Meet The Therapists
Priscilla De Netto
Mentalogue
Priscilla De Netto
Licensed Professional Counsellor
“Being positive doesn’t mean all rainbows and butterflies. Instead it means that if there’s a storm, you can weather it and you will be okay.”
Meet Priscilla De Netto, one of our onboarded providers who is working at Bae Counseling Centre and is a licensed and registered counsellor.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counsellor with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia and the Australian Counselling Association. I’m also a certified trainer for couples in the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP). Currently, I am doing research on couples and I teach university students psychology.
I believe there is no health without mental health. I also believe that it’s never too late to make a positive change in your life, unlearn past ways, and relearn new healthy ones. I’m passionate about creating a safe space for my clients to help them enrich their self-care strategies, support them in their healing journey, and ultimately finding the best version of themselves.
Things I love are chocolate, flowers, jazz music, and a good cup of coffee. I’m a major mystery movie buff. I enjoy immersing myself in lush greenery and relaxing by the blue ocean as it always keeps me calm and recharges my body and mind. I absolutely love spending time with my loved ones and moments where we just laugh till our stomachs hurt (in a good way). I strongly believe in Waldinger’s quote that “The good life is built with good relationships” and it is my aim to aid my clients to achieve this “good life”.
What sparked your interest in mental health?
I’m not sure where my interest stemmed from but I have always been intrigued by the human mind, its complexity and the mystery which surrounds it; why do people behave the way they do, what drives their perceptions and behaviors as well as how is it that different people respond in so many various ways to the same exact situation. This curiosity of mine drove me to my path of studying psychology during my degree, which then turned into a passion of studying human behavior and the helping profession as continued to pursue my Masters in Counselling and PhD in psychology.
What do you love most about delivering care to your clients?
Washington Booker once said that “those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others”. I resonate with his quote and I truly feel this as counselling is the most rewarding job I have ever had. Experiencing the joy when darkness lifts in a person’s life and the satisfaction it gives me is what that motivates me to make counselling my daily job. As cliché as it sounds, my goal in life is to try and make a difference in people’s lives. I believe that every word, step and action a person takes, no matter how little, has the potential to affect another person’s life tremendously. So, just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, seemingly trivial actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. It is my desire to be this “pebble”, by providing people guidance, support, and an objective perspective when they evaluate their own problems. Moreover, I grow personally and professionally while counselling many unique individuals of diverse backgrounds. This is because I gain knowledge about different clients’ views, experiences, and cultures which I absolutely love!
How do you take care of your mental health?
A huge part of maintaining my mental health is having a work-life balance. Ensuring I do not work after hours and having boundaries with colleagues and clients are important to me. Essentially, spending time with my loved ones, my support system tremendously aids in going through the ebbs and flows of life. I love having a stroll in nature with them, going on trips to the beach as well as exploring new cafes to hunt for a good cup of ice coffee. I also like to have my “me time” with indoor spa days (DIY face mask etc.) while I Netflix and chill. It is usually a mixture of all of these personal and relationship care regimens that keeps me going and having the good life.
What is your approach to helping?
I view counselling as self-care and a healing space for learning to better cope with the ups and downs of life. Thus, having a counselling space where you feel comfortable and safe to explore your wants and needs for growth is crucial to me. Part of achieving this is ensuring that a counsellor’s personality, style, and orientation is a good fit and compatible to you as one size does not fit all. This can be assessed in the first few sessions with me.
I use an integrative approach of Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), Mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I consider that positive and negative emotions play complementary roles and are not opposite ends of the pole. They are essential for us to be resilient and to achieve a thriving, and well-balanced life. Thus, it is vital to infuse the practice of embracing and enhancing positive emotions as well as learning to adapt and cope with negative emotions.
Together with my clients, I aim in supporting their journey of positive change by feeling empowered, compassionate, and self-love. I also believe I can help clients get “unstuck”, gain clarity and control, make meaningful connections as well as conquer life challenges. Thus, creating the best version of themselves and living the life they want.
What are your favorite books or movies on mental health and why?
Good-Will Hunting is a pretty good movie that is related to mental health. It shows unconventional ways of therapy but I do not recommend some of Robin William’s (the therapist) methods. However, my ultimate favorite show is Sherlock Holmes. I’m usually drawn to mystery and investigative movies and shows. I am absolutely fascinated by Sherlock’s thought process and how he analyses human behavior and situations to solve crime. I believe a theme can be seen in my favorite show and my line of work of analyzing and evaluating my clients’ situation, and helping them with their problems and growth.