FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

At Share Resolve, we know that reaching out for psychological support is not something most people do every day.

It can be an unfamiliar process, and naturally, you may have questions about how it works and what to expect.

We have put together answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please feel free to get in touch – we are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Many people in Malaysia are unsure whether they should talk to a psychologist. You might be asking yourself: is my problem "serious enough"? Will I be judged? Is therapy something people like me actually do? These are understandable concerns, especially in a country where support services for emotional and psychological concerns are still unfamiliar to many.

At Share Resolve, we believe that therapy is for anyone who wants a more fulfilling life.

We've written answers below to help you decide if speaking to a psychologist might be helpful for you or someone you care about. Let us know if you have any more questions!

At Share Resolve, we only use psychological methods that are backed by scientific evidence. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) have all been shown through research to be effective for difficulties like anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and relationship problems.

That said, therapy isn’t something done to you—it’s a collaborative process. Much like working with a personal trainer, it involves learning new skills and trying out new ways of thinking and responding. It’s not always easy, but it can lead to meaningful and lasting changes, especially when you’re actively involved in the process.

To make therapy more effective in Malaysia and other parts of Asia, we’ve developed an approach called the ReFlex Method. It combines the best of evidence-based therapies with adaptations that take local culture, values, and language into account. This helps our psychologists connect better with clients and offer support that feels more relevant and practical.

So while no psychologist can promise results, we can say this: we use approaches that work for many people, and we’ve adapted them to work even better in this part of the world. We’ll also work closely with you to make sure we’re focusing on what matters most to you.

We have written pages on:

We support adults, teenagers, and children with anything that has an emotional or social impact—whether that's anxiety, stress, low confidence, family challenges, or adjusting to a new role or environment.

For example, we can help someone cope with the nerves or self-doubt before a big football match, but we're not the people to ask about how to take a penalty kick. In the same way, we can help a student deal with the anxiety of public speaking, but we wouldn't write their speech for them.

We focus on the emotional and social side of things—how you feel, how you respond, and how you connect with others—not the technical skills themselves. In other words, we help with the inner experience, not the technical skills.

With older teenagers and young adults, it depends more on what they prefer and whether they feel confident talking about their problems on their own. Some may feel more comfortable speaking openly without a parent present, while others might benefit from your support in early sessions.

You can see a list of the sort of problems we can help with here.

 

No issue is too small if it’s something that’s bothering you. Whether it’s the pressure of a presentation at work, a falling-out with a friend, or just feeling a bit lost and unsure of yourself, we’re here to help. Our aim is to help people feel more fulfilled in life, not just to reduce distress. If something is getting in the way of you living the kind of life you want to live, we’d like to help.

If the issue has an emotional, social, or psychological component, then it’s very likely we’ll be able to help. Even if the psychologist you’re speaking to hasn’t encountered your particular situation before, they can consult with one of our more experienced psychologists—or even reach out (without sharing any identifying information) to trusted senior psychologists in our wider global network. In most cases, this consultation process is sufficient to ensure you get effective support. However, if your psychologist feels that they’re not the right person to help with your particular issue, they will refer you to someone who can.

If we feel that there are aspects of your concern that require input from someone with different expertise, we’ll help you find the right person. That could be a doctor for physical symptoms, a financial advisor for money problems, or another professional better suited to that part of your situation. We’re here to help guide you to the right support, even if that means it’s not us.

It’s difficult to resolve emotional problems on your own because the brain often works in unexpected ways. The more we try to fix certain feelings, the more stuck we can become.

For example:

  • Trying to calm down during a panic attack can actually make the anxiety worse.
  • Trying not to think about something usually makes it come to mind more.
  • Resting more when you feel emotionally exhausted can sometimes make you feel even more tired.

Psychologists can help by showing you a different way to approach these challenges—so that you're not fighting your thoughts or emotions, but learning how to work with them more effectively.

The skills that we can teach you will make you stronger and more resilient. It's difficult to 'be strong' if no one has shown you how! Just like physical strength needs training, emotional strength is something that can be developed with the right guidance and support. And just like you wouldn't become a mechanic to fix your own car or study law just to draft a contract, you don’t need to become a psychologist to work through your emotional challenges.

You could spend years learning to be a psychologist to solve your problems … but why bother if there’s a quicker way?

We all accept help in other areas of life:

  • Mechanics fix our cars
  • Lawyers write our contracts
  • Teachers and tutors help us learn

In the same way, psychologists are trained to help with emotional and psychological challenges. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

The main difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised in psychiatry whereas psychologists have studied psychology at undergraduate and then post-graduate level.

If you meet with a psychologist we will aim to teach you skills and strategies to help you live a more fulfilling life. Most psychiatrists in Malaysia focus on giving medication.

At Share Resolve we would recommend that you see a psychologist before a psychiatrist. This is because we would like to have the opportunity to help before you take medication. Medication can sometimes have side effects. Those side effects can also make it more difficult to learn and implement the skills that we believe will be most effective in helping people.

You can read more about the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist on our page here: https://resolve.my/psychologist-vs-psychiatrist/

At Share Resolve, we only provide a psychiatric diagnosis if you have given permission and when there is a clear and practical reason to do so.

The most common reason we use a diagnosis is to meet insurance company requirements. If your sessions are being claimed through insurance, the insurer may ask for a diagnosis before they will approve or reimburse your sessions. We will always ask for your permission before sharing any diagnosis or other information with an insurance provider.

We may also give a diagnosis if it helps you access additional support—for example, applying for extra time during exams or getting learning accommodations at school, university, or through an examining board.

However, in most cases, we do not rely on diagnosis. Instead, we use a psychological approach called formulation. A formulation is a way of understanding your difficulties by looking at the bigger picture—how your life experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact with each other. It helps us understand not just what is going on, but why things might be happening and how we can help.

This approach avoids the risks that sometimes come with diagnosis, such as stigma, oversimplification, or people feeling labelled. It also allows us to tailor our support more precisely to your unique situation.

If you’d like to discuss whether a diagnosis might be useful in your case, we’re happy to talk it through with you during your consultation.

If you'd like to read more about formulation and psychiatric diagnosis you can view our webpage on the subject. 

 

Our psychologists won’t say anything against your faith or try to change your beliefs. In fact, many clients talk openly about their spirituality during sessions. We aim to work alongside your faith, not against it.

Psychologists teach skills that you can use in addition to your beliefs - just like you might see a doctor for an illness while also praying for recovery. Faith and psychology can work hand-in-hand to support your well-being.

Yes we can still help. We won't make you talk about anything you’re not ready for!

It's possible to focus entirely on what's happening in the present or what you’d like to change for the future. In fact, psychological interventions such as CBT, ACT and our ReFlex Method are usually more focused on what to do in the present to improve your current situation

If we think it would be useful to talk about your past we would explain why it might be helpful and ask you if you would like to try doing so. Of course you can always say no!

You don’t need to know exactly what to say- your psychologist will guide the conversation, ask helpful questions, and give you plenty of time.

Most people find it difficult to explain emotional issues at first, and psychologists are very used to helping people make sense of things, even when it's hard to put into words. You can take your time, and we’ll figure things out together.

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We understand that it can feel confusing to choose the right person to talk to, to decide whether to come in person or meet online, and to know how to begin. This section is here to help you.

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The fee depends on each psychologist’s level of experience. A more experienced psychologist is often able to guide you through your difficulties more quickly. They’ve usually seen similar issues many times before, so they can explain things more clearly and help you feel more reassured.

That said, this doesn’t mean the care from our more junior psychologists is any less effective. They’re closely supported by our senior team. We have a structure in place where junior psychologists regularly discuss their cases (without identifying personal details) with senior psychologists to get guidance and supervision. This ensures the quality of care stays high, even if the psychologist you’re seeing is newer to the profession.

In fact, you may find that junior psychologists are especially committed and engaged, as they’re actively working to grow and improve their skills. They care deeply about doing a good job. If you ever feel that something isn’t working, please let them know — they’ll appreciate the feedback and will also speak to our senior team to make sure you’re fully supported.

Our junior psychologists are all trained in our ReFlex Method — a way of working we’ve developed together as a team. It combines the best evidence-based psychological practices with an approach that’s tailored to the real-life challenges people face, especially in a Malaysian and Asian context. This ensures you’ll receive high-quality, culturally relevant care from any of our team.

No, you won’t have a long wait between sessions once we begin.

We use a waiting list to make sure that, when we start seeing you, we can offer regular appointments—usually weekly or every two weeks—so you can make steady progress.

Once you’re on the list, we’ll contact you as soon as a suitable space becomes available. In most cases, we follow a first-come, first-served approach. However, if someone is facing a serious emergency, we may prioritise them for urgent support.

So while there might be some wait before your first session, we’ll do our best to get back to you quickly—and once we begin, you can expect us to be available to speak to you once a week or once every two weeks, so we can help you work through your challenges and live a fulfilling life as quickly as possible.

That’s okay — it happens sometimes! Even when both people are kind and well-meaning, the connection just doesn’t click. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you or the psychologist. It’s just about compatibility. Therapy works best when you feel comfortable and understood, so if it doesn’t feel like the right fit, let your psychologist know. We’ll be happy to help you find someone else who might suit you better. Just tell us a bit about what you’re looking for.

That said, it’s also common to feel unsure once therapy starts getting into the deeper stuff. As you begin to open up and your psychologist starts gently challenging you, it might feel uncomfortable — and that can sometimes make people feel like they don’t like their psychologist. But this is often a normal and important part of the process.

If you’re ever feeling unsure, it’s really helpful to bring it up with your psychologist. They won’t be offended — in fact, it’s part of their job to help you understand and work through those feelings.

Both online and in-person sessions have their pros and cons, and the right choice often depends on what works best for you.

In-person sessions can feel more personal. You’re in the same room as your psychologist, which means you can both pick up more easily on body language and get a stronger sense of being together in the same space.

But there are good reasons why online sessions might work better for some people. Travelling in KL traffic isn’t easy, especially if you’ve got work or family commitments. Being able to speak to someone from the comfort of your home can make it much easier to get help when you need it.

Some people worry that it might feel strange or less meaningful to talk about personal issues online. But in our experience, once you’re in conversation with a psychologist, online sessions work surprisingly well — often better than expected. Unlike social conversations, therapy focuses quickly on the deeper issues. And once you’re in that space, being online doesn’t get in the way. You still feel connected, and your psychologist can still notice your facial expressions, your tone of voice, and other small cues that matter.

So, while some people may prefer to meet in person (and we’ll always try to accommodate that), the difference in effectiveness is usually very small — if any.

The main exception is with young children. Children under 13 often find it hard to stay focused in an online session. They tend to engage better when they can move around, play with toys, and interact face-to-face. For them, in-person sessions are usually the better option.

Some of our psychologists do have a waiting list, but if you’re already feeling like you need support, it’s usually better to start speaking to someone sooner rather than waiting.

We recommend beginning with one of the psychologists who is available. Often, people find that they make good progress even if it wasn’t the psychologist they originally had in mind. But if you still feel you’d prefer to see someone else later on, that’s completely fine—you can let our team know and we’ll put you on the waiting list for your preferred psychologist. We’ll update you as soon as a space becomes available, and if you’d like to switch over at that point, we’re happy to help you do that.

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It depends on your child’s age and needs, but generally, yes—especially for younger children. Young children often find it difficult to explain what’s wrong, so having a parent or carer involved helps our psychologists to better understand what they’re going through. In most cases, we suggest that a parent or carer attend sessions with children aged 13 or younger, as they often need support in communicating what they’re experiencing.

With older teenagers and young adults, it depends more on what they prefer and whether they feel confident talking about their problems on their own. Some may feel more comfortable speaking openly without a parent present, while others might benefit from your support in early sessions.

We usually begin with a joint meeting that includes the child and their parent or carer. This allows us to gather important background information, understand your concerns, and help your child feel more at ease. After about 20–30 minutes together, we may spend some time with your child individually (around 20–25 minutes), and then bring everyone back together briefly at the end.

If you have a lot you’d like to share, it can be helpful to book a separate parent consultation before your child’s session. We often suggest that some of what’s been discussed is repeated in front of the child, so they know what has already been shared and don’t feel pressured to explain everything themselves.

After the first meeting, whether you continue attending depends on what your child needs, what they feel comfortable with, and whether they give us permission to share information with you (for more information see the question in this section 'Can you tell me what my child said?').

Our psychologists will talk through the options with you and guide you on what’s likely to be most helpful.

If your child is older and able to remember and use what they've talked about in the session, we may not need to meet with you very often. The younger your child is, the more likely it is that we will speak with you regularly. This is because younger children often find it hard to remember or explain what they’ve learned, and they may need your help to practise these skills at home.

You’re always welcome to reach out to us if you have concerns or would like to discuss anything further. We see our work with your child as a partnership with you.

We work closely with parents and carers because children do best when everyone works together. You know your child well, and we bring psychological skills to support them. When we combine both, we can better help your child.

However, we tell all our clients, including children, that we won't tell anyone else what they have told us unless they give us permission to do so. We do this because people are much more likely to tell us what's causing them distress when they know their sessions are private and confidential.

There is one exception. If we believe your child, or someone else, is at risk of serious harm, we will inform you or someone who can help keep them safe. We will also try to speak with your child first, so they are not surprised.

We do encourage children and teenagers to involve their parents even if they are initially reluctant. Sometimes they need time to trust us before they feel ready for us to share things with you. If your child agrees, we can share updates with you, suggest helpful strategies, and work together to support them at home.

You can read more about our confidentiality rules and other ethical issues here.

The number of consultations your child may need depends on their individual situation, the nature of the challenges they are facing, and the goals of therapy. Some children may benefit from just a few sessions, while others may need longer-term support.

After the first one or two consultations, your psychologist will discuss their initial impressions with you and suggest a general approach. We do not usually provide a fixed number of sessions at the start, as every child’s needs can change over time. Instead, we regularly review progress and adjust the plan to make sure the support remains helpful and appropriate.

One challenge that can arise is if your child has not given us permission to share information about what they are discussing. We understand this can be difficult for parents. Unfortunately, without permission, we cannot explain in detail what is happening in the sessions. However, we will always monitor whether we believe your child is benefiting from the work. If we feel that therapy is not helping, we will inform you. It would be unethical for us to continue if we did not believe we could make a positive difference. Our first aim is always to help — and if we are not able to do that, we would not continue.

We know that as a parent, you’re eager to understand how your child is doing and what the next steps might be. It’s completely natural to want an update after your child has met with a psychologist - especially if you weren’t present in the session.

Sometimes parents ask if we can send a summary or care plan by email. While this seems like a quick and convenient way to stay informed, we have trialled providing regular email updates in the past; however, we found that this approach often led to unintended negative outcomes. Here's why:

1. Psychological Care Needs Careful Explanation

Psychological recommendations often involve sensitive information, nuanced observations, and complex reasoning. These are best explained in conversation, where we can give proper context, check understanding, and answer any questions you may have. Without this back-and-forth, there’s a real risk of misunderstandings — or of the information being taken in the wrong way.

2. A Written Plan Can Be Too Restrictive

While it’s natural to want something concrete, care plans in psychology often need to remain flexible. Children grow, situations change, and our understanding of what’s going on can develop over time. A written plan shared too early — or without the ability to adjust and discuss — can feel definitive when in fact, the most effective support often comes from a dynamic, evolving approach. We prefer to work in partnership with parents to adapt interventions as things become clearer.

3. Writing a Plan Takes Time — and Care

Summarising a child’s needs and our clinical recommendations in writing is not a quick task. Psychologists are trained to be very careful in how we word things — especially when it comes to sensitive topics — to avoid misunderstandings or unhelpful interpretations. We also have to consider how these summaries might be read in the future — perhaps by you, or by your child — and make sure that what we write is clear, respectful, and unlikely to cause confusion or distress later on. This level of precision takes time, which is why detailed written updates are usually provided as part of a formal report or letter.

7. Why Regular Updates Can Be Challenging

We know it can be difficult to wait, especially when you're hoping for reassurance or guidance. But one of the most important parts of our work is creating a space where children feel safe enough to talk openly. Sometimes, children share things with us that they’re not yet ready to share with their parents. When that happens, we don't immediately pass it on — not because we want to exclude parents, but because we know that trust takes time to build.

We always encourage children to talk to the adults in their lives who can help — especially their parents. Part of our role is supporting them to feel confident enough to do that. But if we were to share everything without their permission, they might stop telling us anything at all. And if that happens, we won’t be able to help them.

That said, if we ever believe that someone may come to serious harm — including your child or anyone else — we would always take steps to protect them, even if your child hasn’t given permission for us to share that information.

This gap between what we may know and what we are able to tell parents is particularly difficult via email. It can make any written update seem unclear, inconsistent, or even confusing. You might wonder why we are focusing on a particular issue or approach when we can’t yet explain the full context behind it.

What can we offer instead of email updates?

To make sure that our communication is clear, thoughtful, and supportive of both you and your child, we recommend discussing important matters either in person or through a scheduled Zoom call.

This approach allows us to explain the situation carefully, respond to your questions in real time, and ensure that you feel fully informed and involved in a way that protects your child's trust and wellbeing.

Please note that any meeting where we share information with you assumes that we have your child's permission to do so, as described in our confidentiality section. If we do have their permission, we can arrange a meeting where we share that information directly with you. We would still need your child's consent unless there is a risk of serious harm, in which case we would break confidentiality to ensure safety.

If it becomes necessary for your child to have a formal report or letter, we can arrange a meeting to discuss what information is needed, how it should be written, and how it can best support your child's needs while respecting their confidentiality and wellbeing.

 

Yes, we can write a report or letter for your child if needed. Reports or letters can summarise the support your child is receiving, outline assessment results, or provide recommendations for schools or other professionals.

If you require a report or letter, please discuss it with your psychologist. They will explain what information can be included and how long it may take to prepare. There may be an additional fee depending on the length and complexity of the report. We will always agree with you in advance on what will be written, and we aim to ensure that the report is clear, professional, and helpful for its intended purpose.

Please note that we do not usually take on legal work, such as reports for custody cases. This is because legal work often requires specific training in giving expert testimony, which is not a focus of our practice.