Melbourne 2026

“East meets West: Integrating Culture into Schema Therapy Practice for Asian Heritage Populations”

Project HoriZen is pleased to invite you to join in on some culturally responsive practice at our workshop:  “East meets West: Integrating Culture into Schema Therapy Practice for Asian Heritage Populations” Melbourne: Thursday 19th November, 2026 

Workshop Overview

This workshop explores the gaps and bridges between Western therapeutic principles and Eastern/Asian cultural values. While Western psychology has undoubtedly advanced mental health care, therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We promote culturally responsive practice by examining how cultural values, beliefs, and lived experiences shape assessment, formulation, engagement, and intervention. The workshop will explore challenges that clinicians often report in practice e.g. balancing individual goals with family and filial expectations, navigating shame and “saving face,” and recognising different ways distress and help-seeking are expressed. We’ll also consider migration and acculturation stories, intergenerational roles, and how therapist–client assumptions about authority, autonomy and emotional expression play out in the therapy room. Using a schema-focused lens, you’ll learn to adapt case conceptualisation and experiential methods (e.g., imagery rescripting, chairwork) for cultural fit and client safety. Expect a mix of brief input, guided practice, and reflective discussion – grounded in CARM (Culturally and Racially Minoritised) frameworks – so you leave with practical tools. What’s new Based on previous feedback, the format has been refined from the 2024–2025 iterations. Before the in-person day, you’ll complete an online, self-paced module covering Cultural Assessment & Formulation (equivalent to the 2025 Part 1 online workshop). This maximises in-person time for experiential techniques and skills practice.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Integrate culturally responsive assessment & formulation into a case conceptualisation (the Cultural Flower Formulation).
• Recognise common schema and mode patterns that may present in Asian-heritage populations—without stereotyping or over-generalising.
• Adapt experiential techniques—including imagery rescripting and chairwork—for cultural fit and client safety.
• Apply a toolkit of culturally informed interventions relevant to Asian cultural contexts.
• Troubleshoot therapy-room challenges (e.g., shame/guilt dynamics, filial-piety conflicts, help-seeking barriers) using CARM frameworks
• Foster culturally safe conversations and peer learning by creating a reflective and respectful space.

Who should attend?

Clinicians of all backgrounds who work with- or want to work with- Asian heritage clients or clients from a CARM background. For psychologists, this aligns with AHPRA’s updated competencies, especially Competency 7: “Demonstrates a health equity and human rights approach when working with people from diverse groups.” This is a schema-focused workshop, best suited for those who have completed an introduction to Schema Therapy or are familiar with core concepts and terminology (however if you have not done prior schema training you can still partake as I can send you pre-reading). Importantly, the workshop provides space to connect and openly discuss challenges encountered when working with Asian-heritage clients. We encourage sharing adaptations and strategies. A core Project HoriZen principle is knowledge-sharing to promote mental health and reduce stigma across CARM communities.

Cost 

$299 for earlybird (before 31 July, 2026)

$375 for general admission (from 1 August, 2026)

Includes: Access to the online Cultural Foundation, Assessment & Formulation module, catering (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea), and all workshop materials. *You may qualify for a reduced rate if you are a current student OR if you are from one of the countries listed at the end of the webpage*

Venue

Melbourne – Exchange Room at Holiday Inn Express Little Collins

Accomodation

If you’re travelling from interstate or overseas and require accommodation, let us know and we can help with recommendations.

About the presenter

Daniela Ho Tan is a Clinical Psychologist, Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist & Supervisor, and Board-approved Supervisor. She co-founded the Culturally Responsive Schema Therapy Special Interest Group and served as its chair from 2023 to 2025. She is the current Secretary of the APS Psychology and Culture Interest Group and one of the Australian research coordinators for the International Schema Therapy Instruments Consortium (ISTIC). Dani has presented widely on the intersection of culture and therapy, including for the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi), Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA), the University of Sydney, the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), and community mental health events.

Refunds/Cancellations

Full refund up to 14 days before the event; name transfers allowed until 48 hours prior. All cancellations incur a $50 administrative fee.   *Reduced rates apply for participants from the following countries – please email contact@projecthorizen.com if this applies to you.

Albania, Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Montenegro, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam.