THRIVING IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE

Cupid is not the only force at play in the complex business of love: This February, we unveil the hidden aspects of professions dedicated to matters of the heart. We meet a matchmaker, a couple who are couples therapists, and a Gen-Z trio reshaping the discourse on sexual wellness.

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COUNSELLING COUPLES TOGETHER

Kester Tay, 38, and Kavitha Shekar, 40, co-founders and therapists at Intracresco

Having healed from their own lived experiences of abuse, anxiety, conflict, and trauma, Kester, a former diplomat, and Kavitha, formerly in healthcare, utilise their diverse experiences to guide individuals and couples through the complexities of relationships. Intracresco, which means inner growth in Latin, extends beyond couples therapy – the couple also treat other mental health related issues such as trauma and anxiety. While therapy sessions are conducted online for now, they are in the process of renovating their clinic, with plans to open later this year.

How did the two of you meet and venture into the field of therapy?

Kester: As we both found inner joy through meditation, we felt called to share the practice to help others. We met in 2019, while volunteering at a meditation centre in Singapore. We became friends and found that we had similar interests in the helping field.

Kavitha: That year, I founded Intracresco as a wellness company with initial offerings of yoga and meditation classes. In late 2019, I left an unsafe marriage to stay in a shelter home with my then three-year-old son, eventually getting a divorce in 2020. Kester supported me throughout, and he later joined Intracresco. This was an intense period where our relationship brought out traumas from our past. This led us on a search to deeply understand the root causes of human suffering, and train in various therapy and counselling methods to heal ourselves and our relationship.

Did your personal struggles influence your decision to study therapy?