Dr. Kino Lam

Dr. Kino Lam Chiu-Kim (林朝劍博士) is a new-generation pioneer in the field of psychotherapy in Asia and the world’s first Chinese psychotherapist to be certified in the UK’s Metacognitive Therapy (MCT). MCT, regarded as part of the “third wave” or new generation of psychotherapies, works by changing a person’s erroneous metacognitive beliefs about their own thinking, effectively reducing maladaptive thought patterns such as rumination and worry. Research shows that MCT is more effective in treating emotional disorders than traditional psychotherapies and has been officially recommended by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Dr. Lam is a Former Assistant Professor of Practice at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he is dedicated to training the next generation of mental health professionals. He is also the first Asian authorized trainer certified by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany to provide professional training in Metacognitive Training, able to grant internationally recognized certification.

Dr. Lam has a rich academic background and extensive clinical experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a Master’s degree in Mental Health from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a Doctorate in Medical Sciences from PolyU. He has served for more than 18 years in the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, specializing in adult psychiatry, mood disorders, and addiction rehabilitation, and was once the convener of the Metacognitive Therapy Task Force. In both clinical practice and research, he has focused on integrating MCT with life restructuring, promoting comprehensive mental health management. Between 2018 and 2020, he traveled multiple times to Manchester, UK, to advance his training in MCT, and in 2020 he became the first Chinese person in the world to earn this professional qualification.

In addition, Dr. Lam has over seven years of experience in drug rehabilitation services, particularly in the New Territories North and Tai Po districts. His work in this area has been strongly supported by the Hospital Authority and PolyU, and he successfully helped organizations secure more than eight years of funding from the Beat Drugs Fund. In 2022, he was personally awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Commissioner for Narcotics of the Security Bureau, recognizing his contributions to drug rehabilitation services.

As the world’s first Chinese-certified Metacognitive Therapist, Dr. Lam is committed to advancing both the practice and research of MCT and promoting mental health awareness. For years, he has dedicated himself to helping individuals overcome psychological struggles and restore well-being. He has been frequently invited by both international and local media to share his professional insights, including on the CCTV program Spirit of Hong Kong. In April 2025, Dr. Lam was featured in a full interview episode of the show, highlighting his professional background and efforts to promote mental health. The episode was officially broadcast on June 17, 2025, on CCTV’s platform and received more than 700,000 views within just three days, earning widespread acclaim.

His work and philosophy have also received significant media attention:

In 2024, he was interviewed by Today’s Chinese, with the article published in the 4th issue of 2025, where he shared his vision and results in promoting mental health education and innovative teaching.

In 2021, the South China Morning Post featured an interview with Dr. Lam titled “How to Stop Worrying: Metacognitive Therapy Helped Me Put Anxious Thoughts on a Sushi Conveyor Belt”, highlighting how MCT can help patients manage anxiety.

Dr. Lam has also frequently been invited by nonprofit organizations to share practical knowledge on emotion and stress management, further enhancing public awareness of next-generation psychotherapies.

Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Lam actively promotes public mental health education. He co-authored the book The Mystery of Metacognition and Life, designed the mental health board game Metacognition Treasure Box, and developed the Scan Cat series of mental health educational tools, which integrate apps and AI to creatively promote knowledge of mental well-being. He is also a certified instructor of the traditional Chinese health practice Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades) under China’s General Administration of Sport, with more than ten years of teaching experience, particularly in integrating Qigong with pain and emotion management.

To this end, Dr. Lam spares no effort in creating diverse educational and training opportunities to ensure that all sectors of society can access and learn about more effective mental health management approaches. His initiatives include public lectures, board game workshops for those interested in experiential learning, as well as online and offline seminars on mental health education. He also provides professional training courses and develops mobile apps such as Scan Cat, innovatively spreading knowledge across different communities for the benefit of society.

Dr. Lam’s personal motto is: “Unable to feel the beauty: the world is so beautiful, yet one cannot feel it.” This saying not only reflects his empathy for those suffering from depression but also motivates his continuous efforts to promote mental health education, helping more people rediscover their ability to experience the beauty of the world.