Mr. Ong Kai Wen

“I will always remember CPH for its supportive challenge approach. It was a space where I was encouraged to take risks and exercise autonomy, while knowing there was a safety net to catch me if I stumbled. ”

Hi Kai Wen, please introduce yourself!  

Hey everyone! I’m Kai Wen, currently in the UK pursuing a doctorate in Forensic Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Some of you may still remember me, I was with CPH for two years and only recently left in August. I had the privilege of being a part of the lovely Adult Disability team, where I was deployed to MINDS community forensic services. Concurrently, I also provided individual intervention for adults with disability at family service centres, in collaboration with the Psychological Services VA team. 

Could you share more about your journey that led to where you currently are? 

My journey began when I became inspired by a psychologist who helped me through a particularly difficult chapter in my life. Since then, I have just been fortunate to have mentors who took the chance on me and gave me opportunities within forensic and clinical settings. Along the way, my lived experience and initial interests in psychology became layered with a grounded perspective of the harsh realities many of our clients face. Yet, amidst the pain, glimmers sometimes appear when a client finds something within themselves even during their darkest moments. It’s these moments, the ones that bring a lump to my throat, that remind me why I choose to do this work. I suppose that’s also why I gravitate towards working with individuals who fall through the cracks and a profession where we can be the grounding point to reality for people suffering. Where I am now feels like the culmination of such experiences, effort, and a fair bit of luck. 

What is something about your time at CPH that you continue to keep with you? 

I will always remember CPH for its supportive challenge approach. It was a space where I was encouraged to take risks and exercise autonomy, while knowing there was a safety net to catch me if I stumbled. This really allowed me to discover more parts of myself I otherwise would not have uncovered. While I learned a great deal during my time there, what stayed with me most was the warmth and camaraderie. The friendships formed at CPH offered a sense of support that went far beyond skill-building. I still think fondly of CPH Fridays, filled with warm conversations and genuine connections, and remain deeply grateful for those moments. Now, as I train alongside bright and accomplished trainees here in the UK, imposter syndrome surfaces often. But when it does, I return to the memory of peers and colleagues at CPH who believed in me, which helps keep me grounded. 

What is some advice or words of encouragement you would like to share with the people back at CPH? 

I have come to realise that imposter syndrome is a reality for many of us in the field. While I am by no means an expert on it, I noticed that it often shows up in precisely the kinds of environments that push us to grow, especially when we are surrounded by people we perceive as impressive. While it can motivate us to improve, it can also narrow our focus to what we lack, rather than what we already bring. When these doubts surface, I find it helpful to pause and remember the journey that brought us to where we currently are. Perhaps giving ourselves permission to acknowledge and own our lived experiences, along with the steady qualities that allow us to keep showing up, can provide some grounding when we experience self-doubt. I guess what I am trying to say is that your story matters, and I believe everyone carries something unique into this work that is worth expressing.