From Psychology to Purpose - The Journey Begins
Grace Counselling Centre wasn’t born from ambition—it emerged from transformation. Founder Kirby Chua began his career as a counselling psychologist in the late 1990s in the Philippines, driven by a desire to help others and explore life’s deeper meaning. But over time, he found that secular psychology often fell short—especially when addressing the human need for wholeness.
In the early 2000s, Kirby felt a divine calling that brought him to Singapore, where he realized that true healing is not found solely in empirical science, but in a Person—Jesus Christ. This revelation became the foundation for a new mission: integrating faith and psychology through Christian counselling.
In 2009, Kirby and his wife Rachel launched Grace Counselling Centre, Singapore’s first private Christian-based counselling centre. Due to limited finances, they began online—but by 2012, growing demand led to the opening of a physical space. Purpose, not profit, propelled the growth.
Challenges on the Path - Money, Stigma, and Mission
Financial sustainability was a major obstacle in the beginning. Online counselling wasn’t a strategic move—it was a necessity. At the same time, cultural stigma around mental health, especially in Asia, made outreach difficult. The idea of seeking emotional help—and paying for it—was, and often still is, taboo. Yet, the centre’s most enduring challenge has been its faith-based identity. Being unapologetically Christian has meant exclusion from government contracts and corporate partnerships that prefer secular approaches. For Kirby, however, staying true to their mission is non-negotiable.
What Sets Grace Counselling Centre Apart
Grace Counselling Centre is defined by its unwavering Christian foundation. Faith isn’t a subtle undertone—it’s the cornerstone of every therapeutic approach. Kirby and his team aim not just to manage symptoms, but to guide clients toward spiritual transformation, anchored in the Biblical promise of abundant life.
A Defining Moment - When Psychology Fell Short
Early in Kirby’s career, a session on love left both him and the client unsettled. Traditional psychological frameworks failed to explain the true nature and origin of love. That moment clarified something fundamental: without spiritual truth, even the most advanced psychological tools felt incomplete. It became the catalyst for establishing Grace Counselling Centre’s Christian identity—clear, bold, and without compromise.
Leading With Wholeness - A Unified Approach to Life and Work
Whether he is counselling, teaching, parenting, or leading, Kirby brings the same authentic self to every role. His leadership style—free from micromanagement and rooted in trust—is guided by the same principles he teaches: never let fear or pride hold someone back from becoming who they were meant to be.
Turning Rejection Into Community
While Grace’s religious foundation has led to rejection from secular projects, it has also carved out a powerful niche. Churches have become natural allies, seeking Grace’s support for their congregations. For Kirby, these partnerships are not consolation prizes—they are affirmations that the centre is right where it’s meant to be.
The Weight of Despair - The Toughest Battle in Counselling
Among the emotional burdens Kirby encounters—guilt, anger, self-condemnation—it is despair that weighs heaviest. Despair demands a trust that goes beyond logic or emotion. It takes a spiritual breakthrough to help someone believe in hope when their present reality says otherwise.
Faith on Screen - Reaching the Next Generation
Today, Grace Counselling Centre is extending its reach through YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. For Kirby, this mission is personal—he wants his daughter and her generation to grow up with content that is faith-filled, not faithless. These platforms also serve as free mental health resources, tackling issues like anxiety and pornography addiction while offering something deeper than advice: hope.
Milestones Measured in Lives Touched
Though Grace Counselling Centre has existed for over 16 years, Kirby still sees it as a young organisation. From launching a physical centre in 2012 to moving into their Manhattan House location in 2013, each step marks progress. But buildings and timelines aren’t the true milestones. Lives are. Students, professionals, church leaders—even clients flying in from overseas—have come seeking healing. And they return. That, for Kirby, is the greatest affirmation: Grace Counselling Centre is making a difference, one soul at a time.
Advice from Kirby Chua for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Kirby Chua
Founder of Grace Counselling Centre
Ask yourself first the question of Why?
Why do we need to prosper? Why do we want to succeed? Why do we want to live comfortably? What are all these for? Until we answer all the basic existential questions, all these superficial surface level behaviours and events will mean nothing. If it means nothing then it will not sustain.