Is Psychotherapy Common in Hong Kong?

In recent years, Hong Kong has seen a growing interest in mental health and psychotherapy. While therapy isn’t yet as widely embraced as it is in some Western countries, the landscape is changing—slowly but surely.

🌱 Rising Awareness, But Lingering Stigma

There’s no doubt that more people in Hong Kong are becoming aware of the importance of mental health. Public campaigns, school initiatives, and social media have helped reduce the stigma, especially among younger generations. Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are now more openly discussed, and therapy is no longer only seen as a last resort.

However, stigma still exists—particularly among older generations or in more traditional family systems. There's still a strong cultural mindset to “keep it inside,” or push through problems alone. Emotional struggles are sometimes viewed as weaknesses, and many individuals only seek help in crisis situations.

💬 My Perspective as a Therapist

Having lived and worked in both Hong Kong and abroad, I’ve seen the strengths and limitations of the mental health system up close. One experience that stands out to me is a conversation I had with a close friend in Hong Kong who has struggled with depression for years. She told me she had stopped going to therapy altogether—because, in her words, “it’s just talk.” She didn’t find it helpful anymore.

When I asked her more, I realized what she was missing wasn’t emotional support—it was practical, experiential tools she could actually use. I told her, “It sounds like you need a psychotherapist—someone who can guide you through not just talking, but actual therapeutic techniques.”

Another friend of mine—who’s a psychologist in Hong Kong—mentioned something that really struck me: “We have clinical psychologists, school psychologists, and counsellors, but we’re missing psychotherapists.” I couldn’t agree more. In many places, psychotherapy is more than talk—it’s structured, skills-based, and transformational. That’s what we need more of in Hong Kong.

At CoKind Therapy, I offer a psychotherapy approach that combines evidence-based practices with lived experience and deep empathy. You don’t just talk—you learn, practice, and grow. And you don’t have to do it alone.