Peer Counseling for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is interpersonal, theory-based process of helping Persons with Disabilities who are fundamentally psychologically healthy resolve developmental and situational issue.
Detail
November 21, 2009 DAY 1
The Program started with “Who am I Workshop” where the 12 participants have to answer the 4 questions;
- When and how your disability Happen?
- Since you became a disabled what was the unforgettable experiences that happened in your life?
- What is your outlook in yourself as a person?
- What is your outlook in your disability?
By writing on their notebooks and they will keep it. Next was the “Empowerment” before the proper lecture, the 12 participants was divided into four groups, then each group I gave the puzzles for them to solve and they do not have an idea what is the form of the puzzles. (The puzzles was a human shapes and each body parts contains 11 positive empowering attitudes and it has been cut out and each facilitators had taken one body part secretly, the aim of this workshop was to let the participants know that none of the puzzles was perfect and complete like us PWDs some body parts are not present or functional but as a “Person” there is something in us that can compensate that missing part in our body.)
After the workshop I lectured about the importance of Empowerment to Peer Counseling.
I lectured about Peer Counseling (definition, purpose and history) and it had also a workshop on “Basic Idea on Peer Counseling” which the participants will answer the question:
Because you are now a Person with Disability (PWD), what is your plan in your life?
after answering the question each one of them will share their plans in life as PWD. Then my one of my colleagues in CBR Coregroup lectured about the “Fundamental Ideas of Implementing Peer Counseling” which she explained the importance of:
- Creativity
- Wisdom
- Love
- Joy
- Spirit of Solidarity
in the life of each PWD and also it had a workshop which the participants are divided into 2 groups and have a 10-15 min “Role Play” based on (Creativity, Wisdom, Love, Joy and Spirit of Solidarity).
Then I gave a lecture regarding on “Human Relationship” on Peer Counseling and the importance of friendship among PWDs. My co-resource person Mr. Abner Manlapaz (who also studied 3 wks of Independent Living in Japan) gave homework for the which divided into 2 groups participants
Write down what you have learn today in this seminar?
(And each group will report what they have learned on the next day.)
Also he conducted “Independent Living of APCD (Asia Pacific Center for Disabilities) Film Showing" for the participants
November 21, 2009 DAY2
Each group presented what they had learned about the seminar on the other day, (10 min each group).
Then lectured about “Methods and Rules of Peer Counseling:
- privacy
- secrecy
- respect client’s identity
- do not give advice instead give an option
Also I explained to them some “English Terms that are Used in Peer Counseling”
- RC- Re-evaluation counseling
- Emotional Discharge
- Cycle or Pattern
- Contradiction
- Closeness
- Session
- Tension Back
- Appreciation
- Commitment
- New and Goods
- Think and Listen
Then I lectured the Roles of the Client and the Roles of the Counselor.
After a thorough lecture of Peer Counseling, Abner explained the importance of “Emotional Release” in us PWDs then we do Peer Counseling in pairs in several sessions,
also one of my colleagues in CBR Coregroup do a “Personal Coat of Arms Workshop” where each participant will share about their views regarding on the workshop questions of “Who am I” and “Basic Idea of Peer Counseling” and they will share what are the differences of their feelings between “Who am I” whom they keep their answers to the workshop and on “Basic Ideas of Peer Counseling” whom they share their answers to everyone.
Then Abner discussed and helped the participants to plan to “Peer Support Group” for New Lucena PWDs, After that Abner and My two colleagues from ADP-I CBR Coregroup (Rodinna Laviana and Analyn Porras) conduct a “Consultation or Individual Counseling” on each participants, the we finished the workshop on “Appreciation and New and Goods” and each and everyone has to share their feelings about the two-day seminar. And we do a closing remark.
Mark F. Espesor
7th Duskin Trainee, ADP-I member
