The Malaysian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MSCH) was officially founded in 1984 by two visionary pioneers in the field, the late Tan Sri Dr. Mahadevan and the late Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kah Lin.

 

Their shared mission was to set a national benchmark for the ethical practice, education, and clinical application of hypnosis in healthcare.

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Tan Sri Dr. Mahadevan, a psychiatrist and clinical hypnotherapist, is widely regarded as the "Father of Modern Psychiatry" in Malaysia. His innovative hypnotic interventions in the UK during the 1960s gained international recognition from leading figures like Dr. John Hartland of Hammersmith Hospital and the distinguished father-son team, Dr. John and Dr. David Spiegel. Dr. Mahadevan's work established Malaysia as a serious contributor to the global clinical hypnosis community, with his "Mahadevan Method" still being taught today.

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Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kah Lin, a distinguished cardiologist, brought a unique and forward-thinking perspective to the society. He recognised the value of clinical hypnosis as a complementary therapy for managing patient anxiety and pain, demonstrating the society's commitment to bridging the gap between mainstream medicine and clinical hypnosis.

These key relationships established Malaysia as a serious contributor to the global clinical hypnosis community, with Dr. Hartland visiting several times and Dr. David Spiegel remaining a valued supporter of the MSCH to this day.

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Since its inception, the MSCH has steadily expanded its membership. Initially welcoming only medical doctors, it later opened its doors to clinical psychologists and, by 1999, counsellors with doctoral qualifications. In 2012, the society took a pivotal step by including graduates with a Practitioner Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis from recognised institutions such as the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (LCCH).

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Today, the MSCH continues to uphold the highest standards in practice and education. It maintains a strong international faculty and actively collaborates with esteemed bodies such as the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis and Integrative Psychotherapy (BSCH), the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists (ASCH), and the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Communication and Hypnosis (APSCH). These alliances reflect the MSCH’s ongoing dedication to advancing clinical hypnosis as a respected, evidence-based therapeutic tool in healthcare systems around the world.