Charis Wong

Director of KIN & KiDS
Marriage and Family Therapist
Counseling Psychologist
Registered Play Therapist (USA)

Making an appointment to see a therapist for the first time can be an intimidating experience. This is why I do my best to ensure that you feel at ease and are given as much information as you need prior to making a decision to engage in therapy with me.

I previously held two mental health licenses in the State of Texas, where I obtained my graduate-level training in four major areas of mental health discipline – marriage and family therapy, psychology, counseling and play therapy. My training in psychology in USA included intensive training in testing and assessment. I therefore consult psychological and psychoeducational assessments for clinical diagnosis and head the psychologists team at KIN & KiDS.

My mental health work experience in Texas include working as a psychiatric assessment clinician at a psychiatric hospital, a psychological assistant at a residential home for individuals who are intellectually challenged, and a therapist at several outpatient community counseling agencies. In Malaysia, I have worked at a university psychological and counseling center as well as a private practitioner. I have also worked as a lecturer and clinical supervisor in both the graduate and undergraduate Psychology programs at HELP University. Prior to becoming a mental health professional, I worked as an attorney in Malaysia for six years doing litigation and corporate law.

While I am open to seeing people with various issues, my area of interest is in working with couples and families from diverse backgrounds, as well as with children with adjustment issues.

As a marriage counselor, I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and have been privileged to be a co-facilitator in the Hold Me Tight program along with a team of USA-Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. I am also trained in Discernment Counseling by the founder, Dr. William Doherty, a specific approach to help couples with divorce ambivalence. I am particularly interested in helping distressed couples who are trying to cope with the aftermath of an affair(s), couples struggling with vaginismus/fear of intercourse, couples who are contemplating a divorce, couples who desire to have amicable co-parenting after divorce, expatriate couples and cross-cultural couples.

As a USA-Registered Play Therapist, I have special interest and experience working with parents and children who have experienced trauma or significant life changing events. As a play therapist who is also a family therapist, I work with families in crisis and help family members to rebuild broken or strained relationships especially after significant life changing events. I also conduct graduate-level play therapy training and supervision, parent and teacher coaching, and consultation and interventions in school settings.

I have conducted evaluations to assist the family High Court in determining what child custody and parenting time arrangements are in the child’s best interest where divorcing parents are unable to agree on custody or access, or where there are allegations of parental unfitness. I have also work with court-referred family clients to establish parenting plans, co-parenting, facilitate parent-child reconciliation, supervised visitation and provide therapy to the children involved.

I believe that emotionally fulfilling relationships are integral components of mental and physical health. I believe that in a nurturing social environment, people can learn to be more accepting of themselves and will be more capable of maximizing their potential, thus finding happiness and contentment in their lives.

Education & Professional Licenses/Accreditation

M.S. (Counseling Psychology)(Marriage and family track), University of North Texas, USA
Graduate Academic Certificate (Play Therapy/Child Counseling), University of North Texas, USA
B.S. (Applied Psychology), Upper Iowa University, USA
L.L.B. (Hons) 2nd Upper, University of Malaya
Registered Play Therapist (Association of Play Therapy, USA)
Approved Provider (#11288) (Association of Play Therapy, USA) (inactive)
Registered and Licensed Counselor (#KB01868), Malaysia
Formerly Licensed Professional Counsellor-Intern (LPC-I) (#64698), Texas, USA
Formerly Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) (#201404), Texas, USA

Other qualifications/training

AAMFT Supervisor Candidate
Certificate of Mediation, Bar Council Malaysia
Advocate and Solicitor, Malaysia (inactive)
Certified PREPARE-ENRICH facilitator
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (Basic Externship, Core Skills 1 & 2)
Love & Logic Teacher and Parent Education Independant Facilitator