YU Chun-yeung, IsaacIsaacYU Chun-yeungDr. NGAI Tsz-kin, JoeJoeDr. NGAI Tsz-kinKWOK Sin Hang, HelenHelenKWOK Sin HangWong, Ka-Ying ShirleyKa-Ying ShirleyWong2025-08-282025-08-282025Yu, C. Y., Ngai, T. K., Kwok, S. H., & Wong, K. Y. (4 Jul 2025). From germination to seedling: Decolonising counselling psychology training and practice for sustainable growth in Hong Kong. Division of Counselling Psychology Annual Conference 2025, Bristol, UK.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/24797https://cms.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-07/Division%20of%20Counselling%20Psychology%20Conference%202025%20-%20Abstracts.pdfBackground/Aims: This paper critically evaluates the development of counselling psychology in Hong Kong (HK) over the past 18 years and explores directions for its sustainable growth through a decolonial lens. It calls for reimagining training models and practice to create a more contextually relevant and psychologically informed discipline. While the decolonisation of psychology, counselling, and psychotherapy has gained increasing attention, little has been written about decolonising counselling psychology specifically. In HK, the field has developed within a Western-centric framework, often overlooking indigenous perspectives and local socio-cultural values. To ensure both ethical grounding and cultural relevance, redefining training and practice within broader healthcare settings is necessary.<br> Methods: This paper revisits the SWOT analysis by Leung et al. (2007) and engages a Community of Practice comprising locally trained counselling psychologists to critically examine changes in the field, further contextualising challenges and opportunities in decolonising training and practice. <br> Key Points: The paper critiques the coloniality of knowledge in counselling psychology training in HK, highlighting the dominance of Western models as a potential threat. While strengths like increased professional recognition exists, weaknesses including limited local research and identity struggles remain. Opportunities exist for integrating indigenous knowledge and developing culturally responsive training and practices, supported by focused research and regional collaborations within Asia. <br> Conclusions: Decolonising counselling psychology requires moving beyond the localisation of Western frameworks to embrace indigenous knowledge and socio-cultural values. This shift challenges the internalised submissiveness to Western knowledge in non-Western societies, fostering sustainable development while advancing culturally and psychologically informed healthcare.enConference Paper