Category: Our Team

Dr. Mahadir Ahmad is a senior lecturer and Head of the Health Psychology Programme, Faculty of Health Sciences, The National University of Malaysia (UKM). He was trained in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at University Malaysia Sabah for his bachelor’s degree and he pursued his master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at UKM. He obtained his Ph.D. from the College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, The United Kingdom. His research interests include psychological preparation for stressful medical procedures, stress and mental health in special populations and psychological intervention for anxiety.

He is also a qualified clinical psychologist conducting psychological assessments and interventions for adults and children at Health Psychology Clinic and Centre for Effective Living. He conducted several psychological intervention programmes such as parenting for parents with autistic children, psychological first aid for grief and trauma, psychological first aid for torture victims and stress management for special populations. He delivered public lectures on stress at work place, work and life balance, psychical exercise and psychological well-being, psychology of eating, community mental health screening and psychological preparation for stressful medical procedures. He is currently a member of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association, European Health Psychology Society and Malaysian Psychiatric Association.

Kueh Cheng is a clinical psychologist who has worked predominantly with substance and behavior addiction issues, as well as psychosocial issues with bipolar and schizophrenia population. Besides that, she is interested to work with people who have difficulties to adjust their lifestyle changes especially with diabetes and skin disease population. Her professional experiences include working at the government hospital, addiction rehabilitation center, and community center. She believes that helping others embrace her personal, professional, and spiritual growth.

Goh Kay Jean holds a Master of Clinical Psychology (HELP) and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology (Cardiff University). She has worked with clients from different backgrounds and age groups, using various techniques according to their needs, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness. Her experience includes providing individual and group therapy for clients with varying needs, such as depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep issues, family conflicts, demotivation, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. She has also conducted a number of psychological assessments with both children and adults.

Her aim is to try and help people deal with their emotional and psychological difficulties towards a path on which they can take charge of their lives. She believes in working collaboratively with clients to address their areas of concern in a safe and non-judgemental environment

Jacqueline Foo is a Clinical Psychologist who had the opportunity to study both in Australia and locally, which allows her to be more receptive and understanding of different cultural values and beliefs. She is trained in providing therapeutic interventions in particular Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) while incorporating mindfulness practices. Besides that, Jacqueline is also trained in administering a wide array of research-based psychological, psychometric and cognitive assessments. She has conducted multiple workshops on various topics. Jacqueline’s main areas of interest comprise mood and anxiety disorders, relationship/family issues, low self-esteem and stress-related problems. She also enjoys working with children and teenagers.

In her work, she emphasizes on helping individuals build self-respect, self-confidence, and self-compassion. She believes that these skills are necessary in order for individuals to develop further self-awareness on their strengths and weaknesses to help facilitate their cognitive, emotional and psychosocial development.

Darlina Hani is a trained clinical psychologist and a full-member of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP). As a clinician, she has worked with children, adolescent, and adult clients in providing psychotherapy on mental health issues. This includes cases such as anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment difficulties and relationship challenges. Her clinical experience was with the leading public health care facilities – Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Pusat Perubatan UKM. She has also taught at several local universities in their psychology department and medical faculty.

Cheryl holds a Master of Clinical Psychology (HELP) and a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) (HELP). In addition, she also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Needs (The University of Nottingham). Cheryl is a registered full member of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP). She has worked with a diverse clinical population consisting of children, adolescents and adults of different ethnic backgrounds with a variety of mental health conditions. This includes cases of depression, anxiety, psychosis, various neurodevelopmental disorders, adjustment difficulties, behavioral problems, relationship conflicts, academic and occupational challenges. Her clinical experience has been with prominent public health care facility (Hospital Kajang), non-governmental organization (Health Equity Initiatives) and private center (Effective Living Sdn. Bhd.). As a practicing clinician, her scope of expertise extends to providing psychological assessments, diagnosis and counselling/psychotherapeutic interventions via evidence based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Cheryl is passionate about helping her clients achieve clinical stability and acquire adaptive coping skills with close consideration of their complex social context, and working jointly with their families or significant social relationships where relevant. She is also dedicated to empowering her community with mental health knowledge/awareness and has facilitated wellness talks and mental health trainings with university students, mental health trainees, refugee communities, medical personnel and various corporate clients in the Klang Valley. She has delivered sessions on depression and suicide, grief and loss, stress management, mindfulness, work-life integration and promoting emotional wellbeing in the workplace.

Dr. Justine Thong is a clinical psychologist and a registered member with the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology.

Currently a full time lecturer for the Masters program at HELP University Malaysia. She is also a consultant clinical psychologist at KPJ Hospital Manjung and is a senior associate at several mental health clinics.

The breadth of her clinical work includes psychological assessments, diagnosis, and psychotherapeutic/counselling interventions.

Prior to returning to Malaysia in 2013, Katyana obtained a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology and a Graduate Diploma of Psychology from Deakin University, Australia. She was then awarded a Master of Science in Health Psychology by City University London, United Kingdom – which was afforded to her for her research on the emotional ramifications of childhood asthma on Malaysian paediatric patients at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Katyana began working with children as a Career Experience Intern at Prince Court Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, before going on to join ABC Children Specialist Clinic in Petaling Jaya – providing consultations for the patients and families affected by behavioural disorders. A year later, Katyana helped establish Kids Therapy, a multidisciplinary support centre for children with special needs – with clinics in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan.

Dr. Siti Irma is a trained clinical psychologist and is a Director of Effective Living, a center that offers a broad range of psychological services. She is also attached to the Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, since 2001. Her main clinical and research interests are implications of depression, anxiety and other common mental disorders and stress-related conditions such post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at both the individual and societal level. She utilizes mostly Cognitive and Behavioral approaches in therapy as well as provides long term Supportive Psychotherapy for individuals with chronic mental disorders. Dr. Irma is also involved in managing critical incidences following workplace emergencies and disasters.

She has conducted and facilitated workshops and training on issues such as stress management, self-confidence, workplace conflict, behavioral change at the workplace, and psychological first aid, for small groups and within large-scale formats. In relation to psycho-education, she has also presented public talks on numerous mental health topics geared to diverse audiences.

Thang Mee Yuen is a certified clinical psychologist who is also trained in therapeutic play skills by Play Therapy International, UK and a certified trainer in emotional literacy accredited by Sophia College, Western Australia. She is experienced in conducting psychometric assessments and working therapeutically with both adults and children. Besides working one on one with her clients, she also facilitates workshops for self-growth and parenting for adults, and teaching mindfulness meditation to children and adolescents. She is particularly interested in combining cognitive behavioral approach with expressive arts in conflict resolution, grief and loss, and empowerment.

Prior to joining Effective Living, Mee Yuen worked therapeutically with children aged 7 to 17 years at a private school in Kuala Lumpur. At the school, she also conducted motivation and personal safety seminars, and workshops on time management, anger management and stress management.

Ms. Saralla (Sara) Chettiar graduated with a BSc (Hons) Human Development UPM and went on to complete her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at University Kebangsaan Malaysia. She is currently in her final year of her Ph.D. in Psychology from Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. Her primary research interest includes creating evidence-based psychological interventions centred around coping and resilience in general and high-risk populations. Her other research focus includes investigating methods of delivering psychological focussed on coping, anxiety management and depression interventions either online and/ or via AI methods (i.e.mobile apps) in teens and adult populations.
A qualified Clinical Psychologist, she currently has her clinical practice at Island Hospital Penang. There she focuses on conducting evidence-based interventions and assessments for teens and adults. Prior to 2018, she was a sessional clinical psychologist in the Peadiatric department in Penang General Hospital (PGH), and a visiting Clinical Psychologist and former adjunct lecturer at Penang Medical College.
She is currently a member of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology, New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS), Member (MBPsS 379051), Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), UK & General Member of the Division of Clinical Psychology.

Publications

Saralla Chettiar. Review of Allister Macintyre, Daniel Lagacé-Roy and Douglas R. Lindsay, eds. Global Views on Military Stress and Resilience. Kingston: Canadian Defence Academy Press, 2017. Pp. 272. Text in Canadian Military History 28, no. 2 (2019)

de Terte, I., Chettiar, S. M., & Gammon, R. A. (2018, October). Psychological resilience:
A model and treatment manual based on scientific evidence.
Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health, Toronto, Canada.

Tan, M. L., Foong, S. C., Foong, W. C., Yusuff, Y., & Chettiar, S. M. (2016).
Tocotrienol-rich fractions (TRF) supplementation in school-going children with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD): a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nutrition, 2(1).

Ruthra is a clinical psychologist who is trained professionally in administering a wide array of researchbased psychological and cognitive assessments, providing diagnosis, therapeutic interventions in
particular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) while incorporating techniques of acceptance and
commitment therapy. She has experience in a range of clinical settings such as government hospitals,
non-profit organizations and private mental health services. She currently has her clinical practice at
Hospital Putrajaya.

She has worked with children, adolescents and adults from different backgrounds and mental
health concerns such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, grief, abuse, relationship and family issues, selfesteem issues, burnout, anger management, and coping with change and life adjustments. Her aim is
to provide a safe and non-judgemental environment for clients to express their feelings and concerns,
and to facilitate them to adopt a holistic approach in dealing with the life challenges. She believes that
therapy enables individuals to explore their true potential to deal with life challenges.

Farhana is a trained clinical psychologist with a history of working in a psychiatric government hospital and private mental health clinics. She is a member of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP) and has received certified training for the UCLA PEERS for Adolescents Certified School-Based Social Skills Training. Her experience includes conducting psychological assessments and providing interventions and psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, and children.

She has worked with clients from various backgrounds and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviour, suicide ideation, anger management, and personality disorders. Farhana mostly practices Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in her therapeutic interventions, while at times incorporating Dialectical Behavior Therapy components. She believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to talk about their mental health issues and feels safe to do so.

Therefore, she strives to be respectful, compassionate, emphatic, open-minded and encouraging in facilitating her clients.

Han Yang is a registered and licensed counselor (KB, PA) with the Board of Counselor Malaysia, and a life member of Association of Counseling Malaysia (PERKAMA). He completed his MPH training in UK with Chevening Scholarship and has worked in the Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh providing psychosocial support and counseling to individual/family infected and affected by chronic HIV infection in the hospital. He is particularly interested in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and believe strongly on individuals having the ability to generate solutions to overcome challenges in life. He has strong passion in HIV counseling, and experience providing counseling on issues around recreational drug use, sexuality, loss & grief and relationship counseling.

Han Yang has also conducted sessions and trainings on crisis management/loss and grief issues in the community, supporting clients from the banking sector, oil and gas sector, as well as crisis call center. He has been invited to conduct training for doctors and paramedics on HIV counseling through Malaysian Society of HIV Medicine (MASHM), numerous State Health Departments, and the College of Allied Health Sciences, Ministry of Health. Han Yang is also active member in NGO work for the past 10 years and have organized various trainings for Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC)

Julia is a registered and licensed counsellor with the Board of Counsellor Malaysia (LKM). She has completed her Master degree in Counselling in Help University. Through her trainings, she has provided mental health services and awareness programmes to university students, government schools, refugee schools, children’s homes, and NGO.

Julia is actively volunteering herself for child helpline in Malaysia and providing counselling service to both children and adults.

The approaches she applies include Person Centered Therapy (PCT), Choice Theory Reality Therapy (CTRT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – DNA-V Model. She believes that we might not be able to change what happened in the past but we can choose how to respond to it. She believes that with guidance and professional skills, everyone has the ability to breakthrough tough time and achieve their full potential.

Yaqin is a registered professional counselor under the Malaysian Board of Counsellors (LKM). He completed his Masters in Counselling in UTM while working with an NGO that focuses on empowering refugees through education. Throughout his training, Yaqin has counseled secondary school students on various academic and personal issues. He has also worked with a medical NGO, providing health education and counseling.

Yaqin has also worked with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and age groups to overcome issues such as stress, self-esteem, domestic violence, addiction, life adjustment, and relationship difficulties. Through his involvement in voluntary work, he has also joined various psychoeducation initiatives within the focus of mental health awareness, reproductive health and leadership as a way to giving back to society.

Yaqin’s incorporates a “Person Centered Therapy with the blend of Choice Theory/Reality Therapy (CTRT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach in helping people realizing their potential. He believes that everyone has the capacity to grow and live a meaningful life no matter how bad the situation is.

Joanne Chong is a registered and licensed counsellor under Board of Counsellors Malaysia (LKM) and a member of Association of Counseling Malaysia (PERKAMA). She graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang with a Master of Counselling in 2017.

She completed her internship training with General Hospital Pulau Pinang with exposure in addressing several clinical mental health issues with the help of medical professionals by assisting individuals to manage their disorder better and maximizing their productivity and overall well-being. She has worked with clients with mental health issues , addictions and those with family and marital issues .

She believes that therapy provides individuals with a space to acknowledge their difficult experiences and emotions, hence allowing them i to think about their lives in new ways and eventually warming up to different levels of experience. She believes that recovery is a process of identifying, exploring, learning abilities from past mistakes, trust in themselves, and creating positive relationships.

Chee Wei is a registered and licensed counsellor under the Board of Counsellors Malaysia (LKM) with more than 10 years of counselling experience in various setting including private practice, education, community, NGO, and corporate. He graduated from Universiti Malaysia Sabah with a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours (Counselling Psychology) in 2010. He has done his counselling training at Taiping Prison (2010), and he was the first Chinese counsellor assigned as the in-camp counsellor for Malaysia’s National Service Training Program (PLKN) in 2011. He has obtained several counselling related training including Jungian Based Sand Tray Therapy, Grief & Loss Counselling, Addiction & Family Counselling. Besides that, he is also a MOH certified Psychological First Aid provider. Chee Wei is currently pursuing his Master of Clinical Mental Health Counselling at UPSI.

Currently, Chee Wei is focusing on Employee Assistance Program (EAP) development and consultation, providing counseling for family, couples, teenagers, individual, personal development etc. Before this, he held the position of Head of Counseling Centre at INTI International University.

For the past 10 years, Chee Wei has worked with a whole range of corporate, colleges and universities, and public clients in the areas of counseling, training, consultation, and EAP support (including Crisis intervention, change and transition support.). He incorporates Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Jungian Analytical Psychology in his practice.

He volunteers actively in various non-profit organizations by giving mental health-related talks and providing counselling services. He is currently the counselling supervisor for Buddhist Gem Fellowship Counselling Unit, and also trainer for GEM Helpline.