Varian Monteiro

Counseling Therapist

Having an ongoing interest in the intertwined workings of the mind and body, Varian is decidedly enthusiastic about counseling and all things psychology-related. Adopting a client-centered humanistic approach as the driving form of his counseling style, he has been assisting clients in managing their behaviors in one-to-one and group sessions since 2013. He began his counseling journey by being introduced to behavioral compulsions and impulse control difficulties, which also happen to be his areas of speciality. He has facilitated all-male support groups for compulsive sexual behavior disorder, and behavior modification for problematic sexual behavior, in both private and governmental settings. In these two environments, Varian worked with clients on their psychoeducation and to relearn the shame and guilt surrounding compulsion. While he provides multiple tools to guide clients onto their paths of recovery, he draws upon several other techniques that are beneficial to his clients; focusing strongly on emotions while involving some cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and somatic approaches. 

Biography

As a natural extension of his specialized work, he has since included trauma and trauma recovery as part of his areas of speciality. When counseling couples, Varian uses the Gottman’s Couples Therapy method to help with gridlocked issues, past trauma and hurt, faulty communication patterns, and emotional disconnect. Using this method as a framework, he favors including other various couple therapy approaches (e.g., Imago Relationship Therapy). His other related work involves anxiety, depression, and anger management. Varian is also finalizing his training as an Associate Coach for emotional resiliency (as accredited by the International Coaching Federation). He sees emotional resiliency as propitious in providing extended care to current clients, and supportive of the personal development work that he does with them. 

As his way of giving back to the community, Varian collaborates with various organizations yearly to actualize events in recognition of World Mental Health Day. Together with panelists from various support groups (i.e., SGWomen100, Bros Before Woes, Caring for Life), he hosted a forum discussing the current mental wellness challenges of 2024. In 2022, he directed Jazz Association’s (Singapore) (JASS) debut mental health event that live-streamed speakers’ teachings on Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions, combined with music as self-therapy. Again as program lead, he coproduced Aftercare 2022 with the Eurasian Association; an afternoon workshop touching on sabotaging mindsets, and utilizing drama in therapy. Other mental wellness collaborations include Zentosa's LiveWELL Festival 2023, where he was consulted on the mental health aspect for an art installation-poetry journey created by Charlene Shepherdson (Difference Engine) and Kult Studio and Gallery.