TRAUMA

Language: English

Could this be you?

• Are you feeling overwhelmed by workplace pressure, with stress that follows you home long after the working day ends?
• Have you reached a crossroads in your career and feel unsure which direction to take — or whether you have the strength to take it?
• Do you find yourself running on empty, using coping strategies that no longer serve you — or that you know are holding you back?
• Are you ready to stop simply enduring difficulties and start building the resilience to face them with confidence and clarity?
• Do you know your health needs to change — your weight, your energy, your habits — but feel stuck on where to start or how to make it last?

About Kane – Turning Pressure into Purpose

After 25 years navigating demanding corporate environments across the Asia-Pacific region — including more than a decade in Hong Kong, and earlier chapters in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, and Shanghai — Kane Steele is making a deliberate transition into counselling as a counsellor-in-training. The reason is clear: he has seen, first-hand, what sustained stress and an absence of resilience can do to talented, capable people. And he is here to help change that.

Kane's work is grounded in the belief that resilience is not a personality trait you either have or don't have — it is a set of skills, strategies, and mental habits that can be learned, practised, and strengthened. His clients learn to draw on their own inner resources when conditions are at their hardest, emerging not just intact but with greater clarity, confidence, and direction than before.

Kane's interest in counselling extends beyond the psychological into the holistic. Having navigated his own significant health journey — including reversing a fatty liver diagnosis within six weeks through disciplined changes to nutrition, movement, and daily habits — he brings a deeply personal and evidence-informed understanding of what it takes to change not just your mind, but your body and your life. He has presented on health and wellness transformation, covering the science of fat metabolism, body composition, nutrition, strength training, and the psychological discipline required to make change sustainable. His life formula — discipline, fitness, clean eating, sun, nature — reflects a whole-person approach to wellbeing that he brings into the counselling room. Kane understands that physical health and mental health are not separate: they are two sides of the same coin, and that sustainable resilience is built through attending to both.

“Resilience is not about being unaffected by difficulty. It is about developing the knowledge, the tools, and the mindset to navigate difficulty — and to grow because of it.” – Inspired by the lessons of resilience at qf32.aero (book a session to learn more).

With a background spanning high-pressure commercial roles — including company-wide digital transformation in both senior management and C-suite positions — across sectors including technology, retail, manufacturing, and fast-moving consumer goods, and across markets as culturally distinct as Australia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, mainland China, Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe — Kane brings to each session a genuine understanding of what professional life in the Asia-Pacific region demands. Having lived and worked across these diverse cultures, he has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of understanding different cultural contexts, customs, and the unique pressures they place on individuals. He understands what it means to be an outsider finding your footing, to manage across cultures, and to build a career far from home. He has lived the pressures his clients describe — the competing deadlines, the identity questions that come with career transitions, the exhaustion that accumulates when we don't know how to switch off, the quiet sense that our current coping strategies simply aren't working any more.

Whether you are a finance professional navigating a high-stakes pivot, a technology leader managing burnout, an expat questioning whether your career in Asia still aligns with who you are, or simply someone who has reached a point where the old ways of coping are no longer enough — Kane's blend of cultural fluency and counselling training means you will feel genuinely understood.

His approach is collaborative, pragmatic, and always forward-facing. Kane works with you to understand the patterns that are keeping you stuck, to develop coping mechanisms tailored to your life and circumstances, and to build the kind of durable, long-term resilience that carries you through not just today's challenges but tomorrow's as well.

Specialisations – Areas Kane Works In
Kane specialises in helping clients with:

• Stress Management — Workplace, life, and relationship stress
• Resilience Building — Lasting mental toughness and adaptability
• Coping Mechanisms — Replacing unhelpful patterns with effective strategies
• Career Counselling — Direction, transitions, and professional identity
• Burnout & Exhaustion — Recognising and recovering from burnout
• Health & Wellness Counselling — Integrating physical and mental wellbeing
• Nutrition & Lifestyle — Sustainable habits around food, movement, and daily routine
• Weight Management & Body Composition — Holistic, psychology-informed approach
• Life Transitions — Managing change with confidence and clarity
• Expat & Relocation Challenges — The unique pressures of life abroad
• LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Counselling — A safe, inclusive space for all
• ADHD & Neurodiversity — Working with how your mind actually works
• Childhood Trauma & PTSD — Processing the past to free the present

The Approach – Real-World Experience Meets Evidence-Based Practice
What sets Kane apart is the combination of lived experience and professional training. He doesn't just understand the theory of workplace stress and career uncertainty — he has navigated both across multiple countries, industries, and life stages. That experience creates a foundation of authentic connection in the counselling room: clients feel understood because Kane genuinely understands.

Therapeutically, Kane draws on a range of evidence-based modalities adapted to everyone’s needs and goals. He does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Some clients need practical tools they can apply immediately to reduce the intensity of stress responses. Others need to explore the deeper patterns that drive their choices — particularly around careers and relationships. Kane moves at your pace, in the direction that is most useful to you.

Sessions are available in person at AMindset's Central Hong Kong office, and online for clients across Asia, Australia, the UK, Europe, and anywhere else in the world. Kane works with professionals, executives, creatives, expatriates, and anyone who wants to build a stronger, more resilient version of themselves — regardless of where they are in the world or where they are in life.

Credentials – Professional Registrations, Memberships & Qualifications
Kane holds the following professional registrations and academic qualifications. Clients searching for a counsellor-in-training in Hong Kong, or a credentialled counselling student working under clinical supervision, can be assured of Kane's commitment to professional and ethical standards.

Professional Registrations & Memberships
Greater Bay Counselling and Psychology Association — Student Member No. 069 — Hong Kong & Greater Bay Area
AMindset Psychological Services — Counsellor-in-Training, working under clinical supervision — Hong Kong

Academic Qualifications
Master of Counselling — Monash University, Australia (In Progress)
Honours Degree of Bachelor of Business & Commerce, eBusiness — Monash University, Australia
Bachelor of Business & Commerce, Management — Monash University, Australia
Diploma of Information Technology — Chisholm Institute, Australia
Kane is completing his Master of Counselling and works as part of the AMindset team under appropriate clinical supervision.

Ready to Build Your Resilience?
A free 20-minute introductory consultation is available for new clients. Take the first step — it costs nothing and could change everything.

Find out more about the LCC program here.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.

NEW LCC CLIENTS, PLEASE START HERE

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Psychotherapist and Group Counsellor. IFS level 1

Languages: English, German and Dutch. 

Contact Elise Phillipson HERE for a free online 20-minute introduction appointment.

• Are you feeling weighed down by the pain and anger of your past family dynamics, your parents' divorce, even though it happened years ago, for example?
• Do you feel like you have to be perfect all the time because of the constant criticism from your parents growing up? 
• Do you struggle with expressing your feelings and setting boundaries in your relationships? 
• Are unresolved issues from childhood causing tension and arguments in your adult relationships? 
• Is your life negatively impacted by an over-dependence on alcohol or drugs?
• As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, have you faced rejection and judgment from your family and society?

It's okay to feel this way. You are not alone. In fact, many people struggle with the after-effects of negative experiences, past and present, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and anger issues.

It's not uncommon to carry unresolved childhood trauma into adulthood, impacting every aspect of your life. But there is hope for healing. Through a psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approach, we can work through these emotions and find ways to cope and move forward.

Communication is key in any relationship, but it can be especially challenging when you've grown up in a social and family environment that didn't communicate effectively. If you struggle to express your own needs and boundaries, I can help you learn how to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships.

Betrayals and broken promises can make it hard to trust others and be vulnerable. But it's important to remember that not everyone is the same. Together, we can work on building trust and learning how to open up in a safe and supportive environment.

As a psychotherapist working with a range of modalities, I can help you work through life's challenges which will enable you to find a path towards healthier relationships, at a professional and personal level. 

If you're worried about being judged or misunderstood, please know that I provide a safe and non-judgmental space for all my clients. 

I also have worked extensively with the LBBTQ+ community and can understand the unique challenges and experiences you may face. I can provide a space where you can feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings so you can work through the trauma of rejection, judgment and misunderstandings and learn how to accept and love yourself for who you are.

I understand the challenges you're facing, and I want to help you break free from the unhealthy patterns of your past. Together, we can explore the root causes of these patterns, work through the unresolved trauma and conflicts that are holding you back and find ways to create new, healthier habits to help you live your best life, creating intergenerational change. 

Together, we'll help you overcome feelings of insecurity and unworthiness, and learn how to express your needs, boundaries, and emotions in healthy ways.

And please don't worry about dredging up painful memories from your past. We'll move at your pace and create a safe and supportive environment for you to express your feelings without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.

I understand that some people may be hesitant to seek therapy, but my approach is different. I use a psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approach, which means I'll help you uncover the root of your problems, and we’ll work through them together.

I understand that seeking therapy can be daunting, but it's important to prioritize your mental health and well-being. If you've had bad experiences with therapy in the past, I invite you to give it another try with me. My goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you can feel heard and supported.

Don't let your past family dynamics hold you back any longer. Let's work together towards a happier and healthier future.

I know that time and money can be a concern, but investing in your mental health is an investment in yourself and your future.

If you're ready to break free from the weight of your past and create a brighter future, don't let your objections hold you back from getting the help you need. Let's work together towards a happier and more fulfilling future. 

I offer flexible scheduling options and affordable rates to make therapy accessible to everyone. 

About Elise

I am a psychotherapist who is committed to helping those going through transitions in their lives – voluntary or involuntary – and including LGBTQ+ communities. Using different counselling modalities, I help you learn how to accept and embrace change, look forward and build or discover new opportunities. I believe in working with you and in taking a collaborative approach to help you alleviate your troubles and to reach your goals (usually in around 12 sessions). If you want or need to go deeper, we can take our time and look at the root causes of your hurt and pain, using psychotherapeutic methods, including psychodynamics, psychoanalysis and existential therapy.

I work from the premise that there are external and internal influences that create how we live in and react to the world. That it is a mix of both as creative beliefs that we are not good enough, carrying the burdens and behaviours of the past, that we are somehow broken, not worthy, or at fault. These beliefs create behaviour and thinking patterns that are there to prove to ourselves that these beliefs are right.

As a psychotherapist, it is my role in your life to create a safe, supported space for you to help you, as the expert in your life, to unravel the origins of these beliefs and see if they still apply. 

The therapeutic process is built on trust, unconditional positive regard and compassionate, open-minded listening from the therapist. It is the therapeutic relationship that will be of most benefit to you and therefore therapy will be geared towards your wants, needs and preferences.

I use a wide range of therapeutic modalities to work with you, as I believe that as each person is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all therapy. When we work through your issues or trauma, I apply and adapt Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, and other focused psychological strategies.

I also facilitate group counselling, in which I work with women going through the [peri-]menopause who are looking for support as I go through this prolonged, impactful change. To join, or find out more about these groups, please schedule a free 20 minute initial assessment by emailing office@mindset.hk.

I am Dutch but born in Germany and raised in Hong Kong, so I had a multicultural, tri-lingual upbringing. My background is in the service industry and in teaching, applicable parts of which influence my psychotherapy methods.

Professional Registrations and Memberships:

I have the following professional memberships/registrations:

• Hong Kong – Registered with the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association and associate member of the Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong.
• Australia – Certified Practicing Counsellor (Level 2) registered with the Australian Counselling Association.
• United Kingdom – Registered graduate member of the British Psychology Society.

Core Psychology and Psychotherapy Qualifications:

Batchelor of Science (Honours) Psychology with Counselling, First, Open University,  United Kingdom

Master of Counselling, Monash University, Australia

Specialist Training:

I have undertaken and am currently following specialist training from the following institutions: Beck Institute (USA), Internal Family Systems Institute (USA), Pink Therapy (UK), Mental Health Academy (Australia) and Tavistock and Portman, NHS Foundation Trust (UK). 

This gives me the knowledge and skill to work in a range of specialisations and issues:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Distress resulting from
  • dysfunctional upbringing.
  • Trauma
• Self-esteem and self-belief issues.
• Anger (and Violence)
• Life events: bereavement, divorce, empty nest, menopause to name a few

Elise offers counselling sessions in English, German and Dutch.

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Purchase 4-Session Package — Individual Purchase 4-Session Package — Couples

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Registered & Accredited Counsellor specialising in depth therapy for trauma

Languages: English.

Availability: Online sessions.

Contact Chris Dudgeon HERE for a free online 20-minute introduction appointment.

Do you want to break free from the shadow of trauma?

I am a qualified, registered counsellor offering depth counselling for trauma, addiction and the search for meaning.

Overcoming the effects of trauma is about making our body and our life a safe place to be again. The effects of trauma which I work most often with are:

• Substance dependency
• Problematic ways of coping, such as pornography use, gambling or gaming
• Severe anxieties such as attacks of panic, intrusive thoughts and social anxiety
• Compulsive intimacy, emotional distance and other relational difficulties
• Persistent low mood and feelings of depression
• Low self-esteem, body image and distressed eating
• Other ways of thinking or behaving that have taken hold

Much of this began, at some point, as a way to get through something, so I am less interested in judging it than in understanding it.

People often ask what I am like to sit with. I am warm, and I am direct. I will not rush you, and I will not fill a silence for the sake of it. Much of the time we go slowly, at a pace your body can bear, because trauma does not respond well to being hurried. People often say the hardest thing out loud, then look up to check my face, and it is still just me, still listening. You will not have to make yourself smaller, or edit yourself, to be met here.

How I work
However you arrive, we begin there, and move at your pace. I do not work from a fixed script. I draw on several approaches and adapt them to you.

Finding some ground. When everything feels like too much, the first work is often simply to find some ground. For this I draw on well-researched approaches, including cognitive, mindfulness-based and body-focused (somatic) work, which can help you settle anxiety, steady a craving, or find some footing when distress feels overwhelming.

Making sense of your story. As things settle, we make sense of how they came to be. This is where narrative therapy comes in, beginning from the idea that you are the expert on your own life, not me. Often the problem you are wrestling with is not you; it is something that has taken up residence, and it can be faced.

Working gently with trauma. Trauma sits underneath a great deal of what brings people to me, so it shapes how I work throughout. When you are ready, we can turn towards the harder memories, and the feelings tangled up with them, at a pace your body can bear, paying as much attention to what happens in the body as in the mind.

Going deeper, when you are ready. For some people the work goes further than easing the symptom, into questions of meaning, identity and how you want to live. This is deeper, more reflective work, never rushed and not for everyone, but for those who want it, it is where the deepest change tends to happen.

Difference is welcome here
Trauma and distress can enter anyone's life. Some of us, though, carry more of it and find less support waiting, often because of who we are or how the world has treated us. In my room, you will not have to explain or defend your identity, your background or your relationships.

Whoever you are, you will be met with respect and without judgement. I stay aware of my own position and of the ways difference can play out in therapy, so that the work stays about you.

Lived experience
Born and raised in Scotland, I am a gay man in my fifties, living and working in London. If it matters to you to work with someone who understands difference from the inside, that is part of what I bring.

Before I trained as a counsellor, I spent twenty years in professional services across the UK, Australia and Asia, which gives my practice both depth and a wide sense of the lives people lead.

Professional registrations

• Hong Kong: Greater Bay Psychology & Counselling Association and Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association
• Australia: Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
• United Kingdom: National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society and Addiction Professionals Registration Body & Network

Qualifications and training

• Master of Counselling, Monash University
• Master of Narrative Therapy, University of Melbourne
• One-year Trauma Recovery training, the Dulwich Centre
• Currently in advanced training in transpersonal and Jungian depth-oriented psychotherapy

Languages and sessions
I offer online counselling in English to individual adults across Asia-Pacific. New clients are welcome to a complimentary 20-minute introductory consultation, a chance to tell me a little about what is going on and to get a feel for whether we might work well together.

Purchase Online Session Purchase 4-Session Package — Individual