2 Hours workshop: Adapting Psychotherapy for Collectivistic Cultures

Beatrice Ng-Kessler, HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist and Certified Advance Schema Therapist, Supervisor/Trainer,  certified mindfulness trainer from Canada, shares real-world insights from her extensive work with clients in private practice, as well as her own bicultural identities.  Drawing from lived clinical examples, the session explores how core concepts—like emotional needs, modes, and limited reparenting—can be meaningfully adapted to fit collectivistic cultural frameworks.   

What you will learn:

1. Describe 3 key cultural values in collectivistic contexts and how they influence emotional expression, identity, and family relationships.

2. Identify common schema and behavioural patterns and client responses that may be shaped by collectivist cultural norms.

3. Critically evaluate the limitations of Western-centric schema concepts (e.g., autonomy, boundaries) in cross-cultural therapy settings.

4. Apply 2-way process to tactfully handle the conflicted needs within clients from collectivistic culture.