I had to ask—what makes someone dedicate their entire life to understanding the human mind? For Saima Salman, it began with one book at just 15 years old.

In this episode, I sit down with Saima Salman, founder and CEO of Rational Living Inc, leading cognitive behaviour therapist, clinical supervisor, motivational speaker, and someone who has spent three decades helping people confront the parts of themselves they thought they had buried.

We get into how a deeply sensitive teenager from Pakistan discovered the work of Dr. Albert Ellis, challenged his psychological model through her own research, and eventually earned a place in his highly competitive postdoctoral training programme—even without a doctorate.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 | She Sees What People Don't Say

00:51 | Meet the Woman Behind 30 Years of Therapy

02:05 | A Book Changed Her Life at 15

07:47 | How She Got Trained by Albert Ellis

11:37 | The Problem With Therapy in Singapore

16:06 | Why Young People Are Changing Mental Health

18:08 | Why Smart, Successful Women Stay

20:39 | The Therapy That Changed the Therapist

28:26 | Can Therapists Really Read Your Mind?

33:51 | The Shoes That Exposed Her Trauma

38:50 | Don't Become a Therapist for the Money

40:01 | 2 Exercises Every Woman Should Know

42:33 | What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?

43:24 | Rapid Fire: Chai, Gut vs Logic & Success

44:16 | That's a Wrap

Saima Salman

Founder & CEO, Rational Living Inc Pte Ltd Clinical Fellow, Albert Ellis Institute (NYC)

Saima Salman is the Founder and CEO of Rational Living Inc Pte Ltd and one of Southeast Asia’s leading voices in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and emotional well-being. With nearly three decades of clinical experience across the US, Europe, and Asia, she combines evidence-based psychotherapy with cross-cultural insight to help individuals and organizations build resilience and thrive.

Trained personally by pioneering psychotherapists Dr. Albert Ellis and Dr. Aaron Beck, Saima is the only Cognitive Behaviour Therapist from Southeast Asia to have studied under both. She developed IRECBT (Islamic Rational Emotive Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), an innovative framework integrating Islamic philosophy with CBT.

Connect with Saima — linkedin.com/in/saima-salman-464882b

[email protected]

Shalima Motial

Founder & CEO of Dream Catchers (Host)

With over 20 years of work experience, I am a passionate and creative entrepreneur who specialises in online talent showcase and marketing. I have a master's degree in English literature, which gives me a strong foundation in communication, storytelling, and content creation. I founded Dream Catchers Vision in 2011, a Singapore-based online platform that discovers and promotes performing artists from around the world.

Connect with Shalima at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalima-motial-44aab331/    

Dream Catchers

Dream Catchers: Empowering Dreams in Singapore

Dream Catchers is a pioneering Events, Theatre & Film Production company based in Singapore, dedicated to nurturing the aspirations of performing artists, entrepreneurs, and promoting women’s empowerment. Established over 14 years ago, the company has successfully organized numerous online and offline events, serving as a vital platform for emerging talent. Notably, Dream Catchers has been a nationwide talent partner for major Bollywood concerts in Singapore, providing invaluable opportunities for artists to shine. Through its diverse initiatives, Dream Catchers continues to inspire and empower individuals across the region.

Connect with Dream Catchers at http://www.dreamcatchersvision.com/home  

https://www.facebook.com/dreamcatchersvision/ 

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Thank you to our Sponsors:Mandar Padhye; The Resilient Investor – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandarpadhye

Infiniti Jewels – www.infinitijewels.com.sg 

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