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Being Human

Author: Relate Malaysia

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Brought to you by Relate Malaysia, the Being Human podcast explores what makes us human, the challenges we face to understand ourselves, and how we can develop self-awareness and the tools to create a meaningful life.
65 Episodes
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They describe themselves as "just five guys from Malaysia, looking to (try) grow the most lush moustaches for a worthy Movember cause: mental health." These five guys - Ariff, Haris, Kaiza, Seth and Sul - are collectively known as the Movembros, and they have been putting their creative minds together to pull off some amazing fundraising work to support Relate Malaysia's work and mission. These marvellous mental health advocates have been working tirelessly to raise awareness in Malaysia, and in this episode of Being Human, the fantastic five join Dr. Chua Sook Ning to discuss their work and why supporting mental health is a cause close to their hearts. To find out more about the Movembros, you can follow them on Instagram @mymovembros For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Kavin Jay is one of Southeast Asia's finest comedians, and his 2019 Netflix special, Let’s Get Ready to Grumble!, took him to even greater heights as he showed off his talents to a worldwide audience. Onstage, Kavin struts his stuff as a force of nature, a funnyman in control of the room and his audience. And yet, he has found difficulty for much of his life with navigating the anxious struggles of being a people-pleaser.  In this episode of Being Human, Kavin joins host Dr Chua Sook Ning as they discuss his life as a comedian, the challenges that come with people-pleasing, and how to overcome the compulsion to tend to others' needs, often at the expense of our own well-being. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
As we get settled into the New Year, Dr Chua Sook Ning - founder of Relate Malaysia and host of the Being Human podcast - joins mindfulness author, Star columnist, and counsellor, Sandy Clarke, as she reflects on her journey as a psychologist, and the journey of mental health in Malaysia. The three-time TEDx Speaker talks about what attracted her to pursuing a career as a clinical psychologist, why she chose to publicly share her struggles with depression, and what needs to be done to raise the standard of mental health services in Malaysia.  For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Self-harm (or self-injury) has been defined as the "intentional direct injury of one's own tissues without a suicidal intention", and is more common than we realise, primarily among young people who self-harm as a means of emotional release. A 2019 survey by YouGov (a British market research company) found that a quarter of Malaysians surveyed experienced suicidal thoughts, and 26% disclosed self-harm behaviours. The data showed one in 10 young Malaysians (aged 18-24) engaged in self-harm "frequently". In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Nancy Heath - a James McGill Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University - who is a renowned researcher in emotion regulatory difficulties, stress, coping, mindfulness, and non-suicidal self-injury. Their enlightening discussion explores what motivates people to use self-harm as a coping mechanism, and what we need to understand about the behaviour in order to better support people who self-harm. If you (or anyone you know) engages in self-harming behaviours, Dr. Heath's website provides free coping strategy resources and insightful information on why people self-harm and how to reach out for support. You can visit the website at: http://sioutreach.org
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) focuses on the idea that our personal relationships are at the heart of our psychological problems. Although issues themselves might not be caused by relationships, our problems affect our connections with others and can worsen our situation. By learning to communicate better with people, IPT helps clients to address relational issues that contribute to problems such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. In this episode of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr John Markowitz - Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons - to discuss the role relationships play in the issues we face, and how we can improve our relationships as a means to lessen our suffering and strengthen our connections and social support. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Suicide rates in Malaysia over the past 10 years have been rising, particularly among young people...but what drives them to such pain in the first place? In this informative episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Frederick Leong, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University. An eminent psychologist with an illustrious career spanning 40 years, he is the editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Counselling, and the APA Handbook of Multicultural Psychology. Dr. Fred is also the founding editor of the Asian-American Journal of Psychology. The discussion explores suicide beyond mental health, examining the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to suicide rates among young people in Asian cultures. Dr. Fred also shares his insights on why educating young people and their parents on emotion regulation is key to reducing future suicide rates. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
What thoughts come to mind when you look at yourself in the mirror? We all have a body image - a sense of how we see and feel about our physical self - and many people feel they're not good enough, strong enough, or pretty enough compared to others. What affects our body image? What happens to us if we have a negative body image? And what role do our parents, friends, and the media play in shaping how we see ourselves? Answering these questions and more is Prof. Viren Swami, a social psychologist and expert on body image and human appearance. In this episode of Being Human, he joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to discuss the factors that influence our body image, and what we can do to support ourselves and each other to rise above social and cultural ideals of physical appearance. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
There has been a growing awareness of the need to understand suicide prevention in Malaysia, due to the rise in suicide rates over the past ten years - but what are some of the practical ways that we can offer our help and support to people experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings? In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Pheh Kai Shuen - a clinical psychologist and the Head of Programme at the Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Kai Shuen pioneered and piloted a four-step suicide prevention programme known as "C.A.R.E.", providing guidance to mental health professionals and members of the public on how to understand, support and help those who are struggling with suicidal ideation.  If anyone is in need of immediate emotional support, they can call the Befrienders 24-hour hotline on 03-762-72929. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
It's a question all good counsellors and clinicians ask themselves: What can I do to make my practice more effective for my clients? People seeking mental health support have a similar question in mind. They wonder what good therapy - and a good therapist - looks like. Answering these questions and more in this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Prof. Bruce Wampold, Emeritus Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Prof. Wampold has dedicated his illustrious career to discovering the common factors of effective therapy, which are explored in his books, 'The Great Psychotherapy Debate' and 'The Basics of Psychotherapy'. For clinicians and clients alike, this episode shines a light on the most important aspects of counselling and psychotherapy. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Did you know that 1 in 13 people around the world experience anxiety? When we think about being anxious, it can be something we want to avoid or get rid of - but is anxiety really the bad guy it's made out to be? In this illuminating episode of Being Human, host Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks to Jon Abramowitz who is a professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an expert on anxiety and OCD. Prof. Abramowitz shines a light on the modern-day factors that have made anxiety a growing problem, and shares his insights on why trying to get rid of anxiety tends to make us more anxious. He also offers advice to mental health professionals and people experiencing anxiety on how to effectively manage what is often a powerful emotion. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
When we want to make changes, we often rely on goals alone to take our lives in a positive direction. According to Prof. Steven C. Hayes, that's not enough - our goals need to be driven by values if we want to live a meaningful life. In Episode seven of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning and Prof. Hayes discuss the importance of going beyond goal setting to create values that empower us to live life in a way that's purposeful and engaged. But how do we discover our values? As the creator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and one of the world's most influential behavioural psychologists, Prof. Hayes talks about how we can open up to our reality and shares four ways that can help us learn and act on what really matters to us. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 70 million people worldwide have an eating disorder. And yet, many people throughout the world don't receive effective treatment for these complex issues. In episode six of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft - a prominent researcher in eating disorders from the Washington University School of Medicine - as they discuss the causes and potential treatments of eating disorders. Dr Ellen also shares her insights into app-based technology that has been used in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and obesity. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
What motivates us to do our best in some areas of life, while in others we only give the bare minimum to get the job done? And how can individuals, as well as business leaders and coaches, develop environments that inspire people to give and be at their best? In this insightful episode of Being Human, Prof. Richard Ryan joins host Dr. Chua Sook Ning to talk about three fundamental needs that drive our motivation (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) and what life looks like when those needs are fulfilled compared to when one or more is lacking.  Richard Ryan is the University of Rochester Professor Emeritus of Psychology, and also a clinical psychologist and co-developer with Edward Deci of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), one of the most influential theories of human motivation. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Many of us know the importance of looking after our mental health and how counselling or psychotherapy can improve our emotional well-being. But what does good therapy look like - and how do we benefit from it?  Answering these questions and more in Episode 4 of the Being Human podcast is Prof. Alvin Ng - Head of Psychology at Sunway University. Alvin joins Dr Chua Sook Ning to discuss the qualities of a good mental health therapist, and shares his insights into how we can make sure that the professionals we see are legitimate and a good fit for our needs. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Mental health has come along way in Malaysia over the past 20 years, with more awareness, education and services made available to people throughout the country.  How can we keep that momentum going, and what role can communities, business leaders and employers play to invest more in our mental health and well-being? Joining Dr. Chua Sook Ning to explore these questions is Y.B. Michelle Ng, assemblywoman of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Subang Jaya. Michelle is a strong advocate for mental health services and support in Malaysia and continues to work tirelessly to de-stigmatise and promote the importance of mental health. She also shares personal insights into her own self-care and how she makes time for herself while managing her busy schedule. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Why is psychology important...and why should we care about it? In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by MY Psychology founder and clinical psychologist, Gary Yap. They discuss the importance of psychology and how we can benefit from learning how it affects our lives, leading us to a better understanding of what makes us who we are and how we behave. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
Sometimes it's difficult to understand our emotions, let alone make friends with them. In this first episode of 'Being Human', Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Professor Jeanne Watson from the University of Toronto. Professor Watson is a major exponent of humanistic-experiential psychotherapy and has contributed to the development of Emotion Focused Psychotherapy. She shares some fascinating insights into how we can understand and accept our emotions and, in turn, learn to befriend them as well as ourselves. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my
In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Dr. Gemma Sharp, clinical psychologist and founding director of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders, known as CoRe-ED, an international initiative that brings together researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience. Together, they explore the complex ways in which appearance, self-worth, and life transitions intertwine, and how these can shape mental health. They also discuss the work of CoRe-ED, a global consortium uniting researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience, and allies, to create more inclusive and effective responses to eating disorders. The conversation also highlights digital innovations such as chatbots and mobile apps, weighing the opportunities and risks of AI in healthcare. To learn more about Dr. Gemma’s work with CoRe-ED, visit www.core-ed.com.au
In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with Dr. Scott Miller, founder of the International Centre for Clinical Excellence and a leading voice in behavioural health services. They discuss the concept of deliberate practise in psychotherapy and its powerful role in improving therapeutic effectiveness. Scott shares insights from his extensive research, challenging the belief that experience alone leads to better outcomes, and explains how deliberate practise offers a structured path for clinicians to refine their skills. To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our work visit www.relate.com.my
In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Lou Cooper, Chair of the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy and host of the Emotion Focused Podcast. Navigating our emotional world is rarely straightforward. Lou shares how the way we respond to feelings – whether by suppressing, managing, or exploring them – is shaped not only by our personal histories, but also by our cultural context. The conversation highlights how easily we can bypass emotional signals, especially in cultures where emotional expression is discouraged or misunderstood.Lou also invites us to consider what happens when we ignore or avoid our emotions: we lose access to vital information about how we’re really doing, what matters to us, and what we might need to change. __To learn more about Relate Malaysia and its services visit www.relate.com.my
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Comments (1)

ali Mehraban

Very interesting discussion

Apr 7th
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