANUKROHTANAPONG (PIM)
Counselor & Therapist: Chiang Mai
MS COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY (IN PROGRESS), BA MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
Pim is fluent in both Thai and English. Given she has lived in Australia for 4 years and studied in an international school throughout her academic years, she has experienced and encountered various cultures, society and people. Hence, allowing her to have a great understanding of the differences in multicultural aspects and how living abroad or different places can become difficult at times.
Pim has experience working with clients facing depression, stress, anxiety, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, trauma-related issues and more. Pim believes that self-love, self-compassion, self-awareness and self-forgiving are the key to having a positive and healthy emotional well being. Where these skills can be developed and achieved through acknowledging, understanding, and accepting.
“Sometimes, going to therapy can feel like going to a marathon. It can be quite challenging at times, but the distance you traveled and effort that you put into it will be worth it. My job is not to coach you how to run but to provide you with water and support to help you reach your destination safe and sound”
YEE PUI KUAN, JUN
COUNSELLOR & PSYCHOTHERAPIST
WORK WITH: INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, TEENS & ADOLESCENTS
LOCATION: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA & ONLINE
LANGUAGE SPOKEN: MANDARIN (NATIVE), ENGLISH (FLUENT), CANTONESE (CONVERSATIONAL)
MASTER OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
REGISTERED WITH MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (MSCP): CP1-0321
Jun is a certified clinical psychologist in Malaysia and currently practicing on a freelance basis. She has completed her clinical training in variety of settings including NGO, private center, and refugees’ educational institution. She works with youth and adults of all ages, specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, grief & loss, stress-reduction and mindfulness. She is highly passionate in providing a safe and accepting space to build a trusting relationship with clients and help them understand themselves, find the strength to make necessary changes and live a more meaningful life. Jun is flexible and creative in her therapy approach where she apply techniques from a variety of approaches including ACT, CBT, Person-centered, mindfulness-based approaches to best fit her clients’ needs.
YEE PUI KUAN, JUN（俞佩君）
辅导员 & 心理治疗师
工作对象：个人，青少年，情侣
地点：吉隆坡，马来西亚
语言：中文（母语），英文（流利），广东话（对话级）
临床心理学（硕士学位），心理学（学士学位）
注册于马来西亚临床心理学协会 (MSCP): CP1-0321
佩君是马来西亚的认证临床心理学家，目前以自由职业者的身份执业。她在各种设定完成了临床培训，其中包括非政府组织、私人中心和难民教育机构。她的个案对象包含各个年龄段的年轻人和成年人，专业于创伤、焦虑、抑郁、悲伤和失落、减压和正念。她非常热衷于提供一个安全与接纳的空间，与客户建立信任关系，帮助他们了解自己，找到力量做出必要改变，以过上更有意义的生活。 佩君的治疗方法灵活而富有创意，她运用各种方法的技术，包括 ACT、CBT、以人为本、基于正念的方法，以最好地满足个案的需求。
Reference of above content: https://counsellingthailand.com/native-english-and-thai-speaking-therapists-in-thailand/
“Brett has worked with us since our
launch as a freelance consultant assisting
with telephone support and rehab
referrals. Brett’s caring, compassionate
and professional approach has been
gratefully received by clients and family
members alike. We highly recommend
Chiang Mai Counselling and Counselling
Thailand for any clients looking for
counseling in Chiang Mai or online.”
Gift Panhathai
Owner & Founder
Thailandrehabreviews.com
work with me to help my students
hypnotherapy and help them in other
“Brett has worked within our organization
in several capacities when required
including management and aftercare
services. Brett is extremely knowledgeable
and highly respected amongst staff and
clients and has been an invaluable part of
our development in providing a first-class
addiction treatment model in Chiang Mai.
Highly recommended”
Daniel Lee
Operations Manager
Theriverrehab.com
“Brett is amazing. If you are looking for
someone who knows what they are doing
and can offer you an excellent service,
then this is the best person. Thank you for
what you do.”
Ali Young
Owner & Founder
Chiangmaiholistic.com
“Great professional counselling service.
Various modalities. Have used Brett on
numerous occasions for client referral
& have always received positive
feedback.”
Alastair Mordey
Owner & Founder
Alphasoberliving.com
“I have known Brett professionally for 5years. In that time he has always been a
pleasure to deal with. He has helped
many people and I would happily refer
any clients to him.”
Rhys Bonney
Partner
Assistthaivisa.com