MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS

Welcome to the Malaysian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MSCH)

We’re glad you’re here.

Since 1984, the MSCH has been a pioneering force in advancing the safe, ethical, and evidence-based practice of clinical hypnosis in Malaysia. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, mental health practitioner, student, or simply curious about the field, this site is your gateway to understanding how clinical hypnosis is applied in modern therapeutic settings.

Explore our resources, training standards, membership pathways, and international collaborations. Join us in shaping the future of integrative care — where science, compassion, and professionalism meet.

Who we are

MSCH is a professional body in Malaysia with high standards and astute quality in clinical hypnosis.
Our aim is to maintain our pre-eminence in the practice of clinical hypnosis and provide superior services of hypnotherapy suited to patient’s needs, in Malaysia and abroad. We promote and represent clinical hypnosis as a compassionate, safe and effective mode of therapy. Training of the highest quality and adherence to our code of conduct is an absolute requirement for our members.

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History of Society

The Malaysian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MSCH) was officially established in 1984 by two visionary pioneers in the field - Tan Sri Dr. Mahadevan and Dato’ Khoo Kah Lin. The society was formed to set a national benchmark for ethical practice, education, and clinical application of hypnosis in healthcare.

Tan Sri Dr. Mahadevan, a psychiatrist and clinical hypnotherapist first became renowned for his hypnosis interventions in the 1960's in the UK. His work earned him international recognition, notably from Dr. John Hartland of Hammersmith Hospital - a leading British psychiatrist and one of the early pioneers of clinical hypnosis in the UK. This recognition also led to other collaborations including with the distinguished father-son team, Dr. John and Dr. David Spiegel, who each made significant contributions to clinical hypnosis and psychiatry in the United States.

These relationships helped establish Malaysia as a serious contributor to the global clinical hypnosis community. Dr. Hartland visited Malaysia several times and played a key role in shaping the MSCH, drawing inspiration from the British Medical and Dental Society for Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. John and Dr. David Spiegel also contributed to its development, with Dr. David Spiegel remaining a supporter of MSCH to this day.

Since its inception, MSCH has gradually expanded its membership. Initially open only to medical doctors, it welcomed clinical psychologists in its early years. By 1999, the society began admitting counsellors with doctoral qualifications. In 2012, graduates holding a Practitioner Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis from recognised institutions such as LCCH were included as members.

In 2024, MSCH took a progressive step forward by opening its doors to a broader range of healthcare professionals. Membership is now extended to medical practitioners, allied health professionals, and clinical hypnotherapists with a minimum of Level 5 practitioner training, reflecting the society’s commitment to interdisciplinary practice and inclusion.

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

The Evolution of membership

There are several categories of membership:

Behavioural Hypnotherapists who work solely with behavioural challenges

Clinical Hypnotherapists who work with a wide range of medical, psychological and emotional challenges

Medical Hypnotherapists who use clinical hypnosis as a sub-specialisation of their medical work

Practitioner Clinical Hypnotherapists who are equipped to work with the full range of symptoms and considerations that respond to clinical hypnosis