Dr Hiro Koo at SEGi College: Exploring Applied Hypnosis and the Neuroscience of Peak Performance

 

On 25th February 2026, SEGi College Penang hosted a thought-provoking guest lecture titled “Applied Hypnosis and The Brain: A Theory of Change for Peak Performance.” The session was delivered by Dr Hiro Koo, trauma-informed hypnotherapist and organizational psychologist, known for integrating neuroscience, applied hypnosis, and performance psychology.

This lecture explored how applied hypnosis works with the brain to enhance resilience, mental health, and high performance across academic, professional, and personal domains.

What Is Applied Hypnosis in Modern Psychology?

Applied hypnosis today is not stage entertainment. It is a structured psychological intervention that works with attention, neuroplasticity, and the unconscious processes of mind to facilitate measurable change.

In the SEGi College lecture, students were introduced to:

• How focused attention alters neural networks

• The role of suggestion in cognitive and emotional regulation

• Brain mechanisms involved in stress recovery and resilience

• How hypnotic processes support peak performance

Rather than pushing harder, applied hypnosis supports strategic regulation of the nervous system, improving clarity, emotional stability, and executive functioning.

The Brain and Peak Performance

Peak performance is often misunderstood as working longer hours or maintaining constant motivation. Neuroscience suggests otherwise.

Sustainable high performance requires:

• Emotional regulation

• Cognitive flexibility

• Reduced rumination

• Balanced sympathetic and parasympathetic activation

During the SEGi College session, Dr Hiro Koo explained how applied hypnosis can modulate brain states linked to focus, stress response, and recovery. When the brain shifts from survival-mode activation into adaptive regulation, performance improves without burnout.

Applied Hypnosis for Mental Health and Workplace Resilience

Another key theme at SEGi College was the role of applied hypnosis in mental health and workplace wellbeing.

Students explored how brain-based interventions can help with:

• Burnout symptoms

• Anxiety and overthinking

• Performance pressure

• Value-misalignment stress

By addressing both cognitive and physiological processes, applied hypnosis becomes a bridge between mental health science and performance psychology.

Why This Matters for Students and Professionals

For university students preparing for competitive careers, understanding brain-based change models offers a significant advantage.

Applied hypnosis provides tools for:

• Exam performance enhancement

• Presentation confidence

• Emotional regulation under stress

• Long-term resilience building

For professionals, it offers a framework for sustaining productivity without sacrificing wellbeing.

SEGi College and the Advancement of Applied Psychology

Hosting discussions on applied hypnosis and brain science reflects SEGi College’s commitment to contemporary psychological education. Integrating neuroscience with practical interventions equips students with relevant, evidence-informed perspectives.

The lecture highlighted how modern psychology is moving beyond symptom management toward systemic brain-based change.

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Final Reflection

If peak performance is not about pushing harder but about regulating smarter, what might change in the way you approach stress, work, and growth?

From PhD to Professional Success: Rethinking Career Pathways Beyond Academia

On 17 December 2025, I had the privilege of being invited by INTI International University to participate in a timely and meaningful panel discussion titled “From PhD to Professional Success: A Conversation with Experts.” The session brought together academics and industry practitioners to address a reality that many doctoral students and graduates are currently facing: the academic pathway is no longer the only, nor the most accessible, route after a PhD.

The Changing Landscape for PhD Graduates

For many years, the implicit expectation for PhD holders was clear:
complete the doctorate, enter academia, and build a career as a lecturer or researcher.

However, global employment dynamics have shifted significantly. Universities are producing more PhD graduates than the academic system can absorb, while tenure-track positions continue to decline. As a result, career transitions into industry, professional practice, policy, consulting, and innovation-driven roles are no longer exceptions, but an emerging norm.

This panel discussion directly addressed that shift and invited an open conversation on how PhD training can remain valuable, relevant, and impactful beyond traditional academic settings.

A Conversation Across Academia and Industry

The session featured a diverse panel of speakers, each representing a different trajectory of doctoral training and professional application:

• Dr. Antonio Inserra, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

• Dr. Ratnadevi R. Shunmugam, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts, INTI International University, Nilai

• Myself, Dr. Koo Kian Yong (Hiro), Director of Learning and Development, New Mind Academy 

A Message to Current PhD Students

If there was one message I hoped participants would take away, it was this:

Your PhD does not limit your future. It expands it, if you are willing to reimagine where your expertise belongs.

Career uncertainty after or during a doctorate is not a personal failure. It is a structural reality of a changing global system. What matters is learning how to translate depth into relevance, and knowledge into contribution.

Gratitude and Closing Reflections

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to INTI International University, the Centre for Postgraduate Study, and Professor Dr. Walton Wider for the invitation and thoughtful organization of this session. It was encouraging to see institutions creating safe and honest spaces for doctoral students to reflect on their futures.

Conversations like this are essential if we are to support the next generation of PhD graduates in building careers that are not only successful, but also meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with real societal needs.

Neurofeedback Malaysia: Leading the Future of Neuro-Wellness at the 2025 International BCI & Neurofeedback Summit in Shanghai

 

📍 Shanghai · Pudong
✨ 2025 International Brain-Computer Interface & Neurofeedback Applications Summit
Opening Day Highlights

Today, it was a great honor to represent Malaysia on the international stage — joining global experts to discuss the future of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and Neurofeedback technologies, and how these innovations are transforming the way we support brain and mental health.

As a speaker in the roundtable forum, I focused on one essential question:

👉 How can BCI and Neurofeedback move beyond clinical settings
and bring real impact to workplaces, leadership, and organizational well-being?

---

Key Focus of My Panel Sharing

💡 Bringing Neuroscience into Everyday Work Performance

Here are the major directions I highlighted:

✔ Burnout & Stress Management
Real-time monitoring and HRV + neurofeedback stress regulation to support mental resilience

✔ Brain-Based Talent Profiling
Leveraging EEG markers (attention, executive function, adaptability) for better hiring and development decisions

✔ Neuro-Leadership Coaching
Using brain plasticity data to strengthen emotional intelligence, decision quality, and influence

✔ EAP × Neuro-Wellness Integration
Modern Employee Assistance Programs enhanced by neuroscience for early prevention — not just crisis response

✔ Enhancing Organizational Performance
Improved focus, creativity, psychological safety, and team coherence through brain-behavior optimization

Technology connects the brain
Psychology connects the heart
When both come together, organizations transform from the inside out.

---

Why This Matters for Malaysia

Like many countries, Malaysia is facing:

• High work pressure and turnover
• Growing mental health concerns
• Rapid digital transformation stress
• Talent retention and performance challenges

The growth of Neurofeedback Malaysia presents a timely solution:

🌱 From treatment to prevention
🌟 From fixing weaknesses to strength-based potential development

Neuro-wellness is no longer the future — it is what the workforce needs right now.

---

《中国报》直播 - 当年轻人撑不住了 我们可以做什么？

让我们一起谈谈如何面对压力、支持彼此

直播重点

被压力困住的你：出口在哪里？

当孩子说“我撑不住了”：家长和老师可以怎么做？

压力下的青春：我们如何团抱取暖？

语言的杀伤力：别让言语成为伤人的武器

霸凌行为也是一种病，需要被看见与治疗

 感谢《中国报》的邀请

今晚很开心能和拥有丰富青少年辅导经验的心理辅导师Yoke Leng 一起上直播，

分享关于年轻人心理压力、情绪韧性与社会心理支持的话题。

Yoke Leng也是一位FHT UK認證的創傷知情催眠治療師呢！

对我来说是一个很新鲜的体验，也收获满满。

#中国报 #直播分享 #创伤知情 #心理健康 #新体验

从脑电波到好睡眠——8TV的《活力加油站》你看了吗？ 🎥

 

前幾天我受邀参与《活力加油站》的电视访问，聊聊如何透过小習慣调节改善睡眠品质，你有收看吗？节目中我们轻松聊了很多关于大脑节律、身心放松与自我调节的小技巧，让大家更了解怎么科学地“睡个好觉”。

特别开心这次的拍摄地点就在我中心附近，开车不到10分钟就能抵达，完全不用再经历塞车焦虑啦～😄

如果你对脑电波调节、睡眠困扰或是想了解非药物式的大脑调理方法，欢迎留言或私讯我，我们可以继续聊聊你关心的睡眠问题。

【职场压力？复原力？你掌握了吗？—— CITYPlus FM 专访回顾Dr Hiro Koo】

 

我在 CITYPlus FM 与大家聊了 开工后的职场心理调适，从 创伤知情（Trauma-Informed） 和 工商心理学 的角度，解析了年后重返职场可能带来的心理挑战，并分享了一些 简单实用的复原力（Resilience）与压力管理技巧。

💡 以下是本次专访的一些重点分享：

✅ 为什么年后开工特别难调整？

放长假后，大脑已经适应了较为自由、轻松的节奏，突然恢复高强度工作，容易出现 “收假焦虑”（Post-Holiday Blues），让人觉得提不起劲、注意力不集中，甚至容易烦躁。

✅ 压力不是敌人，关键是如何调节

适当的压力能提高工作效率，但 过度的压力 会影响情绪和健康。关键在于培养心理韧性（Resilience），让我们能更快适应职场节奏，减少压力带来的负面影响。

✅ 3 个简单技巧，助你快速调整开工状态

🔹 渐进式过渡：不要急着一次性恢复高强度工作，可以先从整理工作环境、安排待办事项入手，给予自己适应时间。

🔹 调整作息与节奏：假期可能打乱了生物钟，建议 固定睡眠时间，并在工作中安排适当休息，避免过度疲劳。

🔹 情绪调适：如果感觉焦虑，可以尝试 呼吸练习、冥想、或短暂散步，让大脑有机会放松，减少压力反应。

✅ 职场复原力：让你在高压环境下更游刃有余！

复原力（Resilience）是现代职场人最重要的心理技能之一。它不仅让我们能更快从压力中恢复，还能增强 面对挑战的能力，让我们在逆境中成长，而不是被压力击垮。

📢 如果你也想提升职场复原力，学会更有效的压力管理技巧，欢迎联系我！

让我们一起打造 更健康的职场心理，更高效的工作生活！ 💪✨

你的关心，有效让孩子减压还是更压力？ft Dr. Hiro Koo｜【秋月的育儿天地】第六季 第39集

 

刚巧这一天来到Astro录音的空间是新装修的，我看了空间觉得也太舒心了！整个空间，包括主持人秋月Moon的采访方式，都让我心理安全感满满的！好像在空中和大家聊了半小时的天~ 真喜欢这样的感觉，欢迎大家也收听，听听这个重要的心理教育课题。

點擊聆聽：

你的关心，有效让孩子减压还是更压力？ft Dr. Hiro Koo｜【秋月的育儿天地】第六季 第39集
https://cn.syok.my/podcast/episode/124356

关心孩子是父母的本能，但我们的关心是否无意中变成了孩子的压力来源？本集邀请 教育研究博士兼创伤知情催眠治疗师 Dr. Hiro Koo，一起探讨如何在爱中减少压力、提升亲子关系：
✅ 无心的开口，如何加重孩子的心理负担？
✅ 识别隐藏的压力信号，解锁亲子沟通的秘密
✅ 催眠疗法如何助力孩子化解压力，重拾内在平衡？
✅ 面对学业、同伴和家庭问题时，家长的最佳支持方式
✅ 当父母也感到压力时，如何实现亲子间的双向调节？

China's Rise in Brain-Computer Interface Technology Conference 2024: A Global Collaboration with Experts from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, and Beyond

 

In China, brain-computer interface technology, especially groundbreaking innovations like neurofeedback, has quickly become one of the most transformative fields of development and supported by government there. The government is fully backing these advancements, recognizing their enormous potential to reshape both the tech and healthcare landscapes. Over recent years, we’ve seen an impressive rise in Chinese enterprises and medical institutions diving headfirst into this frontier, making remarkable progress in both research and practical applications. As a result, China is positioning itself as a trailblazer in brain-computer interface technology, setting new benchmarks for global innovation in this space.

Yet, the roots of this technology stretch beyond China’s borders. Around 30 years ago, the seeds of neurofeedback technology were planted in Southeast Asia, thanks to my late mentor, Dr. Kang. He had the foresight to bring this revolutionary concept from Western countries, introducing it to Singapore and Malaysia when it was still a niche field. Dr. Kang, a true visionary, led a small but dedicated team, pioneering its early use across the region. Under his guidance, the foundations were laid for what would become a flourishing field with wide-reaching impact across various sectors.

At this seminar, I had the honor of sharing the rich history of neurofeedback in Singapore and Malaysia, recounting its gradual but steady rise from a relatively unknown technology to something widely embraced in medical and mental wellness circles. This journey was not undertaken alone. Alongside me in this exploration of the field’s past and future were an impressive array of professionals: clinical psychologists from Australia, Italy, and Hong Kong; child psychiatrists from Indonesia; and a diverse mix of medical doctors and neuroscientists from around the world. Each of these experts has brought their unique perspectives and contributions, further enriching the field and helping to propel it forward.

Together, we reflected on the milestones that brought us here. This isn't just a tale of technological advancement—it’s a powerful narrative about global collaboration, vision, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. From a small group of pioneers to a thriving international community, the evolution of neurofeedback is a testament to the endless possibilities that arise when the brightest minds come together. As we look ahead, the future of brain-computer interface technology is brighter than ever, promising to break barriers and redefine what we know about human potential.

APNA Asia Pacific 5th Neurofeedback Conference 2023 - Neurofeedback, Developmental Trauma, Special Education - Expert Panel and Paper Presenter

I’m proud to be one of the panelists and presenters for the APNA Neurofeedback Conference 2023. Our theme this year is all about neurofeedback, developmental trauma, and special education. I feel so good to be back in my hometown, Johor Bahru, to share knowledge about neurofeedback with the audience from all around the Asia Pacific Region. This marks my 10 years of practicing neurofeedback, and witnessing more and more young practitioners join the field sparks joy. I no longer feel alone when there are so many professionals such as clinical psychologists, counselors, psychotherapists, pediatricians, neurologists, child psychiatrists, hypnotherapists, and more who joined the conference this time. I notice the majority of us are shifting from a “machine”-oriented approach to a more “humanistic” one, attuning to individual needs. It really touches my heart to see these changes.

《熱愛生命系列讲座3.0》你的世界，我们懂：「为心理的大脑淤青开刀工作坊」

 

上周六，我很荣幸再次参加了由循人中学学生扶轮团主办的「熱愛生命系列讲座3.0」。这个活动的口号「你的世界，我们懂」，深深触动了我。因为对于我以及许多深受复杂性创伤影响的人来说，被“理解”有时候就足够了。更令人鼓舞的是，“理解”并不一定要来自外界，自己理解自己也同样重要，它可以帮助我们减少自责和羞愧，为自己创造更多的选择。这也是我选择将我的演讲主题定为「为心理的大脑淤青开刀」的原因。我坚信，心理教育是一种具有疗愈效果的方法，可以帮助改善公共健康领域的问题。

这场讲座对我来说是一次非常特殊的经历，因为主持人是青少年，而听众则包括了大众和学生们。然而，主持人毫不怯场，让我感到非常安心。在活动中，有一些小瞬间深深地触动了我：

*首先，活动开始前，我看到了黄老师与学生之间的对话，感受到了老师循循善诱和给予鼓励的幕后付出，这一切都显得非常真实和感人。

*其次，由于我的治疗工作，我晚了一些才能参加活动。但是，学生们并没有感到慌张，反而很从容。黄老师还关心地询问我是否需要吃点东西，这让我感受到了温暖。这一刻仿佛提醒我，我也需要停下来关照自己。

还有一个令我印象深刻的瞬间是，活动的心理辅导师黄玉玲老师询问了我主持人的年龄，一个是14岁，另一个是17岁。这瞬间让我回想起了高中时代的回忆。在独中时，我最快乐的时光就是代表协会组织活动，这为我打下了很多关于组织社团、学习和团队合作的基础。看到这些孩子们不仅有机会学习如何组织活动，还能提前接触身心健康知识，我相信他们一定会受益匪浅。这也是我高中时期觉得缺少的一部分，我为今天能够为公共精神健康领域贡献一份力而感到高兴。我坚信，如果大众更深入地理解复杂性创伤，我们可以预防更多人陷入严重的心理问题。

最后，在活动结束时颁发电子感谢状的时候，大家为我带来了一个非常感动的时刻。几位中学生一起用接力的方式演绎了歌曲《有你就幸福》，这让我深受触动。这种互动和呈现是如此真实和真诚，我可以深切地感受到“无私的爱”这一精神。仿佛我内心的大爱之火也被点燃了，我希望能够传递更多的爱和关怀！

《有你就幸福》参考

這世界越來越不安全了！走在路上都會無形中被催眠~Dr Hiro為你解析催眠治療的奧妙(谈關於睡眠和催眠知識）

第一次上自媒体上谈催眠，主持人欣怡一开始就给了我很多定心丸，说自媒体的限制很少，鼓励我就安心的做自己，说自己想说的内容。摄影团队还来到我中心摄影，让我感觉特别轻松。主持人也夸我口条不错，听到名嘴这样肯定自己，真的更有信心了。

所以这一次我觉得自己采访出的来的内容比较真实，我也看起来特别放松吧？放下框框架架，我用最真切的态度去讲严肃的课题“睡眠”，再延伸到情绪课题甚至创伤与时事课题，放佛看到自己回到宽中时期的史地学会，每周一次的时事汇报

本来我是准备了被讨厌的勇气，毕竟我这次比较放飞自我。然而很意外，看到影片上传两天内的观众反应很不错，许多人都留言给予支持与好评，真是小惊讶。期待还有更多机会上不同的媒介采访，我相信我会越做越好，带给大家优质内容与心理教育。

影片链接点击这里：https://youtu.be/GItFTAVY4jU

8TV八度空间的《活力加油站》分享催眠疗法如何预防和舒缓心理压力

今天我受邀到8TV 八度空间的《活力加油站》分享催眠疗法如何预防和舒缓心理压力。在我看来，催眠疗法可以作为其中一项帮助预防全面发展成精神疾病的辅助疗法。这是因为通过处理心理社会因素和采用跨诊断方法(Transdiagnostic Approach)，它能间接或直接的改善一个人的心理健康状况。要知道不是有精神疾病才需要帮助，适当的身心与压力管理也很重要。

催眠疗法在我国其实也受到重视，目前我们催眠领域也正在与卫生部的传统与辅助医学部门进行着一系列国家认证相关审核工作，希望一切成功与顺利，未来催眠疗法也有更完善的国家教育系统与管制。

除了分享我的催眠和脑波生物反馈技术，我还在上节目前咨询了几位精神卫生专员探讨如何更恰当的呈现采访内容，并希望通过节目提醒提供辅助疗法的专业人士，适时转介那些疑似面对严重精神疾病症状或出现轻生念头的个案给其他精神卫生专员，或者寻求精神科医生、临床心理师或辅导员的合作。Do no harm的原则真的非常重要。

Today I was invited to share on 8TV's "Living Delight" about how hypnotherapy can prevent and alleviate psychological stress.

In my opinion, hypnotherapy can help prevent full-blown mental illness or work as a complementary therapy alongside standard mental healthcare such as psychiatric treatment. This is because by addressing psychosocial factors and taking a transdiagnostic approach, it indirectly helps improve one's mental health condition.

Hypnotherapy is actually being taken seriously in our country, and our hypnotherapy field is currently undergoing recognition appraisal by the traditional and complementary medicine departments of the MOH. We hope for success and smoothness in these efforts, and for there to be a more complete national education system and government regulation for hypnotherapy in the future.

In addition to sharing my expertise in hypnotherapy and EEG biofeedback techniques, I also consulted with several mental health specialists before the show. Through this program, I hope to remind other professionals who offer complementary therapies to timely refer cases with suspected serious mental illness symptoms or suicidal ideation to other mental health specialists, or seek the collaboration of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists or counselors. The principle of "Do no harm" is truly essential.