In this fascinating episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua hosts author and therapist, Jon Frederickson, to discuss the process of therapy and the challenges we face in relating to ourselves and others. Jon teaches, practices and supervises in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and is an international author of several books including 'Co-creating Change', 'The Lies We Tell Ourselves', and 'Healing Through Relating.' He also maintains a popular Facebook Page, 'Intensive Short-Term...

Grief is something we'll all come to experience at different stages in life, whether it be coping with the death of a loved one, or any significant loss such as the end of a marriage, the death of a pet, being made redundant, and so on. And yet, despite the universality of grief, it's a topic of conversation that's often avoided as we prefer to look on the "bright side" of things or "look ahead" rather than deal with uncomfortable or devastating realities. In this episode of Being Human,...

We often hear about the importance of mental health literacy and how it can improve our ability to take care of our mental health...but what does it mean, exactly? Exploring this question, licensed counsellor and author, Sandy Clarke, is joined by Prof. Alvin Ng of Sunway University to get his thoughts on the importance of mental health literacy. Alvin is Associate Dean for Sunway's School of Medical and Life Sciences and he was the founding president of the Malaysian Society of Clinical...

In this episode of Being Human, mindfulness author and Star columnist Sandy Clarke discusses the concept of acceptance with Ajahn Brahmali - a Buddhist monk from Bodhinyana monastery, Perth. They discuss why acceptance can be difficult to work toward and how to overcome the obstacles that get in our way. Ajahn Brahmali also shares his thoughts on the value of self-compassion as part of acceptance, and how it can help us foster compassion for and understanding toward others. For more...

As 'Being Human' marks its 50th episode, Dr. Chua Sook Ning invited the podcast's first ever guest, Prof. Jeanne Watson, for this special episode. Jeanne is a professor at the University of Toronto and was a co-developer of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside Profs. Leslie Greenberg and Robert Elliott. In recent years, she has been a supervisor and mentor to Dr. Chua who received support and guidance from Jeanne in her journey toward being a fully-certified EFT practitioner and...

From an award-winning music star, to radio announcer and TV host, Sarimah Ibrahim's journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode of Being Human, she joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning and opens up about her life and struggles with peripartum depression - a crucial issue in women's mental health in Malaysia. A passionate mental health advocate, Sarimah shares her personal experiences, shedding light on the pressing need for greater awareness and intervention for the 1 in 8 mothers facing...

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts Dr. Laura Dietz - a a leading expert in Family Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for depressed preadolescents aged 8-12 years. They discuss what makes IPT effective in treating mental health problems in young people, and how it can also help to enable families to improve communication and strengthen their bonds. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my

Would you say you lived life in pursuit of existential perfection? Are you the kind of person who might dwell and ruminate on mistakes made in the past as proof that you're a bad or unworthy person? If these questions stir something deep inside, then this enlightening podcast episode is for you! Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts Dr. Robert Leahy - psychologist and author whose book, If Only...Finding Freedom From Regret, helps us to develop what he calls "adaptive humility" that helps us accept our...

In this episode of the Being Human podcast, Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Syed Saddiq, a prominent Malaysian politician and the founding member of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA). As a young and dynamic leader, Saddiq has been actively involved in youth empowerment and has a deep passion for addressing the mental health struggles faced by young people in Malaysia. Dr. Chua and Saddiq delve into various topics, including his journey into public service, the challenges he...

With a goal to be "the busiest man in showbusiness", Keanu Azman is a media maverick with a tireless drive and passion for learning about people, events, and just about everything else he encounters. On the one hand, many in Malaysia will know Keanu as the suave, charming and energetic media personality he is. On the other hand, in this episode of Being Human, he joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to share his struggles with anxiety starting in 2019 and how he learned to cope with - and learn from -...

Emotional pain is something we all experience, but why is it so hard to sit with our feelings? This episode of Being Human examines the transformative power of core emotional pain with Dr. Ladislav Timulak, a renowned expert and Professor in Counselling Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Hosted by Dr. Chua Sook Ning, she and Dr. Timulak explore the messages our emotions send us, and how we can use that knowledge to cultivate a more self-compassionate perspective. To find out more...

What do we do when a storm comes our way? In this episode of Being Human, mental health counsellor and mindfulness author Sandy Clarke sat down with Dr. Ray Owen, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and author of 'Facing the Storm', a powerful guide to coping with life's toughest challenges. Together, they explore the difficult but important questions we all face: how can we navigate pain and despair, loss and uncertainty? Drawing on over 30 years of experience working in the UK's NHS, Ray...

Dr. Chua Sook Ning interviews Anthea Ong, a former Nominated Member of Parliament for Singapore, and full-time entrepreneur and social advocate. Anthea shares openly about the setbacks, challenges, and difficulties she has faced in life and how she has used these experiences to connect with and serve others in deep and meaningful ways through her various passions. As an experienced leadership and executive coach, Anthea brings curiosity, tenderness, and gentle irreverence to each coaching...

“We need to look at who are the people who end up killing themselves, and why they are doing that. It isn’t because they’ve become negativistic; it’s because they have ended up on a road that doesn’t lead anywhere and they feel there is no good possibility in sight…” In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts renowned existential philosopher and psychotherapist, Prof. Emmy van Deurzen, to discuss the personal, social, and existential factors that can contribute to having...

"Recovery is so important, but recovery from what? Often, the missing question is 'What are you recovering from?' Sometimes, people are recovering from injustice, poverty, abuse, systemic harm...not an illness." In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Lisa Archibald, co-director of Intentional Peer Support, to talk about the importance of peer support within mental health and the role it can play in helping to build stronger, connected, and healthier...

"If a health service is supposed to benefit me, why aren't I part of the development of that service?" When we think of mental health, we typically think about individual efforts and responsibility toward our health. However, many social and environmental factors contribute to our overall health, making mental health as much a collective as an individual responsibility.  In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts Dr. Rayner Tan to discuss the importance of taking a wider...

"You have to fundamentally appreciate that everyone is different and so, invariably, that's going to bring in clashes..." In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Christopher Muran to discuss therapeutic alliance, the common ruptures that arise in therapy sessions, and how to repair those ruptures. Dr. Muran is an Associate Dean and Professor at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, where he previously served as training director for the...

"We have to remember we're not working with machines - we're working with human beings." Dr Allen Miller oversees the training and clinical services at Beck Institute as the CBT Program Director. In this episode of Being Human, he joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to discuss the importance of the relationship between therapists and their clients in order for effective CBT to take place. Dr Miller shares insights into his relationship with the late Dr. Aaron Beck and the original vision he had for...

"A life not felt is one that doesn't know what it needs..." In this episode of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning is joined by the creator and co-developer of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Dr. Leslie Greenberg. When Dr. Greenberg first appeared on Being Human, he talked about the wisdom of our emotions and the importance of listening to what they try to tell us.  In this discussion, he shares his insights on why we often reject and recoil from what we feel, and leads Dr. Chua in a short...

With a rise in suicide cases over the past decade (particularly during the Covid-19 lockdown periods), the media has played an important role in reporting this sensitive topic to the public.  In some cases, suicide is reported in ways that add to the problem rather than educate people and help reverse the worrying trend of suicide rates. In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by political analyst, producer, and former independent journalist Norman Goh to discuss the...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). It is estimated that around 100 to 150 million people throughout the world live with OCD, with the most common treatment being ERP (exposure with response prevention). In this episode, Dr Chua Sook Ning talks to Dr. Reid Wilson about the nature of OCD and "The 6-Moment Game" he shares to help people overcome...

What does it mean to be present with ourselves and others? How does being present enrich our connections, whether we're in session with clients or spending time with loved ones?  How can we learn to be more present?  In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by author and clinical psychologist, Dr. Shari Geller, to explore these questions and more. Shari teaches at York University in Toronto, Ontario, and is the founder and creator of the Therapeutic Rhythm and...

Every client or patient who seeks mental health support comes with unique needs, perspectives, and preferences. As a result, it's unlikely that any single therapy approach can work for every person who encounters it.  According to Dr. John C. Norcross, therapists have greater success working with clients when they take an integrative approach that draws from different techniques and models to suit each person's needs and preferences. John is Distinguished Professor & Chair of Psychology...

What do daily routines and taking care of our body clocks have to do with mental health and the quality of our relationships? In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Holly Swartz to explore the role of circadian rhythms and how they affect important aspects of our lives. They also discuss steps we can take to improve our mental health by establishing routines, and how relationships play an important function in the rhythm of our lives.  Dr. Holly Swartz is...