Vera has a Master of Arts degree in Counselling from Boston College, USA. She was trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) in 2004 and graduated as a Facilitator for EMDR Institute, Inc, USA, in 2012, both under the guidance of Sigmund Burzynski.
She is also trained in Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, Eriksonian Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy, FOCCUS marriage preparation and couple enrichment programme, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 2). In addition, she is an accredited job and career transition coach.
Vera has worked over 20 years as a professional counsellor in Singapore and the United States; in non-profit community organisations, a school, as well as in private practice settings. She has provided training and supervision to other counsellors and helpline volunteers. She also conducted talks and workshops on building self-esteem and emotional-intelligence skills, parenting issues, gender issues, cross-cultural and interpersonal communication, peer relationships, body meditation, assertiveness and stress management. She is a facilitator for EMDR Institute, Inc and for the Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy Foundational Certificate.
She has worked with individuals, children and adolescents, couples and families struggling with a wide range of issues – trauma from domestic abuse, sexual assault, childhood experiences, or any difficult losses; marital conflicts; divorce and separation; family of origin issues; interpersonal difficulties; painful transitions; depression; anxiety; self and emotion regulation; self-esteem; spirituality issues; identity development; parenting problems; sexual orientation; stress; chronic pain; grief and loss; addiction and anger. She specialises in trauma resolution and relationship issues.
She adopts an integrative client-centred approach to counselling, employing various therapy models such as EMDR, inner child/attachment therapy, Satir transformational systemic therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and skill-development. She also incorporates non-verbal activities (e.g. movement and drawing) into counselling to facilitate the therapeutic process. Vera is fluent in English, and has functional communication ability in Indonesian.