Trainers

Dr. Phang Cheng Kar (B.Sc., M.D., Dr.Psych.)

Dr. Phang Cheng Kar (Dr. Zhen-Phang) is a consultant psychiatrist and mindfulness-based therapist. Inspired by Buddhist teachings, his clinical and research interest is on mindfulness-based therapy. He has received mindfulness training from extensive sources: International Mindfulness Conference (Rome, 2013); Mindfulness in Education Conference (Phuket, 2012); Mindful & Awakening Relationships (MARS) for Therapists Workshop by Dr. Eng-Kong Tan from Australia (Kuala Lumpur, 2011); Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) workshop by Professor Dr. Mark Williams (Singapore, 2010); Transformative Mindfulness Facilitation Training by Deyki Lee (Kuala Lumpur, 2008); Metta Clinic (Sydney, 2008). He has also received training from meditation teachers, e.g. Venerable Sujiva, Ajahn Brahmavamso, and Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. 

Dr. Phang is the developer of MINDFULGym, which is a Malaysian mindfulness-based stress reduction and wellness program. To date, he has conducted more than a hundred talks/workshops related to mindfulness. The Ministry of Health (MySihat) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have given grants to support his efforts in free mindfulness education for the community and medical students. He is a certified teacher of the .b Mindfulness in Schools Project, a course designed for introducing mindfulness to teenagers. Besides being an avid speaker, he is also a prolific writer. Books authored by him include "I’m StillHuman: Understanding Depression with Kindness," "Should a Person with Mental IllnessMeditate?" and "No WORRY-Lah, Be HAPPY – A Medical Student’s Motivational &Inspirational Guide." He is also the founding president of KL Buddhist Mental Health Association (BMHA).