Kawai Teng
Kawai is currently accepting new clients.
Background and Experience
Kawai is a clinical registrar who completed her Master of Clinical Psychology at Charles Darwin University. Kawai has 8 years of experience in the mental health sector, including 3 years of supervised clinical practice across community and private settings. Kawai has provided assessment, support and treatment for individuals six years old and above, presenting with a wide range of intersectional or co-morbid challenges.
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Kawai’s identity and passion as a clinician is continually shaped by the experiences of individuals she has worked with. The diversity of Kawai’s background offers her the ability to develop an in-depth understanding of complex presentations, which enhances her approach towards clinical assessment and treatment delivery. Kawai’s postgraduate research studied treatments for individuals with complex trauma and is central to Kawai’s passion in trauma-informed and -focused intervention.
Therapeutic Approach
While starting therapy may be challenging, Kawai believes that the choice to actively, honestly, and openly participate in our own healing journey will in itself be the ultimate catalyst for meaningful change. The foundation of Kawai’s approach is to create a safe, empowering, and validating space for clients to explore and take charge of their narratives.
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Kawai works collaboratively with clients to develop a shared understanding of their presenting concerns and in integrative treatment plan based on individualistic needs. Upon commencing therapy, clients can count on Kawai’s ability to hold hope for healing and know that she will also prioritise supporting them to become their own champion of hope as well.
Kawai’s practices a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, and offers a therapeutic relationship that is warm, genuine, and strength-based. Her work is grounded in attachment, relational, and schema frameworks and draws upon evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Schema Therapy. Kawai also has experience in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Motivational Interviewing. ​
Areas of Interest
Kawai works across the lifespan and with a wide range of presentations. Kawai is passionate about supporting individuals through difficult life experiences to foster a balanced and whole sense of self, relational stability, and emotional safety. Her particular areas of clinical interest are attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adulthood and complex trauma. Work in diversity and intersectional challenges is also very important to her.
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Kawai conducts sessions in English but can understand basic Mandarin, Cantonese, and Malay.