East Meets West: A culturally-responsive Schema Therapy training we’re proud to share

At Shapes and Sounds, we’re committed to amplifying work that genuinely strengthens culturally responsive mental health care for Asian communities. That’s why we’re delighted to share an upcoming professional training by one of our incredible practitioners, Daniela Ho Tan.

Daniela is part of our Asian Mental Health Practitioner List, a curated directory of highly qualified, culturally responsive practitioners across Australia. Every practitioner on our list brings not only strong clinical training, but deep cultural insight into the lived experiences of Asian and Asian diaspora communities.

This workshop is a great example of the calibre of work our practitioners are doing in the field.

The importance of this training

Many therapists are trained in evidence-based modalities, yet find themselves needing to adapt these approaches when working with Asian heritage clients. Cultural values such as filial piety, collectivism, emotional restraint, and intergenerational obligation can profoundly shape schemas, coping styles, and how therapy is experienced.

The East Meets West Workshop is designed to bridge that gap, supporting clinicians to integrate culture directly into schema therapy practice, rather than treating it as an “add-on”. 

About the East Meets West Workshop

This training includes:

• An online self-paced module, plus

• A full-day, in-person workshop in Sydney

Using a schema-focused framework, the workshop supports culturally responsive practice by:

• Exploring how to factor culture into clinical formulation

• Discussing common issues that may arise for Asian clients (including filial piety)

• Examining schemas and modes that commonly present in Asian heritage populations

• Building practical skills to adapt schema therapy techniques in culturally sensitive ways

About the facilitator

Daniela Ho Tan is an ISST Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist, Clinical Psychologist, and PBA Supervisor. Her work reflects the depth of clinical expertise and cultural understanding we prioritise in our Asian mental health practitioner list, practitioners who don’t just understand mental health theory, but how culture shapes distress, help-seeking, and healing.

Workshop details

• Date: Friday 20 March 2026

• Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm

• Location: Rydges North Sydney

• Cost:

  • $369 standard

  • 10% off for Shapes and Sounds members using the code SS10

• Format: Online self-paced module + full-day in-person workshop

👉 Find out more or register:
https://projecthorizen.com/east-meets-west-workshop/