How supervision can be a game-changer across culture
- Ng-Kessler Beatrice
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 6
My experience of supervision in my pursuit of accreditation in ISST has been a game-changer. Most of my supervisors embody the spirit of "limited reparenting" when they supervise me. When I joined the supervisor training myself, I understood what the trainers were teaching through personal experience. I realized that I had been "reparented" by my supervisors. I reflected on when and how my previous supervisors had "reparented" me. They taught me when necessary, confronted me when appropriate, yet guided me with a caring attitude and encouraged me with their confidence in me.
I am an enthusiastic learner, so I have worked with supervisors from all over the world. I enjoy learning from different people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. I am often asked, "Why do you change supervisors?" In my mindfulness training journey, I have traveled to different countries for learning and retreats, and I have also faced questions like, "Why don’t you stay with this particular approach?"
I don’t understand why some people believe I need to learn exclusively from one person or approach. I thought my critical thinking, clinical and personal experience will inform me what’s the best. Perhaps, from a Chinese cultural perspective, students are expected to demonstrate loyalty by staying with one supervisor.
Clearly, some of my perspectives do not quite align with my own cultural background.
During my Schema Therapy learning journey, I had supervisors with healthy self-esteem who openly acknowledged their limits, saying things like, "For this type of case, you may want to consult XXX, who is an expert. You can consult me on other cases instead."
I had supervisors who recognized my moments of self-doubt and offered validation to encourage me.
I had supervisors who acknowledged my deeper struggles and showed me care.
I had a supervisor who showed me the skills of Imagery Rescripting by rescripting my therapy session.
It’s not that I never had negative experiences in supervision during my Schema Therapy training, but for the most part, I felt supported, validated, and seen—not just as a trainee or therapist, but as a person.
Before this experience, I didn’t realize that supervision could be like this.
In my professional journey, which was primarily developed in Hong Kong as a clinical psychologist, supervision often meant stress and hostility. I had a handful of supervisors who were both knowledgeable and kind. However, in the majority of my professional training as a clinical psychology trainee, there was nothing related to "limited reparenting."
I encountered many egos in the room, and my questions were often dismissed. I met supervisors who seemed to enjoy showing off and criticizing trainees rather than teaching or guiding them. I worked with supervisors who did not appear to enjoy their job, which I found very discouraging.
I still remember during my first placement, I was on the verge of tears when I heard a client's story, and then I was harshly criticized as unprofessional, even though I didn’t miss anything in the session. Authenticity wasn’t widely practiced—let alone appreciated—in supervision sessions where I trained, whereas it is strongly encouraged in Schema Therapy supervision. I believe "the role of authority" effect (details here) played a role in my previous supervision experiences, which were not very focused on supporting the trainee’s Healthy Adult mode.
In my country, many clinical psychologists come from more affluent, middle-class backgrounds, which was very different from my own upbringing. Back then, I wasn’t accustomed to the attitudes of those from more privileged backgrounds or prestigious schools. I struggled with my English proficiency in report writing during my professional degree and was even told during my first placement that I was not suitable to become a clinical psychologist. I endured personal attacks that made me question how some people entered this profession—one that is supposed to help vulnerable individuals. At the time, I had no concept of a "Healthy Adult mode." I only knew that something felt wrong, and I tried to push through it.
After so many years, I have proven to myself that I could become a qualified clinical psychologist. I can teach mindfulness in English. I ventured into private practice and published books. I have continued my learning journey with different trainers across various therapeutic approaches. It was only when I encountered Schema Therapy that I realized I had not experienced much "Healthy Adult mode" in some of my past supervisors.
I, too, have been trapped in "the role of authority" before.
Now that I can supervise trainees, I am eager to embody the spirit of limited reparenting, just as I have experienced from my Schema Therapy supervisors. It has been such a corrective emotional experience for me. 🙂 I believe that everything comes from within, and the healthier a therapist’s Healthy Adult mode, the greater their capacity to work with clients.
Beatrice Ng-Kessler
Registered Clinical Psychologist (HK and UK)
Advance Certified Schema Therapist and Supervisor (ISST)
Certified Mindfulness Trainer from Canada
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