Profile

Dr. Marlene Lee is a US-trained clinical psychologist. Originally from Malaysia, she has been residing in Singapore since 2005.

Qualifications: Dr. Lee completed her B.A in Psychology (summa cum laude) at California State University, Fresno. Subsequently, she obtained her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Adult Clinical Track) from the University of Albany, State University of New York, in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

Background: Dr. Lee specializes in the assessment and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, addictive behaviors, and trauma. Her approach to psychotherapy/counselling tends to be eclectic, with strong emphasis on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance- and Mindfulness-based interventions. Dr. Lee works primarily with adults and older adolescents.

Prior to entering full-time private practice in 2010, Dr. Lee held faculty positions at the National University of Singapore and James Cook University, Singapore, where she taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and trained and supervised students in the Master and Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) programs.

From 2007 to 2009, Dr. Lee took time off from academe to pursue humanitarian aid work. She became a full-time volunteer with Doctors Without Borders (also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres or MSF), an international medical-humanitarian NGO. In her role as a field psychologist, she developed and implemented community-based mental health programs, trained and supervised local counsellors, and provided psychosocial support to victims of armed conflict in Kashmir, India, and Yambio, South Sudan. In addition, she was part of the emergency intervention team for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, 2008 Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and the 2009 Padang earthquake in Indonesia.

Dr. Lee served on the Board of Directors for MSF Hong Kong from 2016 to 2020, and for MSF Taiwan from 2018 to 2022. She aspires to make mental health services more accessible to local communities and people from all walks of life.

Professional Affiliations: Dr. Lee is a Registered Psychologist (Reg#: 06050104) and a member of the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS). She has been a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1998. She is also a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).

Languages: Dr. Lee is fluent in English and Malay.