Hilot, tawas, hula: Leads and responses of Filipino traditional workers

• Main Author: Pamplona, Myla Pilar S.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Healers—Philippines; Traditional medicine—Philippines; Ethnology—Philippines; Anthropology; Folklore; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13208
• Institution: De La Salle University

The society's acceptance of traditional workers poses a significant challenge to the Filipino counselors who continue to train and develop themselves to serve clients better. The main thrust of the study is to know what leads and responses used by traditional workers that make Filipinos go back again and again. Counselors in return can learn from them by using leads and responses fitted for the Filipino culture and values. The study used a descriptive design employing the qualitative approach. The sessions of eight purposely selected traditional workers were recorded and transeribed. Using the Seidel model (1998), the author organized the data into Noticing, Collecting and Thinking about exciting things. These parts are interlinked and cyclical. The study revealed that most Filipinos respond to information giving, questioning, directive leads, instruction; rapport building and deviating attention from pain. Many traditional helpers also use the supernatural and spiritual realm in their sessions. Counselors can learn from the leads and responses of traditional helpers and can be more directive in their approach to Filipino clients. Filipino clients respond more to directive leads and also to instructions and information being given by trusted experts. A need to establish community centers for counselors will help to reach out and inform people in the community that counseling services are available for them.