Julian

Julian Siak

Educator

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Supporting Children with Special Needs

Coach Julian, as many have known him, holds a Bachelors of Arts, Psychology from State University of New York at Buffalo. He specialises in working with young children, coaching them in their behaviour and mentoring them in their social skills. Julian is also a certified swim coach and has trained many special needs children.

He was the Head Coach at Safra Fins Swim School from 2016-2018, overseeing the swimming syllabus delivery ensuring a safe and positive learning experience within the four clubs.

He is currently the Technical Coach with Fins Swim School, providing advice and mentorship to the newer coaches.

Julian is also the owner of True Blue Swim School where he advocates positive coaching in his swimming classes.

TESTIMONIALS

Julian is very approachable and he is able to get the kids to do their work in a fun and interesting manner by incorporating movement and games-based activities in his sessions. There are often moments in Julian’s sessions with my child, where Julian takes the effort to inculcate good values and morals to him.

- Priaa, mother of 10 year old Nanthan

Amanda Chen

Art Therapist and Art Educator

Master in Art Therapy
Bachelor of Art in Advertising
Diploma in Visual Communications

Amanda is a certified and experienced Art Therapist and Art Educator (registered with MOE-AMIS). She is active and current in the social work scene for the past decade and has worked with many charities and social enterprises. She was the former Deputy Director of Social Creatives and currently sits on the board as Honorary Secretary of the Rare Disorders Society of Singapore.

Prior, Amanda has been in the advertising industry for several years before starting her own branding and design agency that was running for more than 12 years. The healing arts and the work of a therapist resonated so deeply with her, she decided to pursue her Masters in Art Therapy to become an Art Therapist.

Amanda is an Art Therapist with Art for Good, The Red Pencil, The Therapy Platform, and Thrive Psychology Clinic. She is also a lecturer at the School of Positive Psychology for a module in Art Therapy. She manages and oversees all the projects and programs under Art for Good, which uses art to create good!

Lim Weimin

Lim Weimin

Educator

Bachelor of Science, Honours, Major in Biomedical Science, minor in Psychology
Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Supporting Children with Special Needs

Weimin enjoys creating teaching resources and integrating different strategies in her classroom teaching. She specialises in Lower Secondary Science, GCE O-Level Biology, and Chemistry. Weimin breaks down complex concepts so that it is easily understood by students of differing learning abilities. She actively engages her students through experiments and drawings, breaking down abstract concepts to children who have learning difficulties. A mother of three young children, Weimin finds fulfilment in juggling between her children and work.

Ryoko Sado

Ryoko Sado

Counsellor

Master of Education in Counselling and Guidance K-12
Bachelor in Educational Psychology
Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Supporting Children with Special Needs

Ryoko is a counsellor from Japan specialising in training and counselling for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). After graduating Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, she first worked at a Japanese boarding school in New York as a residential assistant. Living with 15 -18 years olds for two years in the course of her work affirmed her love for working with adolescents.

After completing her Masters at New York University, Ryoko worked as a part-time English teacher and volunteered at the counselling office at her old high school in Japan. At the same time, she started working at Japan Initiative for Youth Development (JIYD), formerly known as IYF-Japan, as a full-time Program Director, developing and promoting Lions Quest programs, a life skills and prevention program of Lion Clubs International Foundation, in Japan. She has been working with the Lions Quest program for 20 years, developing the Japanese version and facilitating workshops for teachers, parents, and children/youths in Japan. She also has worked in Korea and Taiwan to promote the program as Senior Lions Quest Facilitator.

Ryoko lived in Singapore from 2003 to 2008. She worked as a clinical counsellor at Raffles Japanese Clinic from 2005 to 2008 and worked at Japanese schools in Singapore as a school counsellor for one school year. She left Singapore in 2008 and moved back here in 2019. Since then, she has been working in counselling and pursuing a certificate in Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction, especially focusing on non-death losses.

Ryoko enjoys working with families and youths. She is creative and dynamic in her approach working with children and youths from varied backgrounds. Ryoko is a Mother of 3 teenage girls in the international school.

TESTIMONIALS

Ryoko is very creative in her approach in working with my son and she takes the initiative in finding out about his interests to make the sessions interesting. She finds opportunities to use his strength to the best advantage in getting him to complete tasks thus building upon his self-esteem.

- Priaa, mother of 10 year old Nanthan

Samantha Tang

Founder

Graduate Diploma in Science (Psychology)
Master of Education in Special and Inclusive Education
Bachelor of Science

Samantha Tang has been in clinical practice for over 20 years. She was previously a psychologist at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Samantha was invited to conduct workshops for staff training at Singapore Science Center and Cherry Brooks Kindergarten. She is currently a lecturer in ACC Institute of Human Services, lecturing in the Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Supporting Children with Special Needs.

Samantha’s interests are in assessment and intervention. She works closely with families to guide them in implementing strategies at home for children with developmental disorders. An integral part of Samantha’s work lies in application for special schools (e.g. Pathlight School) and/ or international schools. She finds joy and fulfillment in witnessing the progress of her “children” whom she works with.

TESTIMONIALS

Samantha has a cheerful personality and with great knowledge and experience in the field of special needs. As a student in one of the courses, Samantha ensures that we learn from real life situations and in-clinic observations. Her teaching remains etched in my mind and I’m blessed to have her as my tutor and mentor in this journey.

- Meenu Menon, student

Being the father of 2 special needs boys, I have learnt that there are very few therapists and psychologists who bring the right balance of knowledge, knowhow, kindness and an open mind. Without this we cannot reach these special children, nor see the value they can bring. Samantha is one of the rare few who has this balance. She is the best psychologist I have seen, one with a rare gift - she can see what's special in a child.

- Som, father of sons with ASD