PH Embassy in Beirut Trains Staff, Filipino Community Leaders on Counseling Skills

BEIRUT 05 December 2018 — As part of its capacity-building activities in order to better serve Filipinos in Lebanon, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut conducted a three-day seminar-workshop for Embassy personnel and Filipino Community leaders from 08 to 10 November 2018.

The seminar-workshop was held in partnership with the Afro-Asian Migrant Center (AAMC).

Entitled “How to De-stress Distressed OFWs”, the seminar-workshop aims to enhance participants counseling skills through lesson on theoretical concepts on personality development, stress and crisis situations, and time-tested counseling methods.

Resource persons and facilitators were AAMC Director Fr. Henry Ponce SJ, and Xavier University Cagayan de Oro Chaplain Fr. Roberto Archie Carampatan, SJ.

Attended by 35 participants, the seminar-workshop provided a safe and constructive environment for participants to explore cases involving stress and crisis situations by making use of simulations, focus group discussions, personal reflections, and sharing of experiences.

The facilitators underscored the importance of body language, and the ideal traits of a counselor in order to achieve a positive and effective counselor-client dynamic.  They also stressed the importance of timely intervention in crisis cases in order to achieve the best possible chance of restoring a client’s mental and emotional health.

In her closing remarks, Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita L. Catalla expressed confidence the life skills gained from the training session will enable Embassy personnel and Filipino Community leaders to become better colleagues and service providers to distressed Filipinos.

The seminar-workshop was an intense, rich and enjoyable experience, and received positive and supportive feedback from all participants.  END

For more information, visit www.beirutpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLebanon/