Being Human

"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. 

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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.

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"We have to remember we're not working with machines - we're working with human beings."

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"A life not felt is one that doesn't know what it needs..."

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.

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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 importance of ethical reporting when addressing suicide.

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).

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 Mindfulness (TRM™) program. 

She shares her thoughts on the power of presence in psychotherapy and talks about how we can begin to be more present in a way that enlivens our personal and professional relationships. 

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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 at the University of Scranton and is recognised as a leading authority on psychotherapy integration.

In this episode of Being Human, John joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to talk about the nature and importance of psychotherapy integration, and they discuss what therapists can do to better understand and help their clients, and cut therapy drop-out rates by up to 50%. John also shares insights on the key ingredients new therapists should develop if they want to become effective practitioners.

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 professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is well-known for her work in evaluating Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) as treatments for depression and bipolar disorder, as well as understanding and optimising psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions for mood disorders.

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What makes some people believe in conspiracy theories while others don't? And how do conspiracy theories affect how we see and deal with public health issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic?

In this illuminating episode of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning discusses these questions and more with Frederick Philippe - a professor and researcher in personality and social psychology at the University of Quebec at Montreal.

Prof. Phillipe shares his thoughts on the attraction of conspiracy theories and the protective function they serve to help people deal with uncertainty and instability. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, he also shares three key points of focus for governments and authorities to help etablish and maintain trust when managing public health crises. 

For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: [email protected]