About family therapy
Family therapy works with several members together to improve communication, resolve conflicts and support everyone through changes such as separations, illness or adolescence.
Couples therapists help partners with communication problems, frequent arguments, infidelity, crises or decisions about the future of the relationship. Sessions are usually joint, sometimes combined with individual ones.
Getting mental health care in Brunei
Public health system · Ministry of Health – Psychiatry and Psychology Services
Public mental health care is run by the Ministry of Health, mainly through the Department of Psychiatry at RIPAS Hospital and the Ministry's psychology services. The Clinical Psychology Unit takes referrals from hospitals and private clinics. The Community Psychology Division takes referrals from government health centres and schools and sees patients at health centres by appointment. Ask your nearest health clinic or hospital for a referral. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Allied Health Professions Council of Brunei Darussalam (AHPCBD). Under the Allied Health Professions Order 2017, clinical psychologists and psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists must be registered with the AHPCBD and hold a practising certificate. The Council publishes a directory of registered professionals. Search the official register
- Brunei Medical Board. Doctors, including psychiatrists, are registered with the Brunei Medical Board, which publishes a list of registered medical practitioners. Search the official register
Urgent help in Brunei
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 991 · Ambulance
- 145 · Talian Harapan 145 (Ministry of Health)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: moh.gov.bn, moh.gov.bn
Signs to look out for
Every family goes through tension. Family therapy may help when conflict is constant or very intense, communication has broken down, a child’s difficulties are straining everyone, members feel stuck in the same patterns, or the family is struggling to adapt to a change such as a separation, a new partner, illness, migration, a loss or a child leaving home.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Systemic family therapy looks at relationships and patterns rather than blaming one person. Approaches with evidence include structural and strategic family therapy, family-based treatment for adolescent eating disorders, multisystemic and functional family therapy for behaviour problems, and parent training. Family therapists, psychologists and social workers with systemic training usually lead the work, sometimes alongside individual therapy.
When to seek urgent help
If there is violence at home, a child or adult is being harmed, or someone is afraid for their safety, contact your local emergency services or specialised protection services. Safety comes before family therapy. Seek urgent help too if any family member talks about suicide, has harmed themselves seriously, or is at risk of harming others.
What you can do in the meantime
Set aside calm times to talk, and try to listen to understand rather than to reply. Agree on a few household rules together and keep them consistent. Avoid involving children in adult conflicts. Make room for enjoyable shared moments, even short ones. If tensions run high, take breaks before continuing a discussion. Each person looking after their own well-being also helps the family.
What does a couples therapist do?
A couples therapist helps two people understand and improve their relationship. Day to day they work with couples on communication, recurring arguments, trust after infidelity, intimacy, life transitions such as parenthood or retirement, and decisions about continuing or separating. They stay neutral, make room for both perspectives, and teach practical skills to talk, listen and repair after conflict.
When to see a couples therapist
Couples therapy makes sense when arguments repeat without resolution, you feel distant or misunderstood, trust has been damaged, sexual or emotional intimacy has changed, or you face a big decision together. It also helps couples who want to separate respectfully. If there is violence, control or fear in the relationship, couples therapy is not appropriate; individual support and safety come first.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Brunei cover psychological care?
Public mental health care is run by the Ministry of Health, mainly through the Department of Psychiatry at RIPAS Hospital and the Ministry's psychology services. The Clinical Psychology Unit takes referrals from hospitals and private clinics. The Community Psychology Division takes referrals from government health centres and schools and sees patients at health centres by appointment. Ask your nearest health clinic or hospital for a referral.
How do I check that a couples therapist is licensed in Brunei?
Allied Health Professions Council of Brunei Darussalam (AHPCBD): Under the Allied Health Professions Order 2017, clinical psychologists and psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists must be registered with the AHPCBD and hold a practising certificate. The Council publishes a directory of registered professionals.