From Corporate Trainer to Family Counsellor: Seelvi’s 10-Year Journey in Social Services
Stories of HEART, Healing and Hope
From Corporate Trainer to Family Counsellor: Seelvi’s 10-Year Journey in Social Services
Seelvi Nadarasan from THK Family Service Centre @ Tanjong Pagar
A Natural Gift for Calming Others
Before entering social services, Seelvi spent about 7 years with a major telco as a trainer and supervisor. She often stepped in when customers became aggressive or staff faced personal crises. “I realised I had a calm and soothing voice that helped people settle down,” she shares.
One turning point came when she noticed bruises on a staff member who was crying on the phone. The woman eventually opened up about domestic violence (DV) at home. At that time, DV was rarely discussed openly. Seelvi gently advised her to report the matter and seek help from community services. Without realising it, the advice had helped improved the staff member’s family situation. That experience sparked Seelvi’s interest in community resources and planted the first seed for her social service career.
Stepping into Social Services
Seelvi began as an admin at a social service agency to learn the sector from the ground up. Within a year, she was promoted to social service executive. While working, she pursued her Master’s in Counselling, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Social Work. She spent two years as a counsellor in a children’s home, supporting children with trauma, before joining THKMC.
At THKMC, she first served as a counsellor for three years, then took on broader family work. Late last year, she began supervising two new hires. She now handles up to 25 cases while mentoring her supervisees.
Daily Realities and Emotional Resilience
Social work at THKMC is deeply meaningful and rewarding, even as it calls for dedication and heart. Building strong rapport comes naturally to her, and she finds great joy in guiding her two supervisees, many of whom are fresh graduates, as they grow in confidence and skill. Even during the challenging pandemic period, when resources were stretched, she quickly adapted, took on 20 existing cases, and mastered new systems with the support of her team.
To stay grounded and present for every family, Seelvi practises healthy emotional boundaries. “After a particularly moving session, I give myself about an hour to reflect,” she shares. “The 30-minute drive home becomes my quiet time to unload and arrive feeling calmer and refreshed.”
What truly fuels her passion are the beautiful success stories that unfold. “I love planting that seed, for example, helping someone who is unemployed discover their strengths, identify suitable courses, and receive the right support. Seeing them take the initiative to register and later become gainfully employed fills me with such pride and joy.”
Even when cases come to a close, clients often express how much they’ve grown and sometimes feel a little sad to say goodbye, a beautiful sign of the strong, positive connection that has been built. These moments of transformation remind Seelvi why she chose this path and keep her motivated every single day.
Impact Across Generations
Seelvi’s work often touches entire families, from parental conflicts and teenage issues to financial stress and youth counselling. Domestic violence cases, in particular, affect everyone from children to seniors. In one memorable case, she counselled a perpetrator in prison. Two years after his release, he had secured housing and rebuilt his family. “I am happy for them,” she reflects.
She notes that while family service centres aim to ensure that families become independent, the work can sometimes feel never-ending as new layers of family issues surface.
Encouraging Words for Future Social Workers and the Community
For those considering a career in social work, Seelvi shares that meaningful change takes time. She encourages aspiring social workers to plant seeds with faith, patience, consistency, and genuine care, trusting that their efforts will eventually grow into something impactful. For her, the key quality of a social worker is never to judge too quickly.
She emphasises the importance of supporting social workers through simple acts of kindness, noting that they often face aggressive clients, and that even a small gesture of understanding can help them do their job well.
For members of the public who may encounter individuals facing domestic violence or family challenges, she shared: “Practise understanding and patience. Everyone has a story, and what is visible is often only a fragment of the truth. You never truly know what someone is facing.”
A Continuing Commitment at THKMC
With supportive people around her and a deep sense of fulfilment from seeing growth in clients and supervisees, Seelvi remains dedicated to her role at THKMC. Her journey from corporate trainer to seasoned social worker proves that a calm voice and steady heart can create ripples of positive change across many lives.
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