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About Me

Dr Ivan Zy Lim earned his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology with The Professional School of Psychology, USA, a Master’s Degree in Social Science from SwinBurne University and four postgraduate qualifications in Counseling, Social Science, Counseling Supervision and Adult Continuing Education. Trained as a CBT therapist he has extensive experience in professional counselling and group dynamics. His qualifications also equip him with advanced knowledge and skills in curriculum and courseware development, as well as the ability to facilitate training and assessment, giving him the expertise to work in the WSQ (Workforce Skills Qualifications) system and beyond, in a wide range of institutional settings 

 

Dr Lim gained clinical experience in assessment and treatment through many different permutations of patient care – in-patient addiction and mental health rehab centre, out-patient mental health clinic, day-treatment centre for the chronically mentally ill, and specialised clinics for children, adolescents and families.

 

Prior to this profession, Dr Lim had over 20 years of experience in the corporate world and had superb track records in pioneering and managing regional operations in the Asia Pacific. He has extensive experience in multi-cultural consulting, training and team facilitation; and has delivered workshops in 13 countries around Asia Pacific. Dr Lim was a highly sought-after professional known for his accomplishments in multi-national corporations. His in-depth knowledge of the Asia Pacific markets and cultures was instrumental in his success.

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Dr Lim is a strong believer in living a balanced and healthy life. His other passions include Chinese martial art, Qigong, philosophy/spirituality, Lion & Dragon dance. His interest in Hung Gar Kung Fu comes from his involvement in the training of this Chinese martial art for over 50 years. His Hung Gar path was and still is a significant part of his physical, philosophical, emotional, psychological and spiritual being. Taken to its deepest and most authentic meaning, Kung Fu is a way of life, not just a hobby. His passion for it comes from the unique philosophy within this system that he believe is transferable into a counselling and life philosophy context. Therefore, Dr Lim has integrates Chinese martial art philosophy (Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism ) and Western talk therapy, a fusion of Eastern ideas with Western process. It provides an approach to learning and living well; the practical, the psychological and the spiritual, the intent is to offer a postmodern therapy that will meet the needs of an increasingly multicultural population.

Professional Education

  • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) - USA

  • Master of Social Science (MSocSc) - Australia

  • Diploma in Supervision for Counselling Practitioner - UK

  • Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education - Singapore

  • Graduate Diploma in Social Science - Australia

  • Specialist Diploma in Counselling Psychology - Singapore

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Major Programmes Attended

  • Naikan & Morita Therapy

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Mindfulness Without Borders Certified Trainer

  • Restorative Practice (RP) Train-The-Trainer

  • Motivational Interviewing - Master Level

  • IIRP Using Circle Effectively

  • IIRP Facilitating Restorative Conference

  • ACT for Depression

  • Gambling Addiction Assessment & Brief Interventions

  • Working with Youth and Adult Substance Abusers

  • Motivational Interviewing in Prison Context

  • Dealing with Difficult Offender

  • Youth Gangsterism and Violence

  • Professional Training for Educators and Practitioners - Transformation of At Risk Youth

  • ScreamFree Leaders Training

  • ScreamFree Parenting Training

  • Marriage Prepare/Enrich Training

  • Supporting & Enabling Children and Families in Divorce 

  • Certified Coach-Based Consultant

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Green tea

My Philosophy

Psychotherapy theories and practice in Asia borrow extensively from Western methods. The most common approaches adopted by Asian counsellors / psychotherapist include behaviorism, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychoanalysis. The questions are: Does psychology as an import from Western culture adequately explain Eastern behavior? Are all human brains; development, cognition, and behavioral patterns alike? Are its methods of therapy appropriate or displaced? Are the goals for outcome similar, or must they be modified to reflect the values of the culture?

 

From a personal point of view, my studies of psychology and my own extended experience with psychotherapy as a client, at best, never afforded me more than a certain degree of mental satisfaction and awareness of things that need to change, but no satisfying method to effect these changes. Actually very little deep personal transformation emerged from these studies and consultations. No matter how much I understood why I felt a certain way, I would still feel the same or worse. All these led me to believe that something fundamental was missing from the current psychological approach for Asian 

 

Western model at its foundation, is one that is overlaid by the values of ancient Greece, such as individuation, self-control, and self-efficacy. The cultures of Asia have at their core the values of ancient China, such as hierarchy, (attitudes to authority and manner of relating to others to the way one thinks and including such mundane behaviours as how one sits, sleeps, and eats), moral development, achievement, and social responsibility, and a non-dualistic medical system that is based on principles of balance and harmony

 

This has led me to put forth a framework, the PATH Conceptual Framework, a fusion of Eastern philosophy with Western process that integrates several research-based approaches. It provides an approach to learning and living well; the practical, the psychological and the spiritual, the intent is to offer a postmodern therapy that will meet the needs of an increasingly multicultural population.

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