Psychotherapy in an International Setting: A Malaysian Perspective.

In spite of the development of medical services in Asian countries, mental illness and mental health services remain a stigma. An awareness of the causes and consequences of mental illness is also lacking. Since the 1990s, much work has been done in Malaysia to advance the people's concepts about the scientific approach to mental illness and to promote clinical psychology. The first master's program in clinical psychology was started in 1994. The trend of visiting traditional healers is changing, and a more systematic and scientific approach is emerging. This paper presents counseling techniques that can be used with patients transitioning from the traditional into the modern world of medicine. (JDM)