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 men, women and non-binary counsellors and counselling psychologists 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.
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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.
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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.
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Jacquelyn Tryde
Counsellor — CBT, EMDR, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, Trauma-informed Psychotherapy
Jacquelyn works with adult clients, specializing in trauma healing, relationships and attachment, self-esteem, anxiety and depression. She believes that much of what keeps individuals disconnected from others and themselves is driven by unconscious patterns developed as coping mechanisms in response to trauma and emotional suppression.
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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.
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Lianne Lim
Counsellor - CBT, EMDR, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Dr. Amanda Friday
Psychologist - Narrative Therapy, Unified Protocol, DBT and CIP
Amanda works with adults who struggle with navigating the pressures of high-performance environments, feel stuck or lost, and are looking to make breakthroughs in their lives, heal past wounds, and uncover purposeful insights that will allow them to achieve their goals.
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John Mok-Lamme
Counsellor - Psychodynamic, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and Emotionally-Focused Therapy
John Mok-Lamme works with adolescents, adults and couples to address a variety of challenges including depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and marital and relational challenges.
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Marilyn Tryde
Counsellor - ACT, CBT, Mindfulness Therapy, Positive Psychology
Marilyn works with adolescents (15+ years) and adults struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, low-self-esteem, anger, cultural identity, and relationship dynamics. Marilyn’s therapeutic approach is rooted in compassion, kindness, and authenticity.
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Bea Smith
Counsellor - CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, Person-Centered Therapy
Bea offers strengths-based and trauma-informed counselling, providing a non-judgmental and compassionate space for clients. She tailors her methods to client’s unique experiences, preferences and needs and can integrate different techniques for navigating a range of life events and mental health issues.
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)Â
- Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis (4 Year Study Program), MemberÂ
- Australian Counselling Association, Level 3
- Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia, Clinical Member
- Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology, Full Member
- Masters of Arts (Oxford & Indiana)
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
Counsellor — CBT, EMDR, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, Trauma-informed Psychotherapy
Jacquelyn works with adult clients, specializing in trauma healing, relationships and attachment, self-esteem, anxiety and depression.
She believes that much of what keeps individuals disconnected from others and themselves is driven by unconscious patterns developed as coping mechanisms in response to trauma and emotional suppression. By deepening awareness about why people do what they do, her therapeutic process aims to help individuals identify these patterns, find emotional release, and realize choice, which can yield greater connection, and acceptance within and with others.
She also supports young adult and adolescent clients who are experiencing dysfunctional family dynamics, parental separation and divorce, difficulties in acculturation, depression, anxiety, OCD, and peer pressure. In recent years, 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 has a multi-ethnic background and received her education in three different countries, she values multi-cultural sensitivity in her work with clients, and is fluent in English and Cantonese, with conversational proficiency in Mandarin.
- Master of Counselling (Monash)
- Australian Counselling Association
- Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
- Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong
- Certificate of Clinical Hypnotherapy Level 4 (IMDHA)
- The EMDR Association of Hong Kong, Member
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (University of Hong Kong)
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)
- Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association
- Hong Kong Psychological Society
- British Psychological Society
- The Association for Substance Use Professionals (NAADAC)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), Psychology (University of Derby)
- Hong Kong Shue Yan University (Doctoral candidate)
Lianne Lim
Counsellor - CBT, EMDR, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused 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)
- Asian Professional Counselling & Psychology Association, Registered Counsellor
- The Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association, Member
- The EMDR Association of Hong Kong, Member
- Australian Counselling Association, Member
- Master of Commerce in Finance (UNSW)
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology (Tufts)
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
- Certified Sex Therapist (American Board of Sexology)
- Master of Science in Dance Science (Wolverhampton University)
- Master of Arts in Dance Studies (City University)
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 CBT-i (insomnia) Clinician
- Gottman Institute Level 1 and Level 2
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
- Hong Kong Registered Social Worker (RSW)
- New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Masters of Science in Social Work (Columbia)
Dr. Amanda Friday
Psychologist - Narrative Therapy, Unified Protocol, DBT and CIP
Amanda works with adults who struggle with navigating the pressures of high-performance environments, feel stuck or lost, and are looking to make breakthroughs in their lives, heal past wounds, and uncover purposeful insights that will allow them to achieve their goals. With a PhD in counselling following a competitive college coaching and athletic career, Amanda specializes in career counselling, life transitions, athletic performance and retirement, depression, and corporate training. They believe therapy is a collaborative process and with a warm and empathetic approach, Amanda creates a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their stories, redefine their identities, and reclaim their lives. Amanda has recently relocated from the US to reside in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling
- Master of Mental Health Counselling
- Master of Education in Sport Leadership
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
John Mok-Lamme
Counsellor - Psychodynamic, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and Emotionally-Focused Therapy
John Mok-Lamme works with adolescents, adults and couples to address a variety of challenges including depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, and marital and relational challenges. While John’s primary treatment modality is psychodynamic, he also integrates CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness modalities. His approach with couples leans heavily on emotionally focused couples therapy which he supplements with other research-based techniques. John has a long history of effective work with couples and individuals and enjoys helping them find places of healing and hope.
John is from the U.S. where he has a background in social work and of mentoring young adults and couples. Prior to training as a counsellor, he played a central role in developing an innovative mental health programme in the U.S. for youth with significant early trauma. John has also spent considerable time in Hong Kong and cross-cultural spaces and is part of a large Cantonese family. He and his partner have two grown children.
- Masters of Social Work (Denver Metro University)
- Licensed Social Worker Colorado (LSW.0009925293)
- Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology, Member
Marilyn Tryde
Counsellor - ACT, CBT, Mindfulness Therapy, Positive Psychology
Marilyn works with adolescents (15+ years) and adults struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, low-self-esteem, anger, cultural identity, and relationship dynamics. Marilyn’s therapeutic approach is rooted in compassion, kindness, and authenticity. She strives to hold a safe, secure and non-judgmental space for her clients to navigate their complex inner worlds to uncover subconscious maladaptive belief systems and thinking patterns, improve emotional awareness and emotional regulation skills.
Born and raised in a multi-racial household, Marilyn has first-hand experience and understanding of the cultural nuances and challenges of Eastern and Western cultures. Prior to becoming a counsellor, Marilyn worked as a lawyer and is well-placed to support clients facing stress and challenges common in highly competitive workplaces. Marilyn delivers therapy in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
- Master of Counselling (Monash)
- Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology
- The Australian Counselling Association
- Bachelor of Law (HKU)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Law (HKU)
Bea Smith
Counsellor - CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, Person-Centered Therapy
- Master of Social Science in Counselling (University of Hong Kong)
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology & Sociology (University of Surrey)
- The Hong Kong Society of Counseling and Psychology
- Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Maple Tree Counselling Hong Kong operates under the key professional values of absolute confidentiality, ongoing professional development and expert individual and group supervision.
