Valerie Jaques is the first Malaysian psychologist to venture into the organizational world in addition to a clinical and community practice. She began working in the areas of coaching, counseling and training since 1987 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She later obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology majoring in Clinical and Counseling Psychology in 1997.
Her work experience ranges from providing therapy to individuals including children, adolescents, adults and families in the areas of stress and mental health, career & personal development, abusive and marital relationships, to developing stress management trainings, building strength and resiliency, understanding dynamics of working relationships, assertiveness training, anger management, change management, strategic thinking in business planning, soft skills and personal development programs for various employee levels within organizations. Her special forte is in developing and designing interactive and participative programs that cater to the needs of an organization. She does this on a one-to-one basis as well as through group training tailoring each program to the needs of the individual or organization.
Valerie took a year off from work in her company, then called Psychnet Consultancy, in 2000-2001 to work as an international expert in child counseling on behalf of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project based in Bangladesh. During her tenure she organized a training of trainers on psychological counseling for representatives from the Government of Bangladesh and non-governmental organizations all over the country, to offer counseling services and psychosocial development for the street children in Bangladesh who come with their traumatic experiences. The outcome of this training is a manual for counselors addressing problems of street children in Bangladesh.
She also assisted the Government of Bangladesh in the development of policies
on problems faced by these street children and the process of implementation,
monitoring and evaluating the outcomes as a form of protection for the street
children in Bangladesh. She returned to Malaysia and resumed her career as
a psychologist/training consultant in 2002. In 2005 she upgraded the company
now called Integrated Psychology Network Sdn Bhd, based in Petaling Jaya,
Malaysia.
Valerie has also been involved in the world of Employee Assistance Programs
(EAP) since 2002 in Malaysia and has been a provider for employee support
services in the form of assessments, challenges and counseling to employees,
supervisors and managers within organizations in the areas of mental health,
stress and people management. In 2006 i-psychnet, one of two organizers in
the region, hosted the Asia Pacific Employee Assistance Roundtable (a regional
conference) that brought together organizations and providers in this area
from around the world to Malaysia.
Her work also covers the area of career management and organizational consulting especially from 1999 to 2004 when she was part of an international outplacement and consulting firm. After that she joined another international organization in leadership development mainly as a feedback coach during leadership training as well as follow on coaching for leadership development.
In 2003 she ventured into the creative world using art as a therapeutic tool for people from all walks of life and has found this to be an effective approach to personal growth especially among Malaysians who are more nonverbal in expression.
In support to the community at large, Valerie is actively involved in giving talks to parents and students at schools and colleges and through non governmental and religions organizations as she sees the need to assist in the growth of tomorrow's future generation.
Valerie enjoys traveling, reading, meeting people and listening to music. She speaks English and Malay fluently. Underneath all her skills, abilities and knowledge, lies a warm, friendly and easy going, adaptable person who cares for the people she works with.