Transforming Corporate Wellness: UUM Alumnus Brings Expressive Arts Therapy into the Business World

News and pictures Dr Koo Kian Yong

SINTOK, 15 November 2025: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of its distinguished alumnus, Dr Koo Kian Yong, whose pioneering integration of expressive arts therapy, applied neuroscience, and occupational health psychology is reshaping how corporations approach mental well-being.

A PSIMA-registered industrial-organisational psychologist, HRD Corp-accredited trainer, and founder of New Mind Academy, Dr Koo embodies UUM’s mission to produce graduates who harness science, creativity, and leadership to create lasting societal impact.

Recently, at the International Counselling & Wellness Innovation Competition (INNOCARE 2025) hosted by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Dr Koo and his team achieved extraordinary success, securing four top international awards which are Best Innovation Award (Grand Winner) for Heart–Brain Detection (HBD), Gold Medals for HBD and New Mind Sound and Light Protocols (NMSLP), and Silver Medal for New Mind Neuro-Resilience Method (NNRM).

These innovations, based on his Creative Brain Health Intervention (CBHI) Phd`s doctoral framework, merge trauma-informed expressive arts, neurofeedback, and clinical hypnotherapy to enhance stress management, creative performance, and emotional resilience in demanding workplace settings. The award-winning Heart–Brain Detection system – capable of identifying stress patterns in just six minutes, demonstrates how expressive arts and neuroscience can converge to advance corporate mental-health strategies.

Reflecting on his academic journey, Dr Koo remarked, “My UUM experience laid the foundation for bridging evidence-based psychology with expressive arts and applied neuroscience. UUM empowered me to blend science, innovation, and compassion, helping individuals and organisations thrive with resilience and emotional intelligence.”

From doctoral research to international recognition, Dr Koo’s journey exemplifies UUM’s strength in nurturing scholars who translate theory into real-world solutions.

Dr Koo completed his PhD in Education from UUM in 2023 under the supervision of Dr Azizah Abdullah, an internationally renowned expressive arts educator recognised by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) and a panellist for the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Arts and Health Forum.

Dr Azizah commended his accomplishments stating, “Dr Koo’s achievements highlight UUM’s emerging position as a regional leader in expressive arts therapy. His innovations prove that creativity and science can work hand-in-hand to support healing, wellness, and productivity in the corporate sector. With the nation’s increasing emphasis on TVET and SKM certifications for mental-health competencies, UUM is well positioned to lead Malaysia’s next wave of creative arts and skill-based psychological training.”

Today, Dr Koo serves as Principal Instructor at New Mind Academy in Bangsar South and Penang, and as an Instructor for UTM SPACE’s UK-accredited professional certificate programmes in Applied Hypnosis, Trauma-Informed Hypnotherapy, and Transformational Coaching. To date, he has trained hundreds of practitioners, educators, and corporate leaders, equipping them with expressive-arts-based approaches to resilience, performance, and emotional wellness.

His impressive accolades include the UTAR Outstanding Alumni Award (Creativity & Innovation), two Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) awards, the Hall of Wellness Asia Award, and the PERKAMA International Gold Medal Innovation Award. His research and innovations have been featured in international journals, national media, and global wellness forums.

As UUM celebrates Graduation Week 2025, Dr Koo’s story stands as a powerful testament to how the synergy of arts and science can redefine workplace wellness. His journey not only honours UUM’s legacy of academic excellence but also propels Malaysia closer to becoming Asia’s hub for expressive arts therapy, bridging research, practice, innovation, and human flourishing in the corporate world.