CV

As a clinical profession, clinical psychology is still in its infancy in Malaysia, a developing country within South-East Asia. With its training and practice beginning only in the mid1990s, development of clinical psychology in Malaysia has been a slow process given factors such as biomedical approaches being the dominant method of addressing mental illness, and the recognition of counsellors as a regulated professional body for mental health management. With a registration body for clinical psychologists only being established in 2010, there is a steep challenge in moving forward to advance the recognition and practice of clinical psychology as the "new kid on the block" among the more established psychiatrists and counsellors. This keynote is based on a qualitative study on clinical psychologists practising in the country and their opinions on training and practise issues, within the context of professional and policy development. The implications of this study focuses on policy and leadership development for clinical psychologists in the country. Following from the training and professional needs of a sample of practitioners out of the 160-odd clinical psychologists in Malaysia, this paper serves to discuss and reflect global developmental issues for clinical psychologists. This platform would be an appropriate one where many countries with clinical psychologists a likely to have parallel issues of policy and leadership. It is asserted that as countries move forward in the training and development of clinical psychologists, leaderships would benefit from global dialogues and mutual support in professional research and development.

KEYNOTE ABSTRACT

Cases from the child and adolescent mental health clinic
This keynote is based on Dr. Alvin Ng's experiences as a clinical psychologists working at a university clinic where cases from child and adolescent work are discussed. His presentation of case studies will be presented as stories that illustrate behavioural methods in addressing psychological presenting problems that were referred to his clinic. Methods that will be covered in particular are behavioural modification techniques in improving parenting skills as well as some infusion of positive psychology approaches to behavioural therapy. This presentation hopes to explore sharing of case studies in a more community friendly way to help the parents relate better to learning skills in addressing child and adolescent mental health issues in a way that also empowers them.