Wednesday 22 July 08:15 - 09:45

Hall: 16 - Room 13 SA

Chair and Presenter: Guinto Maria Luisa

Division: Division 2: Psychological Assessment and Evaluation

The ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies (ARUPS) is characterized by rich cultural diversity, with each member country possessing unique traditions, languages, and worldviews. As applied psychology continues to expand across the region, cultural competence becomes essential in ensuring the effectiveness of psychological practices. This symposium convenes scholars and practitioners from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore to discuss the role of cultural competence in various domains of applied psychology, including clinical, counseling, organizational, educational, and sport psychology. The symposium will explore the conceptualization of cultural competence in ASEAN, highlighting how local values and indigenous knowledge systems shape psychological practice. Presenters will share research findings, case studies, and good practices that uphold culturally responsive psychological assessment, intervention, and training approaches. Topics will include integrating traditional practices with modern psychological interventions, navigating through collectivist versus individualist orientations to well-being, and managing the challenges of cross-cultural competency in a globalizing world. The Philippines will highlight the application of indigenous psychological concepts in sport psychology, including inner self, shared identity, communal resilience, and spirituality, in the context of performance enhancement and mental health support services. Malaysia will discuss multiculturalism and interethnic relations, particularly in the context of psychological research and its practical applications. Indonesia will feature the integration of keroncong music in psychotherapy. Singapore will address multicultural competence in psychological assessment and practice in a highly diverse, urbanized setting. This symposium aims to affirm collaboration across borders among psychologists, promote culturally inclusive psychological practices, and encourage the development of culturally competent policies in the fields of mental health, education, and the workplace. Through this exchange of knowledge and experiences, the team aspires to enhance psychological services that are both effective and respectful of the diverse cultural fabric of ASEAN.