Phei Phei Oon, Registered Psychotherapist

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Phei Phei Oon is a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in Selective Mutism (SM). She is in private practice and her virtual sessions for children presenting with SM are a unique blend of play-based creative therapies and cognitive-behavioral models. Phei Phei’s work reaches clients across Canada, as well as the South East Asian diaspora around the globe. She was trained with both an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and also an M.A. in Creative Arts Therapies/Drama Therapy. Amongst other things, Phei Phei’s therapeutic approach integrates play, drama therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, PCIT-SM, relationship building, and close collaboration with, and training of, the key stakeholders of the child's school and communities. She provides her services in English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and other Chinese dialects.

As a highly skilled psychotherapist with more than 15 years of clinical experience providing treatment to populations of diverse needs, Phei Phei is also competent in supporting clients with grief, anxiety, depression, and divorce-related issues, all of which play into her chosen focus and specialty, Selective Mutism (SM). The unique blend of her applied skills and her integrated approach has helped multiple children overcome SM within a remarkably short time. Phei Phei came to her therapeutic practice with corporate managerial experience, having held a managerial role in a multinational financial institute during her years as a psychotherapist, rendering her effective in partnering with community and school stakeholders to develop effective intervention plans. Her skills in building teamwork with the stakeholders of the child’s community greatly accelerate the child’s progress in school and other community settings. This diverse background allows Phei Phei to navigate the various facets of her client’s world to weave together a supportive and integrative team to help her clients thrive in their everyday environments.

Phei Phei is highly creative and resourceful in designing effective play-based activities that engage the student’s natural desire to interact and speak, increasing the success rate of the sliding-in sessions, in which a child presenting with SM first speaks to new conversation partners. Phei Phei is also thoughtful and adaptable in designing the next brave talking goals in line with the behavioural shaping strategies. Her clients find Phei Phei’s sessions to be more play than work, jumping into the whimsical worlds she creates through props, play-acting, costumes, voices, puppets, and so many other creative mediums. As one client said, “I always have fun going to Phei Phei’s sessions. It never feels like therapy for me. I’m just having fun with her every time we meet. And I trust that if Phei Phei wants me to speak bravely, I can do it and it will be ok.“

From a cultural perspective, Phei Phei understands the cultural values of the Chinese and Southeast Asian communities as she grew up and worked in Southeast Asia before she moved to Canada 20 years ago. Phei Phei is eloquent in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, allowing her to provide therapy effectively to the Chinese diaspora.

Phei Phei has had the privilege of accruing her clinical experience and hence expertise in working with Chinese-speaking families, who were referred to her by previous clients. In 2021, she presented at the Selective Mutism Association Conference. Along with Dr Melissa Ortega, she presented on the topic “Special Considerations for Selective Mutism Treatment for Chinese Families”.

Here is a success story of Madeleine Shulman who was Phei Phei’s client 14 years ago. She overcame SM after about a year of therapy with Phei Phei and in this video, she, now as a young adult, shares her success story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cyFgt8qsZA&t=1173s

Phei Phei is passionate about helping children with Selective Mutism. Her vision is that children with anxiety in speaking will effectively climb the ladder of brave talking and eventually speak with joy in all settings, allowing their full selves to bloom, be seen, and be celebrated!

Phei Phei’s presence on social media:

FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/SWJSelectiveMutismTreatment

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/pheipheioon_s_mutism_spclist/

YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVv1llrrBMpzVNKpCaJjSg