Being Human

It's a question all good counsellors and clinicians ask themselves: What can I do to make my practice more effective for my clients?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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