Psychology in Koh Samui

Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies the mind and behavior. It seeks to understand the mind, how it works, and how it affects behavior. It encompasses the environmental factors, social pressures, and biological influences that affect how people think, feel, and act. Since it is a broad and diverse field, there are numerous different subfields and specialty areas within psychology. Some of the major areas include clinical psychology, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology.

A specialist or expert in psychology is called a psychologist. Licensed psychologists have professional training and clinical skills to do psychological testing, perform counseling and psychotherapy, and provide treatment for mental disorders. They are qualified to help people learn to cope more effectively with mental health problems. However, they are not medical doctors. This means that psychologists typically cannot perform medical procedures or write prescriptions. A psychologist will work in association with a psychiatrist or other medical doctor who provides medical treatment for mental illness, while the psychologist provides psychotherapy. 

There are numerous different styles of therapy, but the psychologist will identify the best approach to address the person’s problem that fits the characteristics and preferences of the patients. Some common types of therapy are behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapies, integrative or holistic therapy, and humanistic therapy.

Psychologists can help a wide variety of people and treat many types of problems. They can help those with mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and phobias. Psychologists can also help with rehabilitation and adjustment to chronic illness or disability. In some cases, people also talk to a psychologist to help overcome addictions, cope with stressful situations, or navigate through short-term problems, such as grieving the death of a family member or feeling overwhelmed by a new job. 

How Long Should I Stay in Koh Samui?

You usually do not need to stay in Koh Samui any longer than you want to after each treatment session. However, since psychotherapy usually requires more than one session, you can choose to stay in Koh Samui until you complete all of your sessions, so you do not have to travel multiple times. Some types of psychological treatment last only a few sessions, but others can take months and even years.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on your specific condition. Most of the time, no recovery time is needed after a psychological test or treatment. You should be allowed to resume your normal routine and even go back to work immediately after. If the treatment makes you feel exhausted, you can take the rest of the day off. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your psychologist will give you a set of aftercare instructions. The instructions are specifically designed for your individual case and are aimed to prevent relapse. You may also be recommended to live an active and healthy life, such as exercising regularly and to eat a healthy diet. 

What's the Success Rate?

Psychology is always growing and evolving. New discoveries and applications of psychology are always being uncovered. This helps psychology tests and treatments to become more successful, accurate, and safe. Today, psychologists can use evidence-based techniques to make treatment more efficient and effective. With psychology, people can improve their decision making, behavior, and stress management based on understanding past behavior to predict future behavior. Psychological treatments can have some side effects, such as becoming sad or fearful, an increase in anxiety, negative changes in the family, or relapse.  

Are there Alternatives?

There are numerous types of mental health professionals you can see to help with mental health problems. You can choose to see a psychiatrist, licensed mental health counselor, mental health nurse, or clinical social worker. In many cases, these mental health professionals work together to deliver the best treatment plan.

Psychology in and around Koh Samui

About Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the second-largest island in the Gulf of Thailand. Referred to as Samui, it was once a “backpacker’s paradise”. It has a bounty of natural wonders as well as man-made attractions such as the mummified monks and the glorious Buddha temples.

The idyllic atmosphere of Koh Samui makes it a perfect destination for both physical and mental wellbeing. It has become a preferred destination for medical tourism in the last few years. Visitors love the location and combine their holidays with medical and spa treatments.

The island has several sophisticated and state-of-art international hospitals such as the Bangkok Hospital, Samui, Bandon International Hospital, Samui International Hospital, and Thai International Hospital, Samui. These hospitals offer affordable and timely medical services to tourists who mainly come to undergo Cosmetic surgeries, Dental Aesthetic procedures, and Sex Reassignment surgeries. Such procedures when carried out in Koh Samui cost 20% to 25% less than the cost of the same treatments in their home countries.

With an eye on the possible growth within the realm of medical tourism, these hospitals are actively broadening the array of medical services they offer. They now furnish other types of procedures including, but not limited to, cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmic surgery.

In addition to these extended services, they have a roster of highly competent doctors on hand. These medical professionals are clearly proficient in English, thereby effectively ensuring smooth and easy communication with patients arriving from different parts of the world.

Popular Areas in Koh Samui

Koh Samui is home to many amazing beaches, locations, temples, and markets and some of the major and popular attractions of the island are:

• Ang Thong Marine Park – Ang Thong Marine Park is a group of 42 tiny lush green islands with lofty limestone cliffs, crystal clear beaches, fertile mangroves, waterfalls, hidden coves, and lakes. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Koh Samui, and it is easy to see why. The scenery is simply breathtaking.
• Wat Phra Yai – Wat Phra Yai, also known as the Big Buddha Temple, is one of the most iconic landmarks in Koh Samui. The golden-colored, 12-meter tall Buddha statue is hard to miss, and it is a popular pilgrimage site for both locals and tourists.
• Wat Plai Laem – Wat Plai Laem is an active Buddhist temple that is known for its beautiful architecture and its 18-arm image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. It is a popular place to visit for both religious and cultural reasons.
• Na Muang Waterfall – It represents a set of two magnificent waterfalls. These lie about 7.5 miles southeast to Nathon Bay in inland.
• Chaweng and Lamai Beach – Are the two most popular beaches on the island. Chaweng beach is on the east coast of Samui and is known for its nightlife. Lamai beach has a more laid-back atmosphere, but it still has a variety of accommodation, dining & shopping choices, luxurious spas, and tourist spots.

Koh Samui’s other attractions include Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Koh Phangan island, Fisherman’s Village Bophut, Mummy Monk at Wat Khunaram, and the Secret Buddha Garden. Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party held on the Koh Phangan island on full moon day.

Weather and Climate in Phuket

Nestled in a tropical climate, Koh Samui basks in hot and humid weather that extends throughout the year. The humidity level typically straddles between 70 and 85 percent, creating a warm atmosphere indicative of tropical locales. Meanwhile, the average temperature usually hovers around a cosy 28 degrees Celsius.

The island ushers in three distinctive seasons, specifically, hot, dry, and rainy, each of them bringing a unique texture to the overall climate.

• Hot Season is between March and September. The hottest period is March and April when the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius and above. From May to September, it’s like a mini monsoon season with bright sunny days and light showers in the evening.
• Dry Season runs from December to February. The weather is pleasant with light cool winds. The sea is balmy and tourists flock the region during this season.
• Rainy Season is between September and November and the island faces its maximum rainfall with unpredictable weather and rough seas.

Getting Around in Koh Samui

Koh Samui’s airport is a private airport built by Bangkok Airways. It is still the main operator of flights to Samui. Flights to and from Bangkok operate almost every hour. It operates domestic flights to Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, and international flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong every day. Thai Airways to flies between Bangkok and Ko Samui.

Besides Bangkok and Thai Airways, Berjaya Air & Firefly of Malaysia and Silk Air of Singapore also fly to Samui Airport. Air Asia offers a special ‘Island Transfer’ which comprises a flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat, road travel to the port, and a ferry ride to Koh Samui.

Combined bus and ferry service from Surat Thani rail station or Surat Thani Airport are other options to reach Samui.

Moving around Koh Samui is easy as it is a small island and there are many transport options within Samui. They are songthaews, motorbikes, taxis, and cars and there are no tuk-tuks or buses.

• Songthaews – They are mini pick-up trucks that can accommodate 8-10 adults. They circle the main ring road of Samui and travel through the popular beach towns. The drivers pick you up from anywhere on the road.
• Metered Taxis – You can find them everywhere in the town. Despite having a meter, the drivers don’t use them. You need to bargain and fix a fare before you start your journey.
• Rent a Car – There are major car rental chains to book a car and they have a good collection of vehicles, but can be pricey. Then there are local car operators which are cheaper but can be unreliable.
• Scooter-taxis –These are the cheapest and quickest mode of transport.

Tourist Visas in Koh Samui

Visa Exemption or Visa Waiver Entry – Under a bilateral agreement, Thailand exempts nationals from 55 countries including the UK, USA, and many European countries from obtaining a tourist visa. The only condition is that tourists must have a passport that is valid for at least six months. They can get an arrival stamp on their passports, and stay in the country for a period of 30 days. They need not pay any visa fees, as it is not a visa on arrival rather just an entry stamp.

Visa on Arrival – Nationals from 24 countries like China and India with a valid Passport not expiring before six months, can get a visa on arrival at the airport. The visa permits them a stay of 15 days. There are designated immigration counters at the airport for issuing the visa.

Here are some additional tips for tourists applying for a visa on arrival in Thailand:

• Make sure that you have all of the required documents, including a valid passport, a return flight ticket, and proof of funds.
• Be prepared to pay the visa fee, which is 2,000 Thai baht.
• Be prepared to answer questions about your trip and your purpose for visiting Thailand.

Additional Information

• The main currency of exchange is the Thai Baht. One US dollar is worth about 34.5559 Thai Baht as of 2023. You can also use debit and credit cards.
• Most of the major banks operate in Samui Island. They exchange all major currencies and traveller’s cheques.
• ​​​​​​​You can find ATMs everywhere in Koh Samui. They accept both local as well as international debit cards. However, they charge you a small transactional fee when you withdraw from your country’s bank account.
• ​​​​​​​The locals of Koh Samui speak Thai – the official language of Thailand. People also understand and speak English to a certain extent, since the island is a famous tourist destination.
• ​​​​​​​Buddhism and reverence to the monarchy are striking aspects of Samui culture. It has a large Buddhist Thai population along with a traditional Muslim fishermen community.
• ​​​​​​​Important public holidays include:

1. The Chinese New Year in February
2. ​​​​​​​The Thai New Year (Songkran) in April
3. ​​​​​​​The Festival of Lights (Loi Krathong) in November
4. ​​​​​​​Christmas and New Year