The Kuaya officially opens its doors recently at Faber Imperial Court, Kuala Lumpur, introducing a fundamentally different experience of care. From its physical environment to its model of engagement, the centre prioritises comfort and calm, creating a space where people feel at ease and cared for.

Rather than operating solely as a response to crisis or acute need, The Kuaya represents a shift in how mental health support is understood and accessed in Malaysia. Its purpose is not only to address problems when they arise, but to encourage ongoing, proactive engagement with mental wellbeing. By reframing mental health care as something people choose to invest in, much like physical health, The Kuaya aims to support earlier intervention, prevention, and long-term resilience.

 

This approach reflects a broader vision for mental health services: one that normalises care, reduces stigma, and empowers individuals to seek support before challenges escalate. Through thoughtful design and a forward-looking care model, the centre seeks to make mental health support an integrated, positive part of everyday life.

 

Developed in association with The Soke (UK), a leading behavioural health provider rated “Outstanding” by national regulators, The Care Quality Commission UK, The Kuaya brings together robust western clinical frameworks with the warmth, discretion and attentiveness that define Asian hospitality. This integrated approach ensures that care is not only clinically sound, but also culturally attuned to the realities of Malaysian life today.

 

Created for people who face the everyday pressures of work, family and community, The Kuaya offers structured, clinically grounded support that prioritises safety and over trend-led interventions. With increasing awareness around neurodevelopmental needs such as ADHD and autism, The Kuaya will respond to contemporary wellbeing needs in a way that is proactive, respectful and sustainable, while helping reduce stigma and uncertainty around seeking help.

 

 

“Our hope is to make psychological support feel familiar and accessible; something people can turn to with confidence, not apprehension,” said Siti Hajar Onn, Chief Executive Officer of The Kuaya. “By combining evidence-based western methodologies with Asian values of care, respect and discretion, we want people to feel genuinely supported—whether they are navigating everyday pressures, neurodevelopmental differences, or more complex emotional challenges. The Kuaya exists to make that first step feel safer and more human.”

 

A calm, considered space designed around ease and comfort

 

Situated on the 6th floor of Faber Imperial Court, Kuala Lumpur, The Kuaya has been designed to feel more like a thoughtfully curated residence than a clinical facility, reflecting the belief that the environment plays a meaningful role in psychological safety and engagement.

 

The centre features:

• 14 therapy rooms, designed for privacy and quiet, including 2 family and group rooms suited for couples, families, and group work.
• 2 consultation spaces, dedicated to assessments, reviews and organisational conversations that benefit from extra privacy and uninterrupted time.
• 5 individual pods, for clients to unwind and recollect themselves after their session
• A welcoming reception and lounge area, where clients can settle comfortably before their sessions
• Soft lighting, natural materials and muted tones, selected to reduce sensory overload and support regulation—particularly important for neurodivergent clients and those experiencing heightened stress or anxiety

 

The Kuaya offers clear, structured support

 

The Kuaya provides structured psychological care through a collaborative, multidisciplinary team selected for clinical rigour, cultural sensitivity and outcome-focused practice. Care is designed to be intentional and tailored, supporting clients not only in moments of difficulty, but across longer-term wellbeing journeys.

 

 

The Kuaya works with three main client groups:

• Adults; Through individual therapy addressing anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, trauma, relationship strain, neurodevelopmental differences and other personal challenges commonly faced in modern Malaysian life.
• Children, adolescents & families; Through age-appropriate assessment and therapy for children and teenagers, including neurodevelopmental assessments where relevant, delivered in close partnership with parents and caregivers. Family and parenting work supports communication, emotional regulation and key life transitions.
• Organisations (businesses, schools and institutions); Through psychoeducation, leadership consultation and structured guidance that strengthen psychological safety, support neurodiversity inclusion and help organisations respond consistently and responsibly to mental health needs.

 

What The Kuaya helps with

Clients seek support for a wide range of emotional and psychological concerns, including:

• Stress, anxiety and mood difficulties
  Generalised anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive difficulties, depression (including postnatal), bipolar disorder and sleep disruption.
• Trauma and complex experiences
  Trauma-related difficulties and post-traumatic stress, including the impact of sudden change, loss, or adverse experiences.
• Personality, behaviour and impulse-related difficulties
  Borderline and related personality presentations, disruptive or dissocial behaviour, and challenges with emotional regulation.
• Neurodevelopmental needs
  Attention-related and neurodevelopmental concerns such as ADHD and autism, where assessment and customised support may be required.
• Eating, body image and addictive patterns
  Difficulties around eating, substances, or other compulsive behaviours that impact daily life.

 

 

The Kuaya also supports clients through specific life situations such as bereavement and grief, divorce and family restructuring, menopause and other major life transitions, redundancy and return to work, leadership and career changes, parenting challenges and resilience building, with a strong emphasis on safety, stabilisation and long-term capacity building.

 

Depending on individual needs, clients may be offered specific therapeutic approaches such as couples therapy, adult sibling work, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), systemic family therapy, hypnotherapy and other evidence-informed modalities. Where appropriate, specialist assessments—including ADHD, autism spectrum and broader neurodevelopmental issues—help clarify a person’s profile and guide next steps in care.

 

Each client begins with an initial conversation and structured intake process, where goals, history and current challenges are explored before being matched to the most suitable clinician or service. Progress is reviewed at agreed intervals to ensure care remains relevant, safe and meaningful as life evolves. From the first enquiry to ongoing sessions, The Kuaya’s Client Services Team supports clients at every step, ensuring clarity, continuity and a pace that respects individual readiness.

 

A multidisciplinary team with local understanding and international standards

The centre brings together psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists with deep experience in Malaysia and abroad. The team includes:

• Dr Azhar Salleh, Consultant Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in Malaysia and Australia, Dr Azhar works across mood, anxiety, substance use, psychotic and personality-related difficulties with a strong focus on long-term recovery and resilience.
• Ashwin Thind, Clinical Psychologist: A Clinical Psychologist and International Certified Addiction Professional, Ashwin specialises in substance use, behavioural addictions and trauma while also serving as a Global Master Trainer and key contributor to national harm reduction and drug policy efforts.
• Joyce Hue, Psychotherapis: A Registered Counsellor and Clinical Hypnotherapist, Joyce focuses on mindset transformation, anxiety and self-worth, integrating evidence-based modalities and actively contributing to community mental health, corporate training and media education.
• Dr Siti Nordiana Dollah, Consultant Psychiatrist: With extensive experience across hospital, military and community practice, Dr Nordiana focuses on behavioural health and metabolic psychiatry, combining medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle approaches with particular interest in neurodiversity and women’s mental health.
• Celeste Lee Xiao Shiang, Clinical Psychologist: A Registered Clinical Psychologist with a strong grounding in systemic and multi-generational family therapy, Celeste draws on experience in hospital, community and private settings to support individuals, couples and families through emotional, behavioural and interpersonal challenges.
• Ang Wen Fang, Clinical Psychologist: A Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience in private, medical and humanitarian settings, Wen Fang’s work centres on trauma, grief, early relational difficulties and psychological assessments for children with neurodevelopmental and behavioural needs.
• Dr. Shermain Sim, Psychiatrist: With over 15 years of experience across child, adolescent and adult mental health, Dr Shermaine brings a rare combination of clinical depth and systems-level insight. Drawing on work across hospital, primary care and community settings, she specialises in comprehensive psychiatric assessment and culturally informed treatment that supports individuals and families through complex emotional and developmental challenges.
• Dr. Norharlina Bahar, Psychiatrist:  A senior consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, Dr Norharlina specialises in supporting the emotional and developmental wellbeing of children, adolescents and families. Her work spans infant mental health, eating disorders and the growing impact of digital and behavioural addictions, combining clinical expertise with a gentle, family-centred approach to care.

 

 

All clinical work at The Kuaya is supported by a supervision and governance framework shaped in association with The Soke (UK). This provides regular oversight, peer input and clear structures for managing complexity and risk, reinforcing The Kuaya’s commitment to safe, outcome-focused care rather than ad hoc or purely “feel-good” interventions.

 

The Kuaya Foundation extends care beyond the clinic

As part of its commitment to community wellbeing, The Kuaya has established The Kuaya Foundation, a non-profit initiative that helps widen access to mental health support for individuals and communities who may struggle to obtain care.

 

RM50 from every client session at The Kuaya will be channelled to the Foundation, with 5% of the company’s annual profits allocated thereafter. Funds will be distributed to local mental health initiatives that have developed effective, community-based solutions but require additional support to sustain or scale their work.

 

The Kuaya Foundation will focus on:

• Subsidised or low-cost counselling and therapy for individuals and families in need
• Community mental health programmes, in partnership with local organisations and NGOs
• Psychoeducation for schools, caregivers and frontline workers, through talks and workshops
• Capacity building for practitioners, including training, supervision and sponsored initiatives where appropriate

 

By embedding the Foundation into its business model, The Kuaya aims to ensure that its work benefits not only its clients and staff, but also the wider society in which it operates, and that every practitioner who sees a client at The Kuaya is also helping to strengthen the community around them.

 

Moving toward a culture where seeking support is normal

Guided by the values of Non-judgement, Respect, Compassion, and Discretion, The Kuaya aims to help shift local attitudes away from silence and stigma, toward a culture where seeking psychological support is seen as a responsible, thoughtful choice.

 

 

“The people we serve are often the ones others rely on,” added Siti Hajar Onn. “They lead at home, at work, or in their communities. Our role is to give them a place where they can finally put some of what they carry down, and receive care that is both professional and deeply human.”

 

The Kuaya’s Client Services Team is now welcoming enquiries and appointment bookings.

Website: www.thekuaya.com
Email: reception@thekuaya.com
Instagram: @thekuaya