Are there jobs in Vietnam for mental health therapists/counselors?

Robbieo wrote:

I'm a licensed psychotherapist in the state of California and have a masters degree in clinical psychology. I'm also TEFL/TESOL certified and I'm moving to Vietnam in January. I am wondering if I can continue working where my heart is, mental health, or if that's not something that's typically sought after in Vietnam. I've worked as a school counselor for troubled youth got seven years. Ideally I think I'd love to open up a mindfulness meditation mental health center...which may even include some classes for learning English. Thoughts?

Thank you.

Sounds like you have never been here, or met VN youths?  How do think you will communicate with VN's? The " troubled " ones definitely won't know any English.
You practically need to a psycho/speech therapist just to teach English to many of them .

Robbieo,

I just bumped into an American lady the other day who bought a house and is going to open a private care center in a neighboring province of HCMC. She's a Psychologist - Therapist, does not speak any Vietnamese but has a Vietnamese partner/co-worker, so language should not be a problem. PM me if you wish to contact her.

There are some fellow practitioners here from the States already.

Their services, I understand, in much demand by members of the Delayed Pioneer group and the international schools. Their language is predominantly English.

HCM is also home to several training hospitals and I am sure with your Masters qualifications some would be of interest to them.

In order to practice you have to submit your CV/educational certificates (copies can be translated/notarised here) to the Ministry of Health. This will get you a VN licence to practice.

Check your PM - I have sent you details.

Hi,

I have known some expats doing as therapists( not sure how their job so I use "as"). $50/hour. This business is developing in vietnam.

But to me, they are still weak cos they just consult simple stuffs like family problems, ... not real mental issues like suciding, autism... I usually wonder how can a therapist understand their clients when they havent experienced their customer mental disease. I usually read about suiciding thoughts from 13-20 year old youth and it really hurts me. Many of them told that they just receive Vitamins from their therapists and they consider it as a "cheating".

Sorry .. seems I am so serious in this topic. I love to discuss about human reactions. I intend to get a psychology to register a children Psycology course.

Regards

Dejavu.dot wrote:

Hi,

I have known some expats doing as therapists( not sure how their job so I use "as"). $50/hour. This business is developing in vietnam.

But to me, they are still weak cos they just consult simple stuffs like family problems, ... not real mental issues like suciding, autism... I usually wonder how can a therapist understand their clients when they havent experienced their customer mental disease. I usually read about suiciding thoughts from 13-20 year old youth and it really hurts me. Many of them told that they just receive Vitamins from their therapists and they consider it as a "cheating".

Sorry .. seems I am so serious in this topic. I love to discuss about human reactions. I intend to get a psychology to register a children Psychology course.

Regards

Fake book is the new "  Psychology " phase.  Most Psychologists live in their little ivory towers, with very little knowledge of what the REAL world is about, you can't learn everything by reading, i.e, who would know the mind of a Psychopath best??? Only another Psychopath, only people with REAL life experiences make good Psychologists.

Hi. Yes please, I would like her contact info. Thank you for your help. -Rob

Thanks everyone for your helpful feedback. To those of you who wrote doubting the legitimacy and effectiveness of therapists, I would agree with you, in that just like any profession, there exists some incompetence. I tend to stay away from generalizations, and my professional and life experience have included encounters with many helping professionals who are very good at what they do. Keep in mind one of the healing aspects of therapy is when the client is able to share their experience with the therapist, in moments of vulnerability and intimacy, which allows for the client to feel seen and heard and recognized. It's not vital that a therapist is just like the client in order to understand the client. The therapist and client go on a very human and collaborative journey together, hopefully resulting in growth and healing. Your limited viewpoint says more about you than it does about he therapeutic profession. Thanks again everyone. I hope to continue to open my heart in hopes of making a positive difference in the lives of others. -Rob

Robbieo wrote:

Thanks everyone for your helpful feedback. To those of you who wrote doubting the legitimacy and effectiveness of therapists, I would agree with you, in that just like any profession, there exists some incompetence. I tend to stay away from generalizations, and my professional and life experience have included encounters with many helping professionals who are very good at what they do. Keep in mind one of the healing aspects of therapy is when the client is able to share their experience with the therapist, in moments of vulnerability and intimacy, which allows for the client to feel seen and heard and recognized. It's not vital that a therapist is just like the client in order to understand the client. The therapist and client go on a very human and collaborative journey together, hopefully resulting in growth and healing. Your limited viewpoint says more about you than it does about he therapeutic profession. Thanks again everyone. I hope to continue to open my heart in hopes of making a positive difference in the lives of others. -Rob

Nice to read your view point, I used to take great pleasure in " shocking " my mostly young, and naive therapists, with my " confessions ", while I was undergoing counseling during a time in my mis spent youth, but you can only " help '' a person , if that person wants, or lets you " help" them, and youths these days, think they know it all, therefore they think, why would they need a therapist? ( as I did, I, and my peers, we were quite happy in our drinking culture, it was the getting CAUGHT driving DIC, that was our problem ).
I did learn from my sessions though, now I can quite often sus a person out .

I should add, through my many experiences dealing with VN's, ( Adults and children, and I'm sure many on this site will agree ), that many VN's have a low level of maturity, and this can make it very difficult teaching them English.

Nice to read your kind reply, Robbieo.
I agree with Bluenz.  People have a tendency to buy cosmetic brand which are advertised by "beautiful skin" sellers.. not from a "bad skin" sellers.

Most people who suffer mental disease are hard to express themselves by words. Sth makes them afraid of facing. I believe that doesnt mean they have weak psychology. Maybe God want them to learn sth
@Robbieo,
You can open a school for therapists.  Do you think which is the best way for a patient : Facing their problems or erase that bad memory?( I have heard there is a magic/trick to make people face to their problems in the dream. )

Regards

Mental issues are still under-evaluated in Asia. Vietnam is not an excerption. There's nice Korean TV series movie name "It's ok! That's love" about that.

But I think there's still need among expats. You can contact international schools/university or ask among expat community for any address that have such services (which I see you have already).

I don't know much about this. I would like to ask if you are qualified to work in international clinic? I'll keep you up to dated after asking around my friends who have clinic for expats. Maybe they will be interested in having a new room for psychotherapist.

Maybe there might be an opening  somewhere for the position of Marriage evaluator, or whatever that position is called, when they test your mentality before you get married in VN?

As far as I know, there's not such any position like that in Vietnam (and other South East Asian countries)

It seems some people may be unclear on what the intention of therapy really is. It's typically not to 'cure' a 'mental disease' or figure out tricks to make people forget about their problems. It's about helping to empower someone to turn towards their difficulties so that they can learn to relate to their suffering in different, healthier ways.

Robbieo wrote:

It seems some people may be unclear on what the intention of therapy really is. It's typically not to 'cure' a 'mental disease' or figure out tricks to make people forget about their problems. It's about helping to empower someone to turn towards their difficulties so that they can learn to relate to their suffering in different, healthier ways.

In layman terms, "An easy way to get weak, or abused people, usually with no will power, or under peer pressure, to pay someone a lot of money, with no guarantee of change ".

Sorry Bluenz, I don't think you summarized what I said very accurately at all. I think it's safe to say the we can agree to disagree here. I believe that therapy can be beneficial and healthy, and you clearly think it's a manipulative scam. I also don't agree with you that anyone seeking therapy is weak, gullible, and lacks will power. I've seen amazing, courageous, strong, and brilliant people come through my office doors. I am also not like you in that I don't over-generalize like you do (eg. All therapists are like this...and, all clients are like that...). I believe each person and situation is unique. Take it easy.

Thank you Scarlet. That's a good question on whether or not I'm qualified to work in an international clinic. That is part of my inquiry here. Thanks for your help.

Robbieo wrote:

Sorry Bluenz, I don't think you summarized what I said very accurately at all. I think it's safe to say the we can agree to disagree here. I believe that therapy can be beneficial and healthy, and you clearly think it's a manipulative scam. I also don't agree with you that anyone  is weak, gullible, and lacks will power. I've seen amazing, courageous, strong, and brilliant people come through my office doors. I am also not like you in that I don't over-generalize like you do (eg. All therapists are like this...and, all clients are like that...). I believe each person and situation is unique. Take it easy.

" seeking therapy ",  yes these people may be helped, as I said before , you are not very likely to be able to help people who do not want to be helped, ( most youth of today, but the Govts usually pay for these, so no problem for you  ).
  As you will know, many people will build a psychological barrier, thinking , ( and rightly so ), that their business is their own business, and don't take too kindly to some apparent " know it all " sticking their nose in their business, by asking invasive questions.
  Back in the 80's in NZ, people in your profession caused many problems, counseling so called abused victims, who ' suddenly ' remembered they had been abused when they were young, ( and large Govt payments for these " victims " was also an incentive ), many families were torn apart, and only after some expensive court cases, were many accused found not guilty.

Robbieo wrote:

Thank you Scarlet. That's a good question on whether or not I'm qualified to work in an international clinic. That is part of my inquiry here. Thanks for your help.

Can I know if the answer is yes or no for my question? I'm afraid my English is not good enough to read between the lines. I'll ask my friend after knowing your answer.

Yes please. Thank you.

Robbieo wrote:

Yes please. Thank you.

" I don't know much about this. I would like to ask if you are qualified to work in international clinic? "

That was her question, or does, " Yes , please, mean you are qualified????
Or are you still waiting for the answer yourself? There are lists of VN Govt departments , ( in English ), on Google.
  Good luck though, some have strange names. Maybe the Dept of MLISA, ( Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs ), might be a start?

Thank you.

Sorry. I am licensed in California, USA. I am not yet qualified to work in an international clinic. I'm not sure yet how to become qualified.

-Rob

Robbieo wrote:

Sorry. I am licensed in California, USA. I am not yet qualified to work in an international clinic. I'm not sure yet how to become qualified.

-Rob

That may depend on what they mean by " International " clinic here, it maybe in name only, ( like many things here ),
Setting up your own business would  be risky, and very time consuming , ( mountains of paperwork, a minimum capital investment, and you will still have to meet VN regulations, ( Your Qualifications would be no problem for you here though, but that's if they even know what a Psychologist  actually is/does, I was looking into a Speech Therapist type business, but that is unheard of here, only Volunteers from the US occasionally came here  ).

Robbieo wrote:

I'm a licensed psychotherapist in the state of California and have a masters degree in clinical psychology. I'm also TEFL/TESOL certified and I'm moving to Vietnam in January. I am wondering if I can continue working where my heart is, mental health, or if that's not something that's typically sought after in Vietnam. I've worked as a school counselor for troubled youth got seven years. Ideally I think I'd love to open up a mindfulness meditation mental health center...which may even include some classes for learning English. Thoughts?

Thank you.

We don't have mental health problems in Vietnam or a psychiatric industry. People who act crazy are just insecure/immature/attention seeking people who need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions.

Unless they have some actual physical injury to the brain of course.

bluenz wrote:

Robbieo wrote:

Sorry. I am licensed in California, USA. I am not yet qualified to work in an international clinic. I'm not sure yet how to become qualified.

-Rob

That may depend on what they mean by " International " clinic here, it maybe in name only, ( like many things here ),
Setting up your own business would  be risky, and very time consuming , ( mountains of paperwork, a minimum capital investment, and you will still have to meet VN regulations, ( Your Qualifications would be no problem for you here though, but that's if they even know what a Psychologist  actually is/does, I was looking into a Speech Therapist type business, but that is unheard of here, only Volunteers from the US occasionally came here  ).

I think qualifications are certificates bof your major+a big heart.

I remember a company who does this business in floor 4, 170 bui thi xuan, pham ngu lao ward, dist 1. Pls check.

'' We don't have mental health problems in Vietnam or a psychiatric industry. People who act crazy are just insecure/immature/attention seeking people who need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions.

Unless they have some actual physical injury to the brain of course.''

Unfortunately there are far too many of these nutters running around, some even have positions where they can make decisions that affect other peoples lives as well.

Given the needs in VietNam, you contributions will no doubt be welcomed.

Come over, visit a local doctors group or seek out others in your particular specialty. They will tell you to register with the Ministry of Health and then, with your permit in hand, you are legal.

As you can tell from some of the answers above, there are plenty of people in need of your services.

Jaitch wrote:

Given the needs in VietNam, you contributions will no doubt be welcomed.

Come over, visit a local doctors group or seek out others in your particular specialty. They will tell you to register with the Ministry of Health and then, with your permit in hand, you are legal.

As you can tell from some of the answers above, there are plenty of people in need of your services.

There is a huge difference between " need " and " want ".

I know you can get a teaching job here but after that i am not sure. and you are lucky that you have a degree because they will not hire a person if they do not have it. years of experience mean  nothing here.

Hi, I am a psychologist and teacher and university lecturer and specialist in the disability field. Please believe  me that it would be most difficult for you to become established in your particular discipline, here, in the manner in which you may be considering.

Dr. G.

I think your best bet finding work in Vietnam is teaching English. I have volunteered at autistic and down syndrome schools/hospitals and all the staff were Vietnamese. Only one person spoke English.

I've asked about therapy for people but no one I asked knew what I was talking about.

I hear the hospitals are mostly government controlled and to get good service a family member has to visit the doctor privately handing him an envelope so their family member gets proper attention.

From what I gather, medical services are still lacking the quality you are accustomed to in the U.S.

I spoke to someone a few days ago and they mentioned people sometimes die for lack of medical attention, mostly because of a lack of money on the families part.

Vietnam is archaic when it comes to medical care. Maybe in 20 or 30 years I think Vietnam will be an economic power but it isn't at this time. With a Masters degree you should make a comfortable living teaching but you may starve waiting for mentally distressed clients.

The couch is empty.

I'm a licensed psychologist (habilitation and clinical, family therapist). I've always thought that culture and having cultural sensitivity/awareness when working with individuals from a different culture then our own is very important. I can understand that this topic might? have to do with cultural differences, and may I say the frustration over western practices applied in an eastern context.

At my last job we had translators in the client session. All I can say is that there are some people who actually don't have anyone to share their worries or problems with, sometimes due to fear or even safety. This in a non biased,  objective, safe collaboration. Therapy can save people from commiting suicide or self harm ( wrist cutting).

With clients who suffer from different forms of clinical depression, or school related disabilities such as autism or dyslexia, auditory hallucinations it certainly, requires good clinical knowledge. People that are therapist have spent many years in school and train ung where they have been video taped. Let me tell you, they are trained active listeners and it is very different then speaking to a friend when one is out of sorts.

I'm a licensed clinical psychologist. There are in fact. EEG research that reveal that there are some disorders that are due to their brain functioning differently (not visible on the outside) invisible illess one which that does play a significant role in how it affects their behavior.n ability to function. Have you heard of auditory hallucinations, adhd/add (prefrontal context. .of the brain) , sleep apnea, dyslexia etc etc . I think you need to be more humble to the fact that you are very ignorant about a lot of serious illnesses that make people suffer. Sometimes its the lack of understanding from others in society that is the worst, as it may further perpetuate and  worsen their illness. For example anxiety disorder.

Hi Citizenhelperoftheworld > please note that this thread is inactive since 2014. We encourage members to participate in more recent threads. Thank you.

Hi. I can't believe I wasn't  notified of this message. Are you still there ? Yes, I'd like her contact info, thank you -Rob

I was never good at technology lol. Note taken!
Thanks and have a nice day.

Hi Rob

I just wanted to check with you what was the procedure you had to follow to get your licence here to practice. Please would highly appreciate for all your inform.

Interesting idea, introducing Vietnamese to therapy. This culture just live on sucking it up and coping. They have no clue about mental health, and many way a lot is missing in medical practices all together. I know of a therapist who has tried with no success to get a VNese person to buy into the idea at all. Wish they would my wife sure needs help. But she too, said I just need to suck it up and cope with it. Unlike most educational disciplines in America where everyone has to take psychology courses, they do not here. I suspect in another 75 years they my be willing to entertain the idea. Of course, it is a relatively new science in America. The first psychotic drug was not introduced in America until 1954 (Thorazine) and there was little advancement until the late 60"s.

Hello, just reading this. I have been working in an international school, and there is definitely a big need for your services. Maybe please check them, I know only HCMC, there is the British, American, Australian (and also Japanese, Korean, French, German) school. May I however think that counseling depends so much on the language. These are primary/secondary schools. They are less 'troubled youth' if say so. However a lot of them have tremendous needs. Patch work families all over, missing the other parent. Hugh age difference or educational difference of parents. Or, jumping from country to country and having no feeling of home. May I think there are less serious issues besides adh/adhd however - there are issues. And (at least one of the) parents would understand your services.
Other field might be international hospitals. Maybe to have a look. Or - yes, good idea, open your one practice. Especially in an area of Thao Dien (pls see where this is) a lot of people are doing so .. less for counseling until now.
Helping troubled youth, 'local' if say so, that is probably not easy. Reason is of course the language. Like someone already said - those who are, they rarely know EN. However of course can do, e.g. supporting in pagodas (little temple) or orphanages; mentoring the people there who take care for children. There are a lot of such place, they are independent (so you have to find them .. however sometimes there are lists of 'volunteer' places maybe that helps.
Also, teaching in university (Vietnamese universities) is probably a good idea, especially if you have at least  Masters. - financially rewarding, if say so, is probably the international schools. Helping people besides these, is wonderful however maybe there is no or marginal financials. - Maybe to find out what is important.
Issues that one might classify after ICD10 or DSM, they are not recognized as such. The 'classics' are rather called that, someone might have 'issues to control him/herself' or 'had always been grumpy' .. like this. there is no knowledge nor awareness. not for kids either. yes so maybe to write to international schools and international hospitals, and ask VN universities .. might I think to be in a list is helpful. And maybe try to start st in Thao dien .. and maybe, until everything works out, work as - English teacher. That is actually high paid if you are native speaker.