Workplace Issues

In Singapore, 40% of employees report facing high mental health risks, with nearly half experiencing moderate risk.

Studies have found that having good workplace mental health can boost productivity and lead to better results for individuals and organisations. As such, addressing workplace stress and mental health challenges is crucial for employees, employers, and the broader economy.

What Are Work-Related Mental Health Issues?

Work-related mental health issues refer to psychological, emotional and behavioural challenges that develop as a result of job-related stressors. 

These issues can include anxiety, depression, burnout, exhaustion, and more, often caused by excessive workload, relationships in the workplace, job insecurity or lack of support from the workplace.

Types Of Work-Related Stress

Us Therapy Team

Common types of work-related stress include:

  • Burnout: depersonalisation, reduced performance and emotional exhaustion 
  • Role conflict: unclear or conflicting job expectations 
  • Job strain: high demands with a reduced sense of control 
  • Workplace harassment/ bullying: mistreatment by colleagues or managers
  • Compassion fatigue: common in caregiving roles, can cause emotional numbness over time

Types Of Mental Health Issues At Work

This could include, but are not limited to:

Psychological

Physical

Behavioural

  • Anxiety 
  • Depression 
  • Irritability and anger
  • Overwhelmed 
  • Cognitive difficulties, e.g. unable to concentrate
  • Fatigue 
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Muscular tension 
  • Sleep issues e.g. insomnia and hypersomnia 
  • Gastric issues
  • Increase in sick days taken 
  • Aggression 
  • Decrease in work performance and quality 
  • Mood swings 
  • Isolation

Causes Of Work-Related Stress

Some examples of factors that can cause work-related stress:

  • Heavy workload
  • Lack of autonomy 
  • Long hours 
  • Stressful deadlines
  • Understimulating tasks 
  • Over-supervision or micromanagement 
  • Discrimination and harassment

When To Seek Help?

It is essential to seek help when work-related issues start to affect your mood, sleep, relationships, or overall functioning, whether at work or home.

If you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness, burnout, or chronic anxiety, speaking to a mental health professional can be beneficial in providing you with support and guidance to navigate your workplace issues.

How Can Us Help You?

Us Therapy Staff

Experienced Therapists

Our processes and quality assurance is led by Dr.Emma Waddington, a UK-trained senior clinician psychologist and Founder of Us Therapy, with over 20+ years of experience in helping individuals in Singapore.

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Holistic & Personalised Approach

Our clinicians draw from various therapeutic models to create a holistic approach. At Us, we have seen hundreds of clients and we recognise that each individual is unique. Our approach is tailored to you but always includes customised treatment plans and integrative techniques.

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Thorough Assessment

At Us, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive assessment processes. We will undergo a thorough assessment process with you in your first sessions before we come up with a plan for your therapy.

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Our Therapists​

Dr Emma Waddington - Us Therapy

Dr. Emma Waddington

Dr Karin Rechsteiner - Us Therapy

Dr. Karin Rechsteiner

Maheen Hamid - Us Therapy

Maheen Hamid

Yamini Yadav Associate Counsellor

Yamini Yadav

Kate Minosora​ - Us Therapy

Kate Minosora

Dr. Natasha Mitter

Therapy Approaches

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Effective treatment involves a tailored approach, often combining behavioural therapy, medical intervention, and lifestyle changes.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps in identifying and reframing negative thoughts related to work, which can include fear of failing, perfectionism or catastrophising situations at work. It teaches you the practical skills to manage stress effectively.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT builds psychological flexibility and aligns behaviour with personal values. It supports clients in accepting work stress without avoidance and taking meaningful action despite discomfort.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy explores any unconscious conflicts and past experiences that could have impacted workplace behaviours and relationships by uncovering deeper-rooted issues from early experiences.

How To Manage Work-Related Stress Outside Therapy

Manage work-related stress by implementing some of the following recommendations.

Lifestyle Changes

This can include sleep, exercise and nutrition, which, if done, can support mental health greatly 

Workplace Adjustments

Communicate your needs, ask for flexible work hours or responsibilities if needed

Support Systems 

Talk to trusted colleagues and friends, inquire about Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) through your company

Stress Management Techniques 

It can help reduce work-related stress by improving how we respond and think about pressure. This can include boundary setting, time management and challenging negative thoughts to help you cope and stay focused at work. Inquire with our professionals on how you can manage work stress in a way that works for you better.

What To Expect

The first session is all about getting to know you. It is a conversation—one where you can share what is been on your mind, what has been feeling difficult, and what you would like support with. Your therapist will ask questions about your background, experiences, and goals, but there is no pressure to answer any questions—just a safe space to begin.

To help tailor therapy to your needs, you may be asked to fill out some brief questionnaires before or after your first session. These can give insight into things like mood, stress levels, relationship patterns, or coping strategies. They are not tests—just tools to help your therapist understand how best to support you.

Each session is a step forward in your journey. Therapy is not just about talking—it is about discovering new ways to navigate life’s challenges, make sense of emotions, and feel like you are getting the most out of your life. Depending on your needs, sessions may focus on:

  • Exploring patterns of thought and behavior
  • Understanding past experiences and their impact on the present
  • Developing practical coping tools
  • Strengthening emotional resilience

After the first few sessions (or after assessments), a feedback session provides space to reflect on how therapy is going. This is a chance to talk about what has been helpful, what you would like more of, and how therapy can continue to best serve you.

Intervention is where meaningful change happens. Every therapy journey is unique, and the approach will be shaped around what works best for you. Some common approaches include:

🌱 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helping to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, reduce anxiety, and develop healthier ways to cope and new patterns of behaviour.

🧠 Schema Therapy – Deep, transformational work to uncover long-standing patterns that might be keeping you stuck, often rooted in early life experiences.

💙 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Learning to handle difficult emotions with self-compassion and move towards what truly matters in life.

🌊 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – A powerful approach for healing trauma and distressing memories, helping the brain reprocess them in a way that feels less overwhelming.

🧘 Mindfulness-Based Approaches – Building self-awareness, grounding techniques, and ways to manage stress and emotions with greater ease.

Fees

Individual Counselling Rates

Clinician type

Fees and Duration

Clinic Founder

$310

Principal Psychologist

$290

Senior Clinical Psychologist

$262

Educational Psychologist

$262

Clinical Psychologist

$236

Counsellor

$170

Expressive Arts Therapist

$170

Associate Psychologist

$130

Phone calls / Emails

Clinicians rate pro-rata (10 Mins)

FAQs About Workplace Issues

Some signs of work stress include:

  1. Trouble sleeping
  2. Feeling overwhelmed or anxious
  3. Physical symptoms like headaches
  4. Withdrawing from coworkers
  5. Decreased productivity or focus

A negative, hostile workplace can worsen existing mental health issues or create new ones. Additionally, poor mental health can impact your relationships, focus, performance and decision making. 

If possible, speak to a supervisor to explore accommodations available to you. It is also important to seek a therapist, HR, or find Employee Assistance Programs for your support.