A/Prof Frederick P.K. Low ~ Associate Professor Counselling

Dr Frederick Low, a practising counselling psychologist with over 20 years of experience, has a firm belief in the scientist-practitioner model. Frederick’s core research interests revolve around interdisciplinary collaborations in schools, school counselling, and counselling for vulnerable groups (i.e. persons with special needs, individuals affected by child abuse and family violence), and refugees’ education and mental well-being. Frederick is primarily involved in qualitative research but is keen on mixed-methods projects as well.

Dr Low is playing or has played key roles in the following conferences and publications:

• 2021 - Co-Editor, Counselling & Psychotherapy Review Singapore
• 2020 - Editorial Board, Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia   
• 2015 - 2015 Scientific Committee (Co-chair), Singapore Counselling Symposium
• 2015 - 2015 Abstract Review Committee, Community Care Forum, Singapore              
• 2008 - 2010 Editorial Advisory Board, Annals of Psychotherapy and Integrative Health   
• 2009 - 2009 Scientific Committee of 19th Asian Conference on Intellectual Disabilities

Keynote presentations, plenaries and media commentaries:

• Invited Presentation “Learning Village – A ground-up project and its eco-systemic impact: Lessons & Reflections’ at Care for Refugees in Malaysia Webinar by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia (Apr 2023)
• Invited Presentation ‘Counselling in Singapore’’ at 2nd International Conference on Counseling, Education and Innovation by Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia (Nov 2022).
• Plenary ‘Academic Program in Guidance and Counseling’ at 1st International Conference for ASEAN Counselors’ by Philippines Guidance & Counseling Association & Philippines Professional Regulation Commission (Nov 2022).
• Featured Presentation & Plenary ‘Counselling: A vibrant & growing profession in Singapore’ at International Counselling Convention 2022 by International Association for Counselling and Malaysian Counselling Association (Nov 2022).
• Keynote presentation ‘Adapting, Leading and Championing Counselors' Competence and Advocacies in the Now Normal Across Setting and Culture’ at 57th Virtual Annual National and International Conference by Philippines Guidance and Counselling Association (May 2022). 
• Plenary 'Counselling and Psychotherapy:  Sharing Perspectives from Around the World’ at Counselling Month events by Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (Apr 2022).
• Keynote presentation ‘Development of Professional Counselling in Singapore: In both religious settings and in secular spaces’ at International Conference on Islamic Guidance and Counselling, Indonesia by Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga, Indonesia (Dec 2021).
• Plenary titled ‘Forging new pathways to enhance resilience and mental health in Singapore’ at the 40th-anniversary conference organized by Care Corner Singapore (Nov 2021).
• Plenary titled ‘Impact of psychosocial interventions - Post Covid-19’ at a forum organised by the National Population and Family Development Board, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia (Oct, 2020).
• Plenary titled ‘Rising above Trauma through Supervision of Supervision’ at Supervision of Supervision Conference, organised by Viriya Community Services, Singapore (Sep, 2019)
• Plenary titled ‘Child Protection at Community Level: A Trauma-Informed Approach’, at HEART@Feiyue Child Protection Specialist Centre’s 5th Anniversary Forum, Singapore (July 2018)
• Plenary titled ‘The Future of Counsellor Education and Research’, at Singapore Association for Counselling’s 35th Anniversary Conference, Singapore (Nov, 2017)
• Interview on Chinese Morning News focus story (TV) – Legislation may be needed in the future to regulate the quality of local counsellors (晨光聚焦：未来或可立法提升本地辅导员素质MediaCorp - Singapore (Nov, 2021).
• Interview on Chinese Primetime News (TV) –Counselling and Youth mental health as Singapore forms new inter-agency task force to develop a National strategy for mental health (冠病心理健康工作小组将成跨机构平台 由普杰立医生领导). - Singapore (Aug, 2021).
• Interview on Chinese Primetime News (TV) - Future job prospects for counsellors in light of reports of a surge in enrolment of Postgraduate Counselling programs during the global pandemic (疫情下 私人专业辅导学院硕士课程需求增加). - Singapore (Mar, 2021).
• Guest on Radio talk show on 96.3FM- 健康娜件事 - 疫情下的家暴 “Increased in Family Violence during Covid19 pandemic” Singapore (June, 2020).
• Interview on Chinese Primetime News (TV) - Singapore Association of Counselling’s support for the National Care Hotline set up during Covid19 pandemic (助国人应对焦虑 关爱热线). MediaCorp - Singapore (April, 2020).

Teaching

• ED5310: Practicum in Guidance and Counselling (Level 5; SIN)
• ED5311: Reflective Practice Research in Guidance and Counselling (Level 5; SIN)
• ED5853: Career and Leisure Guidance and Counselling (Level 5; SIN)
• ED5862: Foundations of Counselling Theory (Level 5; SIN)
• ED5863: Foundations of Counselling Practice (Level 5; SIN)
• ED5864: Advanced Counselling (Level 5; SIN)

Interests

Professional

• Case Consultation & Review

Research

• School counselling
• Interdisciplinary professional / clinical collaborations
• Counselling for vulnerable groups
• Refugee mental health & education
• Qualitative research

Teaching

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy / Counselling
• Person-Centred Therapy / Counselling
• Integrative Psychotherapy / Counselling
• Interdisciplinary professional / clinical collaborations
• Counselling for vulnerable groups

Experience

• 2021 to present - Associate Professor of Counselling, James Cook University (Singapore)
• 2019 to present - Co-Chair (Research & Publication Committee), Singapore Association for Counselling
• 2018 to present - Adjunct Associate Professor, Buddhist College of Singapore
• 2016 to 2021 - Executive & Clinical Director, Children's Aid Society
• 2009 to 2011 - Director (Family Service Centre), TRANS Family Services
• 2005 to 2009 - Head (Counselling & Social Work), Association for Persons with Special Needs

Research Disciplines

• Specialist studies in education (3904)
• Clinical and health psychology (5203)
• Education systems (3903)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Teaching and curriculum (1603)
• Community services (2301)
• Expanding knowledge (2801)

Awards

• 2022 - Catalyst Award - Singapore Association for Counselling
• 2011 - Graduate School Travel Prize - University of Nottingham
• 2006 - Out-of-the-Ordinary Volunteer - TRANS Family Services

Fellowships

• Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society

Memberships

• Honorary Advisor - Association for Play Therapy (Singapore)
• Master Trainer - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) - Livingworks Education (Canada)
• Registered Counsellor & Registered Supervisor - Singapore Association for Counselling
• Chartered Psychologist - British Psychological Society
• Full Member - Singapore Psychological Society
• Member - Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham, UK
• Registered Psychologist & Registered Supervisor - Singapore Psychological Society
• Registered Social Service Practitioner - Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (Singapore)
• Clinical Member - Singapore Association for Counselling

Other

• 2023 - Review Board under Children & Young Persons Act
• 2022 - Vice Chairman, Therapeutic Advisory Council - Family Justice Courts (Singapore)
• 2021 - Steering Committee (Panel of Therapeutic Specialists) - Family Justice Courts (Singapore)
• 2017 to 2018 - Expert Panel (Counselling Capabilities for Early Risk Family) - Ministry of Social and Family Development (Singapore)
• 2015 to 2016 - Expert Panel (Family Life Education & Family Specialist Work) - Ministry of Social and Family Development (Singapore)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Low P and van der Laan L (2023) Community-school collaborations: community counsellors’ perceptions of school counselling in Singapore. Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 14 (1). pp. 70-82
• Siah P, Low S, T’ng S, Ho K, Lim Y, Cheng S and Low P (in press) Improving the education quality for refugee children: perspectives from teachers at refugee education centres in Malaysia. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies,
• Siah P, Low S, Ho K, Lim Y, T’ng S and Low P (2020) Challenges of refugee teachers in Malaysian community-based learning centers. Makara Hubs-Asia, 24 (1). pp. 73-79
• Kok W, Ong A, Pheh K, Low S, Tan C and Low P (2019) Assessing the effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme for refugee teachers in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medical Science, 26 (6). pp. 120-126
• Low P (2015) Stakeholders’ Perceptions of School Counselling in Singapore. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 25 (2). pp. 200-216
• Low P (2015) School counselling in Singapore: teachers’ thoughts and perceptions. Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 6 (1-2). pp. 17-27
• Low P (2014) Looking in from the outside: community counsellors’ opinions and attitudes to school counselling in Singapore. Pastoral Care in Education, 32 (4). pp. 295-305
• Low P (2009) Considering the Challenges of Counselling Practice in Schools. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 31. pp. 71-79

Book Chapters

• Low P (2019) Interdisciplinary Professional Partnerships. In: Oxford Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology. Oxford University Press

Other research outputs

• Chan J, Fan G, Ganapathi S, Kok J, Lee B and Low Poi Kee F (2023) Impact of the Pandemic on Counselling Practices: Self-Reflection. Counselling & Psychotherapy Review Singapore, 1 (1). pp. 35-39
• Tudor K, Bettman C, Bloch-Atefi A, Day E, Hsi T, Loewenthal D, Low P, O’Neill G and van Deurzen E (2021) Psychotherapy practice, education, and training during the coronavirus pandemic: members of the editorial board of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia share their experiences. Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia, 9 (1).
• Thong E, Tan C and Low P (2018) Launching into late teens & preparing for adulthood in residential care: through advocacy, empowerment & life skills development. [Presented at the 13th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology]. 6-8 August 2018, Kuching, Borneo

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 17+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Frederick P.K. Low from 2009 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• The development and validation of a Buddhist religiosity scale using a combined emic and etic approach (PhD , External Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.