Malaysian Marriage and Family Therapy Association
Nicole is a licensed and registered counsellor who has served for over 23 years. After receiving specialised training in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Multigenerational Family Therapy, she has focused on supporting couples and families for the past 10 years. She has more than 15 years of tertiary teaching experience in counselling and psychology-related undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She was a committee member of the Qualitative Research Association of Malaysia (QRAM) from 2018 to 2020, and she remains active as the QRAM journal reviewer and expert consultant. She has been an active board member of the Malaysian Marriage and Family Therapy Association (MyMFT) since 2018.
She believes that family is an emotional unit; if we do not carefully manage past hurt and pain, future generations can easily absorb it. It is our responsibility to heal these hurts and pain to ensure a better future for ourselves and our children. Nicole perceived it as an honourable journey, able to support couples and families to go through this healing.
Bawany was a board member since the inception of MyMFT. She is a clinical director for Andolfi Family Therapy Center and very passionate with couples and family therapy work. She is a passionate educator on issues of couples and family functioning and has given talks in Singapore, Indonesia and India. She was a Senior Lecturer at the Masters in Counseling Unit, Psychology Department, HELP University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she was the Program Head of the Counseling Unit. She is a trained Family Therapist under the internationally renowned Master Family Therapist Maurizio Andolfi from Italy. She is a certified supervisor by Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM) and supervises interns and practitioners. She is also a trained child-centered researcher and had co-conducted several researches on Women and Children at-risk for UNICEF in Malaysia when she was the Vice- President of Knowing Children. She is a Council Member and appointed Vice President (Malaysia-Singapore) for The Consortium of Families in the Asian Region (CIFA). She is also part of the Research and Training Committee for CIFA and has collaborated in regional research on Family Life Satisfaction among seven countries in Asia. She is appointed by the Minister as a member of the Advisory Board for Counsellors Malaysia (2023-2025).
Bawany is a mother of three wonderful young adults and a loving husband. She is a dog lover and enjoys reading, romantic movies, and gardening. MyMFT is a place of bonding for like minded people passionate about family work. Bawany sees it as a platform to educate and spread awareness to the public on family matters and train young practitioners to better their skills.
Cheryl has exhibited an innate curiosity about human emotion, relation and connection since young. Her thirst for deeper understanding led her to complete her certification in FT, supervised by David Hong, a family therapist from Australia; graduate diploma in multigenerational FT, supervised by the master family therapist, Prof Dr. Maurizio Andolfi from Italy and training on EFT, supervised by the creator of EFT, Prof Dr. Leslie Greenberg from Canada. She is a member of Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and International Society of EFT(ISEFT).
Her clients and colleagues describe her as an empathetic, humane, professional therapist. She has touched the lives of individual, couple and family from various backgrounds. Organisations often refer high risks and complex cases to her for crisis, short-term or long-term intervention. Being the head of the Mental Health Unit at the NGO and lead of the Mental Health Unit from the clinical and corporate setting, she successfully implemented significant programs, initiatives and protocol in place to better support the beneficiaries and communities.
Beyond the therapy room, Cheryl has devoted her time to the MFT field through her clinical and non-clinical volunteering work. She is known as an empowering leader and a passionate trainer. Her heart lies in humanitarian work to help holding families together through challenging times. She perceives family as the crew of the boat and she is there to facilitate and empower the crew to find and build their ways on how to manoeuvre themselves safely, supportively and connectedly together through the crash of the waves. She has a strong interest in helping young therapists to develop their ground, interest and competences in MFT.
Cheryl is the eldest at home and she has loving and supportive families. She loves cats and dogs, has a special love for classical music – orchestra, guitar and piano. She believes that no moments can be re-created- she values experiencing and capturing people’s emotions and creating meaningful memories with family and great friends.
CY, a licensed counsellor registered with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors, currently serves as a counsellor in tertiary education. Her passion lies in guiding clients to authentically narrate their life stories, viewing each individual as a unique storyteller and an extension of their family. She holds a certificate in family therapy and is currently supervised by David Hong, a family therapist of 30 years’ experience. Embracing a narrative approach, CY delves into uncovering generational family stories, aiding clients in composing their genuine narratives. In her leisure time, she finds joy in crafting kimchi, delighting friends and family with delectable meals, and indulging in painting and puzzles. Family therapy holds a special place for CY, filled with aspiration and hope. She believes in the transformative power of familial bonds, emphasising that change begins within the family unit. Through shared experiences of suffering, joy, hope, and love, CY sees families growing together, fostering a sense of togetherness in even the most challenging circumstances.
Dr. Ding, an accomplished professional in educational psychology with over 20 years of experience, is very dedicated to educating children with dyslexia. A dyslexia specialist who is Orton-Gillingham trained, Dr. Ding is the founder of the Ding Dyslexia Program.
Dr. Ding, also a licensed clinical psychologist, broadened her passion to address psychopathological and socialisation problems in children and adolescents. Through a multigenerational therapeutic lens, she explores the roots of current problems in previous generations, often manifested in children who become the identified patients seeking her expertise. Utilising a multigenerational family therapy approach, Dr. Ding not only effectively addresses the problems of symptom bearers but also extends therapeutic benefits to siblings, parents, couples, and even grandparents.
With a rich background of 17 years in treating various mental health and relationship concerns of different aged individuals, Dr. Ding emphasises the inseparable connection between an individual’s psychopathology and his family of origin. Her goal is to assist children, adults, families, and couples in breaking their inherited chains of trauma, promoting individuation, and fostering transformative processes towards authentic self and healthy dynamic relationships.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Dr. Ding is a passionate, dynamic, and enthusiastic person who enjoys outdoor activities like photography, hiking, diving, and travelling. Like how her eyes capture what is filled in her frame to make a photo look beautiful, her worldview aligns with the idea that our ability to reframe situations holds the key to transformative change.
Darrel graduated with certification in family therapy, trained and supervised by David Hong, a family therapist with 30 years of clinical experiences, graduate diploma in multigenerational family therapy, trained and supervised by the master family therapist, Prof Dr. Maurizio Andolfi from Italy. He is one of the co-directors and founders of Andolfi Family Therapy Centre, Kuala Lumpur, which was established in 2020 with the mission to promote multi-generational family therapy in Malaysia.
Darrel is an excellent trainer in relational and systemic work. He has been invited to be the speaker and trainer to conduct workshops on a range of topics on family therapy to the public, university students, medical professionals as well as employees from the corporate setting. His rich background as the Human Resource Director from big corporations such as Shell and Intell has made him a great family therapist, leader, strategist and advocate for organisational and systemic achievement. His heart for family roots strongly for the underprivileged communities by providing pro-bono family therapy services to them on a regular basis.
Darrel is a loving father of three wonderful adult sons. He loves dog and misses his dog when he travels around the world for work. Working as a family therapist and learning how to do it better is his favourite hobby. Besides that, he also enjoys reading, diving, motorbike riding, working out, travelling, collecting and consuming wine, and having engaging conversations with friends and family.
Dr. Ruziana is a distinguished medical professional with a passion for child and adolescent psychiatry. She had first earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 2003. Driven by her commitment to mental health, she furthered her academic journey by obtaining a Doctor of Psychiatry (Dr (Psych.) degree in 2013. Following a brief but impactful tenure as a clinical specialist with the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, she transitioned to academia in 2004. Joining the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, she took on the role of a lecturer, dedicating herself to the education of both undergraduate medical students and postgraduate candidates aspiring to specialise in psychiatry. Concurrently, she contributed significantly to clinical practice in the psychiatric department of Hospital Kuala Lumpur, later extending her services to the newly established Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (HSAAS). Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Dr Ruziana pursued a Ph.D. in Psychological Medicine, successfully completing her doctoral studies in 2022. Her research focused on assessing the effectiveness of parenting programs in ameliorating emotional and behavioural issues in Malaysian children. Presently affiliated with the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic at HSAAS, Dr Ruziana continues to make valuable contributions to the field.
Dr. Ruziana’s research interests span diverse areas within psychiatry, including autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents, and parenting. Her scholarly impact extends beyond her clinical practice, as evidenced by her authorship and co-authorship of numerous national and international publications. Additionally, she actively contributes to the academic community as an assistant editor and reviewer for reputable journals such as the Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (MJMHS), Current Psychology, BMJ, and MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute). Dr. Ruziana’s multifaceted career reflects her unwavering dedication to advancing psychiatric knowledge and enhancing the well-being of individuals, particularly the younger population, through education, research, and clinical practice.
Dr. Ruziana joyfully combines a love for learning with a fun-loving nature, effortlessly connecting with diverse personalities. Fueled by a passion for knowledge, she seeks new insights, celebrating the uniqueness of every encounter.
Dr. Ng Boon Seng, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, has dedicated his career to the advancement of mental health and well-being. Graduating from the prestigious University of Malaya with a Master in Psychological Medicine, Dr. Ng embarked on a journey that would shape his passion for working with individuals facing mental health challenges.
From the outset, Dr. Ng exhibited a profound commitment to employing psychotherapeutic interventions in their practice. This commitment formed the cornerstone of his approach to helping people navigate the complex terrain of mental health. Driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, he embraced a holistic perspective that extended beyond individual therapy sessions.
As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Ng extended his expertise to encompass a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from children to adults, and from individuals to entire families and communities. Dr. Ng demonstrated an ability to collaborate with everyone involved, recognizing the interconnectedness of mental health within the familial and societal context. Dr. Ng aspired to create communities equipped with the knowledge, resilience, and resources needed to confront and manage life’s adversities.
Other than being a psychiatrist, he is also a personal trainer. He loves outdoor activities and prioritises self-care on his off-day.
Ivy is a Counselling Psychologist and Licensed & Registered Counsellor in Malaysia, with more than 10 years of experience in the field. Having worked in both the US and Asia, her scope of expertise is multidisciplinary and multicultural. She specialises in counselling psychotherapy for individuals, families, and adolescents living with social, emotional, and behavioural challenges.
Ivy is also a founding team member at Thrive Well. Currently overseeing Thrive Well’s clinical excellence, her work ranges from offline to online digital mental healthcare. Her client base is diverse from corporate to private practice and grassroots communities. Formerly, she held the position of Head of Counselling at ThoughtFull, a digital mental health startup that leverages technology to connect the public to accessible and effective mental health care.
Ivy sits on the board of the Malaysian Marriage and Family Therapy Association (MyMFT) and is a Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist (CAMFT). She received her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the University of San Francisco.
Drawing from her extensive involvement in providing comprehensive behavioural health services to adolescents and low-income families of immigrants in San Francisco, she witnessed the transformative power of thoughtfully crafted programs on individual lives. Her exposure to nuanced challenges and cultural factors driving mental health perceptions has ignited her commitment to adapt and design youth and family programs tailored to the Malaysian context.
Poh Yee is a licensed and registered counsellor with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors. She completed her certification in family therapy and is currently a freelance therapist with various centres.
She jumped ship from the corporate world to the mental health profession to pursue her passion for humankind. She uses an integrative theory, mainly systemic, to help her clients make sense of their multigenerational patterns and tendencies that no longer serves them and support them through the journey of establishing better, healthier alternatives.
Poh Yee is also a licensed yoga teacher that believes in the alignment of breath, body and soul. In her free time, she travels, sips on wine and has thought provoking conversations with friends and families.
Coming from a big,chaotic, but loving family, Poh Yee strongly believes in family as a strong resource to tap into to find support and love we need to go through challenges in life.
The board members are with one mutual aim: To bring systemic psychotherapy knowledge and competence to Malaysian mental health practitioners and professionals, and passionate about helping people achieve good mental and relationship health.
President
Dr. Nicole Chen Lee Ping
Vice President
Ms. Bawany Chinapan
