Episodes
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In this enlightening episode, Dr Chuan Sook Ning and Dr Frederick Philippe explore the intricate ways our memories shape our current reality and mental health. They also discuss how the accumulation of past events influences our perceptions, functioning, and overall well-being.
Dr Philippe shares his insights the process of encoding and reconstructing memories, highlighting the importance of satisfying our fundamental needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. He explains how aggregating events can lead to networks of failure, or conversely, networks of resilience, depending on our approach to past experiences.
Dr. Philippe also introduces the concept of free energy, a fascinating principle that helps the brain navigate new experiences and make predictions about future events. While beneficial in the short term, this predictive mechanism can sometimes hinder our long-term mental health.
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To learn more about Relate Malaysia visit www.relate.com.my
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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 Dynamic Psychotherapy' where he shares his insights on a wide range of questions about the therapy process.
To find out more about Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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Missing episodes?
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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, Dr. Chua Sook Ning talks to Dr. John Wilson - Director of the Bereavement Service at the Communities Centre, York St. John University. John has specialised in bereavement counselling for over 25 years and shares his insights into grief, the process of grieving, and how we can support others through their bereavement.
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For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 Psychology.
He's also a prominent voice of mental health advocacy in Malaysia, and shares his knowledge and valuable insights on this important topic.
To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 supervisor.
In this episode, Jeanne talks about her beginnings as a fresh psychologist, under the wing of Dr. Laura Rice - former colleague of Carl Rogers - and how EFT has evolved since its early days.
She and Dr. Chua also share an illuminating conversation on the process of therapy and how it can guide people to create and navigate their process of life and living.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 peripartum depression in the country today.
She also shares her thoughts in advocating for change in Malaysia's healthcare system, where less than 30% of maternity providers screen for peripartum depression.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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
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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 imperfections and humans who always have the capacity to learn and grow.
Robert is the author of numberous books that guides people to gain valuable insights into who they are and how to move away from idealism and toward living a life that's authentic and real.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 faced as a young MP, and his thoughts on youth mental health in Malaysia.
Saddiq also shares insights into how he takes care of himself physically and mentally, offering valuable advice for listeners who might be hesitant to seek help.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and its services, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 - his experience with anxiety.
To find out more about Relate Malaysia, its services and work, visit: www.relate.com.my
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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 about Relate Malaysia, its services and work, visit: www.relate.com.my
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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 shares practical strategies and insights based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help us cope with life-changing events such as bereavement, health problems, and relationship breakdowns.
To find out more about Relate Malaysia, visit www.relate.com.my
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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 relationship, approaching each client with compassion and a commitment to supporting their growth and change.
In this conversation, Anthea discusses her understanding of what it means to be human, her approach to overcoming challenges and setbacks, and effective strategies for personal growth, resilience, and finding joy in life.
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“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 suicidal thoughts and feelings. Emmy shares her insights into the challenges people both young and old face in today's world, and how we can begin to cultivate meaning and purpose from a place of suffering or despair.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected] -
"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 communities.
Lisa shares her thoughts on how peer support complements clinical and psychiatric treatments in helping people nevigate and overcome their struggles, and how sharing our stories with each other can reduce any sense of isolation and empower us to develop a better understanding of ourselves and each other.For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]
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"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 perspective on mental health, and how including the insights and contributions of those with lived experience across a variety of health issues can inform, transform, and improve existing health services in terms of accessibility, affordability, and quality of care.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]
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"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 doctoral program in clinical psychology. He has published over 160 papers and 10 books, including 'Therapist Performance under Pressure: Negotiating Emotion, Difference and Rupture', with Catherine Eubanks, and 'The Therapeutic Alliance: An Evidence-Based Guide to Practice', with Jacques Barber.For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]
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"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 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and demonstrates the relational aspect of CBT in a short role play with Dr. Chua.For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]
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"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 role-play exercise that demonstrates the value of focusing on and sitting with emotions that are present.
For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]
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