From International Occupational Health Psychology to Practical Team Building in Malaysia

 

Recently, I attended the Joint Congress of ICOH-WOPS & APA-PFAW 2025, an international conference focused on work, well-being, and psychosocial factors at work. Researchers, practitioners, and policy contributors from around the world gathered to discuss one central question:

How can organizations design healthier, safer, and more sustainable workplaces?

As a practitioner based in Malaysia, this experience directly informs how I support organizations through team building, corporate training, and training needs assessment (TNA).

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Why This Conference Matters for Organizations

The sessions covered evidence-based topics such as:

• Psychosocial risk and burnout prevention

• Psychological safety and leadership responsibility

• Working time, workload design, and recovery

• Organizational-level interventions, not just individual coping

A key message repeated throughout the conference was clear:

Employee well-being is not only an individual issue.
It is a system and leadership responsibility.

This perspective is central to occupational health psychology, the field that guides my work with companies.

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Applying Occupational Health Psychology to Team Building

Many organizations approach team building as a one-off activity.
From an occupational health psychology perspective, effective team building should:

• Strengthen psychological safety and trust

• Improve communication and role clarity

• Support energy management and recovery, not just motivation

• Align individual strengths with organizational demands

This is why my team building programs are designed as purposeful interventions, not games without direction. They are linked to real workplace challenges such as stress, disengagement, and performance sustainability.

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Training Needs Assessment Beyond Surveys

At the conference, researchers highlighted the limitations of relying only on self-report surveys. A robust training needs assessment (TNA) should consider:

• Job demands and role expectations

• Leadership practices and team climate

• Psychosocial risks and protective factors

• Signals of burnout, fatigue, or disengagement

In my practice, TNA is not just about “what training people want”, but what the organization actually needs to function in a healthier way.

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Supporting Malaysian Organizations

The insights from this international congress reinforce a direction that is increasingly relevant for Malaysia:

• Evidence-based corporate training

• Psychosocially informed team building

• Organizational-level prevention, not crisis management

Organizations that invest in this approach tend to see better engagement, stronger leadership capacity, and more sustainable performance.

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Looking for Team Building or Training Needs Assessment in Malaysia?

If your organization is looking for:

• Team building with real psychological value

• Training needs assessment grounded in occupational health psychology

• Corporate wellness and psychosocial risk-informed training

This is the work I focus on.

International knowledge must ultimately serve local workplaces, and my role is to translate occupational health psychology into practical, culturally relevant solutions for Malaysian organizations.

Contact us via WhatsApp 0167154419 (New Mind Academy).

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.

Poster Presentation @ 35th Annual International Boston Trauma Conference

My work in traumatic stress studies has been accepted for presentation at the upcoming 35th Annual International Boston Trauma Conference. I am feeling excited to share my innovation CBHI (which involves neurofeedback screening, expressive art therapy, and hypnotherapy) soon.

 

Poster Presentation @ BACP International Research Conference 2024

 

Poster Presentation @ BACP International Research Conference 2024, themed "Enriching research, practice and policy with lived experience," organized by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Exciting Insights and Collaborations at the 7th Singapore Hypnotism Conference 2024

I had the great honor of being invited to participate in the 7th Singapore Hypnotherapy Conference organized by the Association of Hypnosis Professionals Singapore (AHPS Singapore) in conjunction with the World Hypnotism Day. It was a fantastic opportunity to share my expertise through a special lecture on my research-related topics.

Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to witness the enthusiasm of numerous AHPS members attending the 7th edition of the hypnotherapy conference in Singapore. The event was truly invigorating, bringing together professionals from Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, including psychiatrists, hypnotists, hypnotherapists, psychologists, and counseling experts. Their passion for the field of hypnotherapy was palpable.

The conference facilitated networking and discussions among professionals who shared a keen interest in the practice of hypnotherapy. It was encouraging to observe the growing adoption of hypnotherapeutic techniques in clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics in Singapore. This trend suggests an increasing recognition of hypnotherapy within mainstream medical environments.

Our interactions led to the exchange of ideas, discussions on the current dynamics of the hypnotherapy industry in Southeast Asia, and even proposals for co-hosting future hypnotherapy conferences in the coming years. The prospect of collaborative efforts in organizing such events is indeed thrilling!

Innovation Symposium on Brain-Computer Interfaces (Suzhou, China) - Guest Speaker to share about the application of Trauma-Informed Neurofeedback

 

一转眼，我已经提供脑波神经反馈训练neurofeedback training多达10多年了。在马来西亚，本来我是很孤独的，因为在这行的人实在不多，这个领域的专家也很少。但这几年，越来越多知音人出现，这个应用脑科学如今也被多国重点关注，亚洲各地都开始越来越多人重视脑机接口这一块。

今天除了感到很荣幸受邀给与讲座，跟中国民众分享创伤知情催眠与脑波反馈疗法的科学与益处，当看到中国各个顶流专家都给脑波反馈训练背书，我真的也倍感兴奋与感动。

In simple terms, I've been doing neurofeedback training for over 10 years. In Malaysia, it used to be quite lonely because not many people were into it. But in recent years, more people who understand it have shown up, and now several countries are paying serious attention to applying neuroscience.

Today, seeing top experts in China endorsing neurofeedback training, it really touched me.

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.

Asia Pacific Neurofeedback Conference 2023

Announcement

Day 2 ~ 9/9/2023

In conjunction with Asia Pacific Neurofeedback Conference 2023, a special event: Neurofeedback and children with special needs"- Insights from expert panel workshop, will be held on day 2.

This is a special panel workshop team that comes from different professional backgrounds such as Professor, Counsellor, Medical Doctor, Educational Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Senior Neurofeedback Therapist to share on the topic related to children with special needs and their caregiver.

Our expert panelists:

1. Dato' Professor Dr. See Ching Mey

Dato’ Prof See is an educational and counseling psychologist and a prominent leader in the field of psychology, counseling, special education, neurofeedback and community/industry engagement both locally and internationally. She is currently based at the Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre, Penang as an Educational and Counselling Psychologist Consultant. She has published over 20 academic books and more than 250 international and national academic journal papers/chapters.

2. Datuk Dr.Yee Koh Wah

Datuk Dr. Yee is a Consultant of Klinik Dr Yee & Dr Yee Neurocells Resources Center. He is a Fellow of Medical Academy of Paediatric Special Needs, United States. Datuk Dr. Yee hold a Master of Science in Health Aging, Medical Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine from UCSI University. In addition, he received Doctorate in Integrative Health Management from Southwest University. Datuk Dr. Yee specialized in evidence based integrative medical therapy including biomedical, nutritional and stem cells sciences in treating special needs children.

3. Dr. Eva Wong, PhD, MPsy

Dr. Eva holds a doctorate degree in Educational Psychology and a Master in Special Education. She is an HRD Corp accredited trainer and has actively engaging with special needs and their family for 22 years. Dr. Eva has accumulated more than 12 years experiences as Neurofeedback Therapist. She specialized in using Neurofeedback to improve children with Autism, ADHD, Developmental Delay and Learning Difficulties. She has provided more than 500 trainings/talks/seminars/workshops, and has published two books for special needs family.

4. Dr.Hiro Koo, PhD

Dr. Hiro Koo is a trauma-informed hypnotherapist with over 10 years of practitioner experience. He completed his UUM doctoral study in the research area of Neurofeedback, hypnotherapy, and Expressive Art Therapy. He is an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer and Principal Instructor for trauma-informed hypnotherapy practitioner diploma courses. He is a multiple award-winning practitioner, including TOYM Top 30 and UTAR Outstanding Alumni 2022. His innovative neurofeedback protocols also won the Gold Medal Innovation in Counseling Award (PERKAMA) in 2019.

5. Joachim Lee, PBM

Joachim is a Executive Director and Senior Principal Psychotherapist . He has over 22 years of clinical practice and is the Leading expert in Asia in Trauma and emotional based issues. He travels the world educating and teaching professionals in the Multichannel Eye Movement Integration (MEMI).

He works with all age groups and for his immense contribution to nation building, he was awarded the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM) by the President of Singapore in 2016.

6. Low Ting Min

Ting Min is the Senior Neurofeedback Consultant at Spectrum Learning Pte Ltd, Singapore with over 15 years of experience in neurofeedback therapy. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree major in psychology from the National University of Singapore. She has successfully helped many clients with neurofeedback therapy. Her clientele base consists of clients of various backgrounds including children with special needs, students with learning difficulties, emotional dysregulation and individuals for peak performance.

Do join us for this special event.

Paper Presentation for the 4th Malaysian International Psychology Conference 2021 (MIPC 2021)

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Annual Women'Conference 2019 @ American Express Malaysia

2019 American Express Annual Women’s Conference.

Together with other guests and mental health specialist (Psychiatrist Dr Stephen and Dato Sheila Tan) to discuss about mindfulness. 

As a clinical hypnotherapist, I am honour to share about mindfulness tips to all wonderful people that I meet here. 

Thanks again all the organising committee to make this event successful and let me have a chance to share my perspective about mindfulness.

The 4th Asia Pacific Neurofeedback/Biofeedback Conference 2018.

Had a great time here:) I shared about how the various form of trauma affects the executive functioning of the brain (such as focus and planning etc.)

I am so happy to meet all neurofeedback practitioners from all around the world.

The 6th Child Development and Mental Health International Forum and the 4th Asia Pacific/Neurofeedback/ Biofeedback Conference. Opening Ceremony by the Director & Deputy Director General of Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Director-General of Department of Mental Oral Health Taiwan; Acting Director of RICD Thailand & Prof Dato Dr Susie See of APNA.

I am glad to be one of the invited speakers from Malaysia to present the wonder of clinical neurofeedback and advantages of brain mapping.

Special thanks to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, Department of Mental Health; Medical Team of Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development; Conference Organise Committee and APNA committee to make this event happens:)