Counsellors and therapists

Maple Tree Counselling Hong Kong is a diverse, multicultural team with rich life experience and international qualifications and accreditation.  We are a practice with both male and female counsellors who are expats and native Hong Kongers. We deliver therapy in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Some of our areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, parenting, relationship difficulties & divorce, adoption, fertility/IVF, adoption, pregnancy loss, menopause, postpartum adjustments, sexual and gender identity and childhood trauma.

Our professional memberships include the Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology (HKSCP), the Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA), the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), the American Counselling Association (ACA), the Asian Professional Counselling & Psychology Association and the British Psychological Society.

  • Simon Westcott

    Simon Westcott

    Counsellor — ACT, CBT and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy — Telehealth Only

    Simon believes in the benefits of both short-term, goal-oriented counselling and longer-term, ‘in-depth’ psychoanalytic psychotherapy. He treats clients from many different cultures with a wide variety of mental health issues.

  • Casey McGrath

    Casey McGrath

    Counsellor — CBT, ACT, Narrative and Person-Centered Therapy

    Casey works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship issues. She specializes in helping clients navigate major life transitions as well as complicated career and family dynamics.

  • Jacquelyn Tryde

    Jacquelyn Tryde

    Counsellor — EFT, CBT and Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy

    Jacquelyn offers therapy for adults, adolescents and preteens. She supports younger clients who experience dysfunctional family dynamics, parental separation and divorce, difficulties in acculturation, depression, anxiety, OCD, and peer pressure.

  • Nicola Shannon

    Nicola Shannon

    Counsellor - CBT, IFS and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

    Nicola works with adults who may be at a crossroads, struggling with how to bring purpose, meaning and authenticity to their lives and relationships. Anxiety, addiction and compulsive behaviours, depression, burnout and how to find balance are her main areas of focus.

  • Lianne Lim

    Lianne Lim

    Counsellor - CBT, SFBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy

    Lianne supports adults experiencing anxiety, depression, bereavement, and self-esteem challenges. She helps individuals and couples struggling with relationship issues and dating / marital / parenting conflicts as well as counsels clients navigating major life transitions.

  • Brenton Surgenor

    Brenton Surgenor

    Counsellor - ACT, CBT, Gottman Method and Mindfulness

    Brenton works with individuals and couples to find balance and wellbeing in their lives. His practice focuses on life transitions, couples counselling, anxiety, stress management and mindfulness. He creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment and is attuned to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients.

  • Kari Entwisle

    Kari Entwisle

    Counsellor - ACT, CBT, MBCT, Person-Centered Therapy

    Kari works with adults struggling to navigate the pressures of high-performance environments, challenging relationship dynamics and limiting self-beliefs. She specialises in supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness and distress in relationships – both at home and in the workplace.

  • Jojo Tong

    Jojo Tong

    Counsellor - CBT, ABFT, and Narrative and Person-Centered Therapy

    Jojo’s clients include adults and adolescents experiencing depression, anxiety, family conflict, life transitions and the impacts of trauma. She specializes in cognitive behavioral modalities, positive psychology, attachment based family therapy (AFBT) and narrative therapy.

Simon Westcott

Simon Westcott

Counsellor — ACT, CBT and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy — Telehealth Only

Simon believes in the benefits of both short-term, goal-oriented counselling and longer-term, ‘in-depth’ psychoanalytic psychotherapy. He treats clients from many different cultures with a wide variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction and challenges rising from relationship, sexuality and family issues. Simon enjoyed a 25-year corporate, entrepreneurial and NGO career before entering the mental health field.  He understands the challenges of high-performance environments, both academically and professionally, but also the importance of creativity and play.  Simon serves diverse communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, and has a specialism in men’s mental health.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis (4 Year Study Program, ongoing)
  • Australian Counselling Association
  • Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
  • Masters of Arts (Oxford & Indiana)
Casey McGrath

Casey McGrath

Counsellor — CBT, ACT, Narrative and Person-Centered Therapy

Casey works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and relationship issues. She specializes in helping clients navigate major life transitions as well as complicated career and family dynamics. She is passionate about healing past traumas and discovering possibilities for change while working collaboratively with clients using a range of evidence-based techniques. Casey is a mother of three and has lived in Hong Kong since 2012. She previously worked at The Women’s Foundation in Hong Kong and, prior to that, as an attorney in New York.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Professional Coaching Training (Transcend)
  • American Counseling Association
  • Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
  • Bachelor of Arts (Michigan) & Juris Doctor (Georgetown)
Jacquelyn Tryde

Jacquelyn Tryde

Counsellor — EFT, CBT and Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy

Jacquelyn offers therapy for adults, adolescents and preteens. She has supported younger clients who have experienced dysfunctional family dynamics, parental separation and divorce, difficulties in acculturation, depression, anxiety, OCD, and peer pressure. She has been heavily involved in substance abuse prevention work and mental health education with youths and their parents from ethnic minority communities and international schools. Jacquelyn also works with adult clients, specializing in women’s issues, attachment trauma, and overcoming limiting beliefs and low self-esteem. Jacquelyn values multi-cultural sensitivity, and has working proficiency in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Prior to her career change, Jacquelyn was an executive trainer with Forbes Travel Guide.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Certificate of Clinical Hypnotherapy Level 4 (IMDHA)
  • Australian Counselling Association
  • Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
  • Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong
  • Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
  • Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hong Kong)
Nicola Shannon

Nicola Shannon

Counsellor - CBT, IFS and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Nicola works with adults who may be at a crossroads, struggling with how to bring purpose, meaning and authenticity to their lives and relationships. Anxiety, addiction and compulsive behaviours, depression, burnout and how to find balance are her main areas of focus. Nicola’s integrative approach combines both short-term, goal-oriented techniques such as CBT with longer-term practices such as IFS and mindfulness. Overcoming past obstacles, helping people understand their current patterns and reconnect with their authentic selves is her goal.

Nicola’s background in addiction work with individuals and families enables her to help clients better understand how and why their lives and identities can become disrupted, either by their own addictive behaviours or those of loved ones. Through improved communication skills, stronger boundaries and compassionate self-awareness, clients are able to create a positive ripple effect in all areas of their lives.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Recovery Facilitator (SMART Recovery)
  • Australian Counselling Association
  • British Psychological Society
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours), Psychology (University of Derby)
Lianne Lim

Lianne Lim

Counsellor - CBT, SFBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy

Lianne supports adults experiencing anxiety, depression, bereavement, and self-esteem challenges. She helps individuals and couples struggling with relationship issues and dating / marital / parenting conflicts. Lianne counsels clients navigating major life transitions, whether entering a new phase of independence, undergoing infertility / IVF treatments, becoming a parent (adoption / fostering / pregnancy / postpartum), or considering a career change. Using evidence-based interventions, Lianne helps clients change negative thoughts and problematic behaviours to positive motivations so they can reach their personal goals.

She is a trained professional counsellor educated in various evidence-based psychological theories. Lianne uses an integrated approach combining cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), solution-focused brief therapy, motivational interviewing, and person-centered therapy in order to support her clients most effectively.

As a former investment banker, Lianne understands the pressures women and men face in competitive workplaces. Taiwan-born, internationally educated, and a global nomad for many years, she appreciates the uniqueness of multi-national and multicultural individuals and families. Lianne counsels in English and Mandarin.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Certificate in Parenting Coordination
  • Asian Professional Counselling & Psychology Association, Registered Counsellor
  • The Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association, Member
  • Australian Counselling Association, Member
  • Master of Commerce in Finance (UNSW)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology (Tufts)
Brenton Surgenor

Brenton Surgenor

Counsellor - ACT, CBT, Gottman Method and Mindfulness

Brenton works with individuals and couples to find balance and wellbeing in their lives. His practice focuses on life transitions, couples counselling, anxiety, stress management and mindfulness. Brenton employs a person-centered approach to help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships, develop resilience, and create positive change. He creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment and is attuned to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients. Specializing in couples therapy and couples coaching, Brenton draws on the Gottman Method to help couples resolve conflict and build meaningful connection. Originally from New Zealand, Brenton has over two decades of experience in education and academia and has studied and worked all over the world.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Gottman Institute Level 1 and Level 2
  • Australia Counselling Association
  • Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong
  • Master of Science in Dance Science (Wolverhampton University)
  • Master of Arts in Dance Studies (City University)
Kari Entwisle

Kari Entwisle

Counsellor - ACT, CBT, MBCT, Person-Centered Therapy

Kari works with adults struggling to navigate the pressures of high-performance environments, challenging relationship dynamics and limiting self-beliefs. She specialises in supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness and distress in relationships – both at home and in the workplace. Her empathetic and non-judgmental approach fosters a safe space for clients to explore their emotions and develop effective coping strategies through personalised evidence-based techniques. Kari is an experienced professional in the corporate sector and passionate about the healing qualities of time spent in nature. She has lived in Hong Kong since 2011.

  • Master of Counselling (Monash)
  • Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
  • Australian Counselling Association
  • Master of Business Administration (AGSM, UNSW)
  • Certified in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (Oxford Mindfulness Foundation)
  • Relationship facilitator (Gottman Method Level 2)
Jojo Tong

Jojo Tong

Counsellor - CBT, ABFT, and Narrative and Person-Centered Therapy

Jojo’s clients include adults and adolescents experiencing depression, anxiety, family conflict, life transitions and the impacts of trauma. With specializations in cognitive behavioral modalities, positive psychology, attachment based family therapy (ABFT) and narrative therapy, she adeptly guides clients to understand how their past experiences shape their present realities. Jojo recognizes the complexities of familial relationships, including intergenerational communication, and the anxieties and challenges that arise from a fast-paced lifestyle and works with her clients through these challenges. In addition, her holistic approach to healing and her unwavering belief in the inherent resilience of every individual form the foundation of her practice. Now based in Hong Kong after many years in New York, Jojo delivers therapy in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

  • Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association
  • New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Masters of Science in Social Work (Columbia)

What some of our clients have to say about therapy…

I started seeing Dickie while Hong Kong was still in lockdown, which had many of us in the city stressed and depressed.  It took a while for me to realise this was affecting me as well and take some steps to address it.  I met a small number of counsellors to see how we got along and in my phone call with him, Dickie seemed sensible and professional.  We started meeting weekly and we continued to meet regularly over the course of a year - much to my surprise - since it proved to be a useful part of dealing with all of the stress.  Dickie is easy to talk to, keeps good notes of our discussions and so was able to refer back to them when needed to make sure we were addressing the important issues that we had initially started our meetings to discuss.

Anon
He/Him

Jacquelyn has helped me journey through one of my most difficult years… from dealing with grief to relationship issues, daily stresses, and revisiting childhood traumas.  From session one, she created a safe environment with her warmth and compassion, which allowed me to fully open up to her. She carries a wealth of knowledge, which helps me better understand why I am wired the way I am. Jacquelyn understands how to “speak my language” through meditation visualisations, hypnotherapy & self-love practices. Every time I leave a session, I am glowing with gratitude and ready to face the world!      

CB
She/Her / 22 yrs old

Coming into therapy again, I was wary at first because I wasn't able to connect with my previous therapist. That's why I'm really glad I gave this another shot and found Jacquelyn, who's been wonderful since day one. Friendly, down-to-earth, and understanding while maintaining professionalism, she has helped me immensely in my journey and guided me towards gaining in-depth self-awareness and unlearning toxic patterns. It's not always an easy journey, but a good therapist can make it a lot better!

F, Writer
She/Her / 27 yrs old

Casey really helped me when I was in a dark place. After just a few sessions, I felt much more hopeful and could see my options better. Everything I was going through became more manageable and I could see a way forward. I learned to change my mindset and approach my problems in a more effective way. Casey is very easy to talk to and has a warm, positive energy. I would recommend her to anyone struggling to make sense of life’s hard times.     

WW
She/Her / 42 yrs old

Simon is a warm soul with whom you can easily open up and share your emotions. Having that supportive and non-judgemental person in my life now gives me the comfort and confidence to work through these challenging times, with blue skies ahead.  

SC, Business Owner
He/Him / 44 yrs old

I reached out to Lianne during hopefully the worst time of my life - I lost the love of my life during our battle against his cancer and I felt completely hopeless to life. Lianne manages to lift me up in an endless tornado of darkness every time we speak, and she helps me to face and accept my emotions. There is still a long way to go to deal with my bereavement, but one thing I am very certain is that I am grateful to have found Lianne - I trust that she will be the one who continues this journey with me till the day I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

MS, Corporate Strategy Manager
She/Her / 33 yrs old

Lianne is a very professional and insightful therapist. I started to see her every week right after our first session. She is always caring and encouraging, helping me sort out my mind, and give constructive advice on my relationship issues. I am comfortable sharing every life detail with her and feel recharged every time I talk to her. With her help I am on the track to becoming a more positive and emotionally stable person.

JZ
She/Her

I've been meeting with Simon for over 18 months now, and during this time, Simon has made me more self aware, and more confident than the person I was 18 months ago. He's empathetic, understanding of the nuances of South Asian culture, and has done more for me than some family members. There are no words to thank him for what he's done. I have a long way to go in my mental health journey, but I wouldn't have made the progress that I have without Simon's help

VR, Marketing Manager
He/Him

I’ve been seeing Simon now weekly for the past 6-7 months. I developed a great relationship very quickly with him, and found his patience and approach to align very well with my uncertainties to what my goals even were initially. He allowed me the space to really flex my mind, to question widely and deeply, to really revel in my esoteric thoughts and queries, and offered me the tools to really pinpoint and tackle blindspots I wouldn’t have been able to alone. I couldn’t have asked for a better sounding board. I felt comfortable, seen, heard, and most importantly, understood. Our sessions and his guidance have been invaluable in my growth as an individual and I can only recommend him highly.   

GK, Photographer
He/Him / 33 yrs old

I was introduced to Casey while going through a stressful time in my career and family life….  In Casey, I found a non-judgmental outlet. Casey offers perspective and empathy.  Through our sessions, I learned to ‘let go’ of certain situations and other people’s opinions. I have also learned to give myself more credit than I have ever done in my entire life, and for that I feel stronger and more confident in my own abilities. It has been a relief to declutter my mind and get to know myself better. I would highly recommend Casey to anyone.

JD
She/Her / 47 yrs old

Maple Tree Counselling Hong Kong operates under the key professional values of absolute confidentiality, ongoing professional development and expert individual and group supervision.

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