About Clark Care Counseling Initiative
Community-Based Mental Health Support for Myanmar Migrants and Refugees
Executive Summary
Clark Care Counseling Initiative is a nonprofit, volunteer-led mental health service based in Thailand, providing free and culturally sensitive support to Myanmar individuals living abroad. We support diverse communities, including women, youth, migrants, refugees, displaced and undocumented individuals, stateless people, and LGBTQ+ communities — particularly those in Thailand, while remaining open worldwide.
Our services are delivered by Myanmar-trained counselors with extensive professional experience and a deep understanding of the cultural and migration-related challenges our communities face. All counselors are supported through regular supervision by international clinical professionals to ensure safe, ethical, and high-quality care.
We also provide an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering individual counseling and group support for employees across NGOs and private organizations.
Mission & Objectives
Mission
We envision a future where Myanmar migrants and refugees can access high-quality, safe, affordable, and culturally sensitive mental health care, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, or background. We also hope to raise awareness around mental health to reduce stigma and empower Myanmar communities living abroad to thrive and build resilience.
Objectives
The Clark Care Counseling Initiative exists to bridge the gap in mental health access for Myanmar migrants and refugees who face financial and cultural barriers to care. More specifically, we currently offer 3 free sessions per client. Any Myanmar migrant or refugee aged 16 or above can access our services. We are able to provide counseling in Burmese, English, Jingpo (Kachin), and Chin (Hakha & Falam). In the future, we aim to expand our services to include group counselling and community-based psychoeducation. Additionally, we hope to build partnerships with other international humanitarian organizations and expand counselor capacity.
Current Challenges
While demand for mental health support among migrants and refugees continues to grow, Clark Care Counseling Initiative faces several operational challenges:
- All counselors currently work on a volunteer basis, limiting the number of free sessions available
- Limited funding restricts capacity for clinical supervision and professional training
- Lack of resources for secure technological platforms and operational costs
- Limited ability to expand services and provide long-term counseling support
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to serving those who need mental health support most.
Future Plan
With adequate support, Clark Care Counseling Initiative aims to expand its services to include:
- Increased number of free counseling sessions for clients
- Group counseling programs
- Online mental health workshops and webinars
- Community psychoeducation and awareness programs
- Mental Health awareness articles on the Clark Care counseling Initiative Facebook page
- Mental Health Awareness campaign on special occasion days such as World Mental Health Day
- Capacity-building training for Myanmar counselors
- Expansion of language coverage to include additional Myanmar ethnic languages
- Broader support for Myanmar migrants in other countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore
- Recruit one more clinical supervisor
- Recruit full-time staffs
- Publishing mental health awareness articles
How You Can Help
Clark Care Counseling Initiative relies on the support of donors and partners to sustain and expand our services. Funding helps us:
- Provide volunteer support stipends for counselors
- Secure clinical supervision for quality assurance
- Invest in counselor training and professional development
- Maintain secure online platforms and operational infrastructure
- Expand access to free counseling sessions
Your contribution directly impacts the lives of migrants and refugees seeking mental health support.
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