A proposed program for counseling service at the Legal Aid Center for Family Relations in Seoul, Korea

• Main Author: Ai, Chi Chun
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1973
• Subjects: Family counseling > Korea (South); Marriage counseling; Interethnic marriage; Family counseling > Case studies; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/198
• Institution: De La Salle University

v. 1. This study proposes the setting up of a counseling program in the Legal Aid Center, Seoul, Korea. The proposed program was meant to function within the set-up of the Legal Aid Center, not distinct from it but as its integral and complementary part. The proposal was based solely on the researcher's impressions and knowledge of the need for such a service. The main thrust of the proposed program was to provide an adequate and effective counseling service. Five other services were included in the program, namely: individual inventory, information, placement, follow-up, and evaluation. It was recommended that the counseling program be submitted to the administrator, the staff members and the sponsors of the LAC, and be given adequate facilities for its effective operation. It was also recommended that the proposed service be implemented on trial for a two-year period beginning January 1974. A more clear and adequate definition of the role of each staff member should be provided by the administration. Also, at least two willing members from the Center's staff should be selected by the directress and be given assistance to acquire the needed training and qualification as counselors in the program. v. 2. This study aims to discover the characteristic problems of Korean women married to Filipinos. There were ten subjects included in the study. The main instrument used in the study was The Marital-Adjustment Schedule by E.W. Burgess and his associates. It was intended for married couples and may be filled out by either the husband or the wife. The instrument was first translated into Korean and to which was added three questions. It was found that the reasons underlying problems of marital adjustment generally seemed to point to the conduct of the male partner and his attitudes towards family. Where there seemed to be warmth, affection, understanding and concern in interpersonal relationship, education, intellectual or cultural barriers did not seem to affect marital happiness much. It was recommended that the questions of educational and social backgrounds of Koreans wives be thoroughly investigated to understand the difficulties faced by Korean wives in a foreign situation and lead to an understanding of the uncooperative attitude exhibited by them. The adjustment study should be made on a comparative basis with both Filipino husbands and Korean wives as subjects. Also, an adequate and appropriate instrument should be used or constructed, such that it would take into consideration the oriental background, thought patterns, and attitudes of the subjects. v. 3. The counseling relationship with Mrs. Roxas, the subject of the study, was initiated with the intention of helping her to find a way of improving the relationship with her husband who had for two years been rather incommunicative and appeared unconcerned about the family matters. The study had another purpose as well, and that was to enable the counselor-trainee to understand the feelings and thoughts of a Korean wife in a foreign situation. Mrs. Roxas biggest problem was her husband. He had been jobless for the two years and did not seem to care whether he got one or not. He seemed so unconcerned about her and the two children. Moreover, he appeared sullen and hardly said anything to her. This was unbearable to the subject. Finding the home atmosphere unbearable and wanting to forget the pain of being uncared for as well as to earn a little for the support of the family, she had taken up the job at the restaurant. This had not helped improve the situation at home but rather worsened it, making the relationship between her and her husband more strained. The counselor-trainee felt that the subject needed a friend, someone who would listen to her patiently, someone to whom she would be able to ventilate her thoughts and feelings. To make the subject feel that the counselor-trainee was with her every inch of the way, the latter made use of non-directive as well as directive techniques namely, clarification, restatement, reflection, probing and suggestion. To build a strong interpersonal relationship the counselor-trainee depended much on the use of restatement, reflection and clarification techniques, which enabled the counselor-trainee to communicate understanding and acceptance of the counselee. Thus during the first few interviews, the counselor-trainee made much use of Pattersons relationship approach in counseling. Once assured that there was a bond between the counselor-trainee and subject, the former used probing and suggestion in order to lead the subject to her desired goal. The suggestion consisted