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Nowadays, constant attention is paid to our physical as well as mental well-being, and there is an abundance of information and discussion on healthy diet, sleep hygiene, benefits of regular exercise, stress management and emotional regulation, healthy relationships, etc.
For a number of reasons, of special interest to us is the bearing of social relationships on our health.
Social relationships and in particular, family relationships are major contexts of our day-to-day functioning and emotional adjustment ...
An important task in our growth and development is to navigate through the many changes, challenges, and inevitable conflicts that arise in our family and social relationships ...
The interplay between our individual functioning, the social contexts, and the larger society poses important questions in finding our emotional adjustment and in the long run our health and wellbeing.
Can we truly achieve emotional well-being independent of the social contexts that we live in?
Or is true emotional health rooted in nurturing our social relationships, addressing the emotional-cum-relational issues in these contexts instead of finding emotional adjustment on its own?
How can we adjust and balance the emotional needs of multiple individuals, especially during conflicts, without overly compromising our individual as well as relationship development?
In the present age of rapid socio-economic and the technological development, what are the values and principles guiding and supporting the development of our family and social relationships today?
And what is hindering or threatening this relationship development?
Few would disagree that family and social relationship is a vital and indispensable part of human functioning. However, in reality, its meaning and significance has been under continuous challenge. And there is a dearth of discussion on issues related to our emotional-cum-relational adjustment and what may be called our “relational health”.
The Relationship Specialty Service was set up to provide a platform for in-depth exploration and reflection on issues related to our “relational health”. It aims at facilitating participants to review the different types of emotional-cum-relational issues they encounter, find their ways to navigate the challenges, and ultimately enhance their overall health and happiness.
Relationship workshops
Relationship Class / Study Group
Target participants: Those who have joined the relationship workshop series.
Objective: In-depth review of each participant’s emotional-cum-relational issues and supporting them to find their own understanding and management of these issues.
Group facilitator: Chung-ming Chan, Ph.D. (Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, HKU)
Meetings: Saturday morning / 1000 – 1200
8 sessions in Jan – December 2025
Venue: HKU
Enrolment fee: $800
Counselling Service
The counseling service is dedicated towards individuals, intimate partners, parents, and families experiencing emotional-cum-relational issues in their family and social relationships.
Language: Cantonese
Services:
1. Consultation service by Clinical Psychology Trainees
- Intake interview : Fixed rate of HK$200
- Further interview and treatment –
Hourly rate of HK$350
2. Consultation service by Teaching Staff or Honorary Clinical Supervisors of Department of Psychology
- Fees to be arranged independently
Application procedure: Interested individuals could apply for the service through self-referral at 3917-2387. A face-to-face intake interview will then be arranged for the applicant. Following the intake interview, the applicant will be advised of the follow-up arrangement.
Future activities
“Intimacy: 1 + 1 = 1 or 2 or 0 or ...?”
- “Emotional regulation in an intimate relationship:
by whom, for whom, and how?”
- “Intimate vs parenting partners; east vs west”
- “Being a father” / “Being a mother”
- “Family-of-origin (FOO)/In-law relationship”
- “Men’s psychology” / “Women’s psychology”
- “Intense relationship conflicts/use of violence”
Feedback from Participants / Clients
The workshops offered a valuable space for self-reflection and growth. Hearing other participants' personal stories often sparked insights into my own life. The interactive format provided a rare opportunity to examine complex topics like family dynamics and intimate relationships in a supportive environment. Through these sessions with the guidance of a professional psychologist, I also gained a clearer understanding of how I respond to emotional stress, which benefits my personal development and emotional awareness. (Sean/ July 2025)
The group dynamic offers a unique approach to learning about relationships. Being present together, rather than observing from behind a one-way mirror, allows us to collaboratively explore and distill wisdom from real-life relationship challenges. By taking turns sharing our experiences, the learning becomes more personal and intimate. Moreover, feeling the genuine support from fellow group members is a most enriching experience for me. (RC / July 2025)
由2024年2月起，接連參加了多期「家庭關係工作坊」及今年的「關係研習小組」，由起初學習如何處理「情緒」到後來學習如何把一個混雜了自己、家人和「三姑六婆」情緒，甚至行為習慣所影響的、糾纏不清的伴侶關係和與原生父母的關係，梳理清晰並逐一解結。也學會分辨甚麼是自己的情緒，甚麼是別人的情緒，以及在把「情緒」與「事件」分拆開後，該段「關係」的真實樣子是怎樣的。
參與「關係研習小組」這一年多時間，本人由情緒穩定度到與人相處的關係及模式上都有很大轉變 ，對個人成長也有很大幫助。
另外，這個「關係研習小組」對近年坊間一些提及「原生家庭」、「內在小孩」及「用一生治療童年」等，強調童年經驗影響終身的觀念，給出一個完全不同的視角及處理方法。感謝香港大學心理服務組舉辦這類家庭關係工作坊及研習小組！ (GC/2025年8月)
本人受情緒問題困擾多年，亦因此與家人經常爭吵而關係惡劣。接受輔導過程中，輔導員透過對話幫助我尋找及分析問題，重新認識及理解自己，有些想法原來是幾十年的習慣，平時沒有在意而與家人反覆爭吵。但是，自己一方面很在意家人的想法，另一方面又無法表達自己的想法，形成隔膜，關係越來越疏遠而感到沮喪。在輔導協助下 ，了解自己過去並多認識自己之後，有好大幫助同改善，清楚自己為何覺得困擾，為何覺得憤怒。同時亦透過想法調整，多角度理解事情，會面後在生活中實踐，下次面談檢討改善。現在我同人關係改善，處理情緒亦有好大幫助。 (CK/2025年6月)
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