第11届马来西亚华社辅导研讨会11th Malaysian Chinese Counseling Conference - Research Paper Presentation by Hiro Koo

I was sharing about my research related to clinical hypnotherapy and sleep quality in this national counseling conference in Malaysia. This is research for my master's thesis. I am grateful to my advisor and supervisor for their guidance. To the event organizer, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your invite and the excellent organized Conference.

研讨会主题源自于生命线协会去年所推展“我听见了你”运动。生命线协会透过全国巡迴讲座、工作坊、青少年营、父母成长班、教师工作坊等，唤醒社会大众对“倾听”的觉醒，希望校园、企业界及社区等，皆能理解“倾听”的可贵及重要，一起建立“会倾听，愿倾听”的社会，陪伴家人朋友及时面对压力、困扰与生活瓶颈，进而达到减压力、抗忧鬱、防自杀的健康社会目标。

除了工作坊，研讨会的内容还包括研究报告、研讨课题、公开演讲及华社辅导机构交流会。感谢主办单位，让我有幸可以在这个意义非凡的活动中与大家分享我的研究报告。让心理健康工作者了解到临床催眠和脑电波反馈疗法对心理健康所扮演的角色。也感谢在场500名参与者的支持与鼓励。

Types of Mental Health Care Practitioners in Malaysia

Types of Mental Health Care Practitioners in Malaysia

Psychiatry, psychology, hypnotherapy, counseling and coaching are overlapping professions. Practitioners -- psychiatrists, counselors, hypnotherapists, psychologists and coaches -- are mental health care professionals. Their area of expertise is the mind -- and the way it affects behavior and well-being. They often work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. And they are committed to helping people stay mentally well. But there are differences between psychiatry, psychology, hypnotherapy, coaching and counseling. And people sometimes find those differences confusing, especially when they are looking for help. The largest difference between the types of professionals is usually what they focus or specialize in, licensure requirements and their educational background.

The key to choosing which one of these professionals is right for you is to determine what kinds of things are important to you and finding a professional that seems to fit with your needs and personality. Feel free to email me ([email protected]) for more info.





1)Hypnotherapist
Professional governing body in Malaysia: The Association of Hypnotherapy Practitioners, Malaysia (AHPM)-AHPM is a member of The Federation of Complementary and Natural Medical Associations, Malaysia (FCNMAM). FCNMAM is a body recognized by the Department of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia. 
Expertise: practice hypnotherapy and may practice psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

2)Counselor
Professional governing body in Malaysia: Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia-The Counselors’ Act 1998 sets the minimum competence level for the credentialing of a professional counselor in Malaysia. Only a person who is licensed to practice counseling under this Act is allowed to represent himself or herself as a counselor in the country.
Expertise: practice counseling and psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs





3)Clinical Psychologist
professional governing body in Malaysia: Allied Health Malaysia-The Allied Health Professions Bill 2015 was tabled for the first reading by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam at the Dewan Rakyat. The Bill seeks to set up the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council to register persons practising in the allied health industry which include clinical psychologist.
Expertise: practice psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

4) Psychiatrist 
Professional governing body in Malaysia: Malaysian Medical Council-Psychiatrist need to apply for a Malaysian Medical License at the Malaysian Medical Council.
Expertise: able to diagnose and prescribe drugs, may practice psychotherapy, use electroconvulsive therapy, and admit people to the hospital.






5) Coach
professional governing body in Malaysia: None
Expertise: practice life, business, wellness or corporate coaching but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

6) Neurotherapist
Professional governing body in Malaysia: None
Expertise: practice neurotherapy/EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback technique. It is a safe, non-invasive, alternative treatment option that relies on EEG biofeedback machine to monitor and visualize brain activity, and is used to help a variety of psychological and medical problems. But cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs.


What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. 
The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, 
a person may focus his or her attention -- with the help of a trained therapist -- on specific thoughts or tasks. 
Hypnotherapy can be used in two ways, as suggestion therapy or for patient analysis.

1)Suggestion therapy: The hypnotic state makes the person better able to respond to suggestions. 
Therefore, hypnotherapy can help some people change certain behaviors, such as stopping smoking or nail biting. 
It can also help people change perceptions and sensations, and is particularly useful in treating pain.
2)Analysis: This approach uses the relaxed state to explore a possible psychological root cause of a disorder or symptom, 
such as a traumatic past event that a person has hidden in his or her unconscious memory. 
Once the trauma is revealed, it can be addressed in psychotherapy.
The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestion. 
It can improve the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:
-Phobias, fears, and anxiety
-Sleep disorders
-Depression
-Stress
-Post-trauma anxiety
-Grief and loss
Hypnotherapy also might be used to help with pain control and to overcome habits, such as smoking or overeating. 
It also might be helpful for people whose symptoms are severe or who need crisis management. 


What is Counseling?
Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Counselors work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they are facing. Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. How long does counseling take? Ideally, counseling is terminated when the problem that you pursued counseling for becomes more manageable or is resolved. '


What is psychotherapy?
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, works on the assumption that the cure for a person's suffering lies within that person and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of the problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them. The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life.

Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.

Most mental health practitioners practice one of six types of psychotherapy: supportive psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy.


What is coaching?
International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today's uncertain and complex environment. To determine whether you or your company could benefit from coaching, start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish in coaching. When an individual or business has a fairly clear idea of the desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy for how to achieve that outcome with greater ease. Since coaching is a partnership, ask yourself whether collaboration, other viewpoints, and new perspectives are valued. Also, ask yourself whether you or your business is ready to devote the time and the energy to making real changes. If the answer is yes, then coaching may be a beneficial way to grow and develop.


What is EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback/neurotherapy?
EEG biofeedback is a painless and drug-free way of helping an injured brain or impaired brain function return to a healthy state. It helps the brain to do a better job of regulating itself and the body. It is biofeedback for the brain and the body. EEG biofeedback is a method used to train brain activity in order to normalize Brain function. 
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a measure of brain waves. Like other computers, the brain gives off tiny impulses that appear as electrical waves. The raw EEG can be separated into waves that vibrate at different rates or frequencies; beta (fastest) to alpha, theta, and delta (slowest). Brainwaves should be faster at front, slower at back; faster at left and slower at right. A “backwards brain” (slow at front and left, fast at back and right) tends to be poor in focus and attention, depressed or anxious. Brainwave slowing suggests brain injury and impairs normal brain function.






Source:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental_health_disorders/overview_of_mental_health_care/treatment_of_mental_illness.html
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-hypnotherapy
http://www.counseling.org/aca-community/learn-about-counseling/what-is-counseling/overview
http://psychcentral.com/
http://www.webmd.com/
https://www.psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/coaching/
http://coachfederation.org/need/landing.cfm?ItemNumber=978

National Seminar on Counselling & Psychotherapy 2014

I represent my healthcare centre to this seminar.

This was one of the most informative seminars I have ever attended.

I have learned a lot from professors from UTM and professional hypnotherapist.

I am delighted that the contribution of hypnotherapist and other professional helpers have been recognized by professors there.

The Topics Covered include: 

1. Transference and countertransference in couselling

2. E-Counselling

3. Professional Issues & Challenges in Counselling and Psychotherapy in Malaysia

4. Issues and Challenges in Family Therapy

5. Contemporary Issues and Challenges in the Helping Profession

They were also discussing to form a new psychotherapy association under the MOH-TCM.

With Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Tajudin Ninggal (UTM) and Dr.Soo.