Relate Malaysia

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Relate Malaysia

Our mission is to make sure every Malaysian enjoys good mental health as a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, their fears were often proven to be true.

Relate Malaysia was founded by Dr. Chua Sook Ning, a clinical psychologist born and bred in DJ in 2016. She started the organization when she realized how little mental health resources there were in Malaysia. There was little information on the mental health status in Malaysia, and the few reports that are available were unpublicized and untalked about. She also noticed that people were embarrass

ed and scared to talk about their mental health struggles. They were afraid of being stigmatized and discriminated against. People lost jobs and the support of friends and family members when they shared their mental health struggles. The final push to start an organization came when she was told that she should not run a public awareness campaign because people will become too aware of mental health and somehow that would worsen the mental health state in Malaysia. Dr. Chua realized that people are afraid of mental illness because of the lack of knowledge, and that the only way to change the status quo was to speak up. She said: "If we knew that 30% of people contracted the Zika virus in Malaysia, it would make the news. Even if there were not enough medication to treat the symptoms. But when 30% of people suffer a mental health condition, we are silent. How can that be?". With that, she established Relate Therapy, which is now known as Relate Malaysia. As a Clinical Psychologist, her initial focus was on raising public awareness that psychotherapy is an effective evidence-based treatment for mental illness. But from that initial focus, Relate Malaysia expanded its mission to:
1. Raising public awareness on mental health.
2. Developing effective and accessible mental health intervention and prevention programs.
3. Advocating for patients' rights in national and institutional policies. This organization is now supported by medical doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists. But most of all, it hopes to be a voice for patients and their caregivers, dispelling myths about mental illness, decreasing the stigma of mental illness and sharing their stories with the rest of Malaysia. Find out more about Dr. Chua here:
https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Chua-Sook-Ning-1670443749915905/

21/04/2026

Becoming a clinical psychologist is about much more than what you pick up in the classroom.

As you progress through your studies, the hands-on experience you'll gain during your practicum, internship, and other opportunities can help you build a solid foundation if you make the most of them.

Here, YY – one of our awesome clinical psychologists at Relate Malaysia – shares some invaluable insights into how you can build meaningful clinical experience long before you graduate.

If you have any questions about clinical psychology programs or your experience as a trainee, feel free to drop us a message – we'd love to hear from you!

09/04/2026

When a client is dealing with overwhelming emotion in the room, we can sometimes feel unsure of the most helpful way to be with someone going through a siginifican change in their life.

Here, Dr. Chua Sook Ning offers some guidance on this common dilemma experienced by therapists of all levels of experience.

For more of Dr. Chua's insights into common clinical questions, visit: https://relate.com.my/therapist-corner/

02/04/2026

In this throwback episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Jon Frederickson, psychotherapist and author of The Lies We Tell Ourselves, and Clinical Thinking in Psychotherapy, to explore the current state of therapy and how we relate to each other.

Listen to the full conversation: https://ow.ly/M0uO50YA0zs

26/03/2026

When we’re struggling, or trying to change direction, it’s tempting to believe the answer lies in thinking more effectively about the problem.

If we can just understand ourselves better, trace the origins of the problem, or finally get a clear explanation for why we feel the way we do, something will click and things will improve. Understanding helps, but on its own, it doesn't change how we behave.

If the idea of change stays confined to thought, behaviour usually remains the same. For example, some people try to overcome anxiety by replaying scenarios, questioning where it came from, or attempting to reassure themselves out of feeling uneasy.

Despite our efforts to out-think anxiety, it still persisits. Defence mechanisms of avoidance and self-protection are too well-practised, and they don’t unravel just because we're thinking more about how to stop them.

Change, by default, requires taking action. That might mean applying for the new job while still anxious, eating alone in a café despite feeling exposed, or taking a small step towards something you've been postponing.

Through doing, we gather new evidence about what actually happens, rather than what our fears predict.

Most of us were taught the idea that we learn by doing. Thinking helps to clarify what's happening, but practice is what builds our confidence and reshapes our experience.

24/03/2026

When starting therapy, an understandable question is, “How will I know when it’s working for me?”

While everyone’s situation and timeline are different, effective therapy should help you see some obvious signs starting to emerge as you work with your therapist.

Here, we share some signs that you’re on the road to positive change, and if you’re thinking about starting therapy, our team at Relate Malaysia are here for you!

Get in touch with us today: https://relate.com.my/relate-therapy-centre/

21/03/2026

From all the team at Relate Malaysia, we offer everyone celebrating our best wishes 🌙🤍

19/03/2026

When training to become a clinical psychologist, questions around studying and practice are important - but perhaps a more important question is...

What can you do to balance the demands of your studies with taking care of your mental health?

In our latest episode of ClinPsychJourney, we have Jia Wen – another of our amazing clinical psychologists – sharing her insights and excellent advice on a question we all ask ourselves from time to time.

Remember – it's never just the client in the room. As psychologists, we also have needs and can benefit from understanding how to take care of ourselves 🙌❤️

17/03/2026

Self-harm is often talked about in ways that create fear or distance.

With March being Self-harm Awareness Month, our latest article looks at what the behaviour usually does for the person, how it connects to distress, shame, and overwhelm, and why it appears across many lives and settings.

It can be difficult to know how to support someone who’s self-harming, but understanding more about the behaviour helps us offer the kind of support that helps someone feel less judged and more understood 🌱

Read the article here: https://relate.com.my/understanding-self-harm/

07/03/2026

Nuzul Al-Quran reminds us of the importance of reflection, learning, and responsibility.

For those celebrating, it provides a chance to pause to consider how knowledge is used, how values guide daily decisions, and how patience, integrity, and compassion are expressed in our interactions and choices, every day.

03/03/2026

March is Self-harm Awareness Month, which gives us a chance to talk more openly about a common behaviour that’s often misunderstood.

In this throwback episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Prof. Nancy Heath, a leading researcher in non-suicidal self-injury and emotion regulation.

They explore what motivates people to use self-harm as a coping mechanism, and what we need to understand about the behaviour in order to better support people who struggle with it.

Listen to the full conversation here: https://ow.ly/Xhy350YhVAs

26/02/2026

A lot of what helps us feel better gets labelled as self-care, which isn't always what's taking place.

Other times, what we’re doing is self-soothing. Both are helpful, and neither is better than the other. The key difference is the purpose and knowing what you’re doing and why.

Self-soothing helps you settle when things feel too much, while self-care is about the choices you make and how they create the kind of life you want to lead.

If starting therapy is part of your self-care plan, make an appointment with us today: https://relate.com.my/relate-therapy-centre/

25/02/2026

Who's in the mood for a throwback post?💫

Our founder, Dr Chua Sook Ning, facilitated a Psychological First Aid (PFA) session with Yayasan Generasi Gemilang on January 22 and 29.

The sessions focused on practical ways to support people experiencing distress, emphasising calm presence, attentive listening, and clear, compassionate responses that can be applied in everyday settings.

Dr. Chua and the team at Relate Malaysia are always grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with organisations committed to strengthening community wellbeing – we look forward to more collaborations in future! 🤝💚

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http://www.relate.com.my/links/

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