Module 6: Psychological and Emotional Aspect

Lesson No: 1
Lesson Title: Governmental Programs for the Victims

Let’s hit these!

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Familiarize the Psychosocial Skills and Characteristics of
Counseling.
2. Understand the importance of anger management to the participants of the
TCMP
3. Understand how important the TCMP to assess those various potentials of
the resident or PDL which he can utilize to be a productive citizen upon his
release from the jail.
4. Gain knowledge on the effectiveness of the interventions provided and
determine what improvements or changes that need to be done.

Let’s find Out!

The activity enables the student to have knowledge about the TCMP in
assessing various potentials of Residents or PDL which he can use when he or she
back to the community.

Let’s Read

INTRODUCTION

Residents who are detained are basically psychologically and emotionally

challenged. They share one thing in common that is being incarcerated with
uncertainties as to the outcome of their individual cases. They feel isolated, helpless
and at times hopeless brought about by separation from their loved ones and society
in general and all other issues that confront them while incarcerated. Such emotional
turmoil needs to be addressed to help them bounce back and experience a life of
normalcy despite their unique situation. The TCMP provides activities and services
that cater to this particular need. This topic tackles the discussion on the therapeutic
value of processing of feelings which does not only lie on how freely one expresses
them but more so on the person's ability to identify, acknowledge, and express them
appropriately.

COUNSELING

Counseling is defined as a professional activity of helping individuals, groups

or communities enhance or restore their capacity for psychological, emotional and
social functioning and creating an environment favorable for the attainment of these
goals.

Psychosocial Skills and Characteristics of Counseling:

 Empathy is the ability to perceive the client's feelings and to demonstrate

accurate perception of the client. It is merely "putting oneself in the client's
shoes". When the client feels understood, a sense of trust or "rapport" is

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 developed. Rapport paves the way to a more meaningful communication and
may enable the client to understand and accept more of his or her complexity
of feelings.

 Warmth is also called "unconditional positive regard". It involves accepting

and caring about the client as a person, regardless of any evaluation or
prejudices on the client's behavior or thoughts. It is most often conveyed
through our non- verbal behavior or bodily gestures.

 Respect is our belief in the client's ability to make appropriate decisions and
deal appropriately with his or her life situation, when given a safe and
supportive environment in which to do so. It is often showed best by not
offering advice or cheap comfort. The counselor shows his utmost respect to
the client by listening in silence and giving him the opportunity to design his
own solutions to the problem. A similar term for this is "empowerment" as the
counselor likewise demonstrates that he values the integrity of the client.

 Congruence or genuineness is being honest and authentic in dealing with

the client. It is showing real concern rather than focusing on techniques during
sessions. It is also being aware of the counselor's own unmet needs and how
it may affect his relationship with the client.

 Confidentiality means that anything discussed during counseling sessions is

held absolutely private and not to be discussed anywhere. This contract
should be held sacred so as to maintain the client's trust and enable him to
disclose sensitive matters to the counselor without fear of any breach of
confidentiality.

Pattern of Counseling Session:

1. Introduction: First 10 minutes

 Greet the client warmly.
 Smile and shake hands.
 Escort to the counseling room.
 Explain how the session is going to be to alleviate fears.
 This is the time to develop rapport.
 Assure client on confidentiality.

2. Information gathering: About 20 minutes

 Know the reason for consultation.
 Client can start anywhere.
 Counselor may take notes.
 Client needs to do almost all of the talking.
 Counselor may ask open questions or use techniques like clarifying,
rephrasing, focusing, reflecting, reality testing, etc.

3. Discussion/ Counselor Input:

 Counselor tells the client what he thinks the client is saying.
 Counselor develops a list of concerns.
 Client would concur or not to the counselor's
  Prioritize problems and which one to work on first.
 Client will provide plans of action to work on specific
 Counselor will assist in mapping out plans.

4. Conclusion:
 Motivate the client that "he can do it". If not he may need to be referred
to a Professional.
 Brief client on what to expect the next session (progress based on plan
of action).
 End session on a positive note.
 Client should be able to list down things that he has to look forward to
over the next few days. If not, this is a red flag for suicide.
When to break Confidentiality?
1. Children are being neglected or abused
2. Appearance in court as a witness
3. Client expressed plan to commit suicide
4. Client expressed plan to harm others.

INITIAL INTERVIEW/ INTAKE INTERVIEW

TCMP participants in jail are unique as they are not necessarily drug users.
TCMP is introduced as a program for the development of inmates while they are
awaiting trial. The intake interview in the jail setting is done by a Counselor to newly
admitted residents. The main purpose is to elicit information about the resident and
provide information about the program and what the expectations are on both
parties. Full and honest disclosure is expected on the resident to elicit adequate and
elaborate information and come up with the proper treatment plan.
Participants: Newly committed residents, Counselor
Duration: 1-hour procedure:
After the booking procedure, the Counselor/ lWDO will conduct the initial
intake interview to the newly committed residents using the intake interview form.
This is done only in a designated area and one resident at a time.
ONE TO ONE COUNSELLING/INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
Duration and Frequency: One to two hours per session/depending upon the needs
as designed by the counselor.
Participants: Counselor and Resident Procedure:
1. Individual counseling is a helping tool between the residents and counselor
Residents are usually referred to the counselor as needed by peers or staff
based on the residents' behavior.
2. The counselor uses different techniques and methods in counseling.
3. The resident discusses different issues which causes his/ her difficulties.
 4. Follow-up sessions will be done depending upon the needs of the resident.
5. The length of the sessions will be determined by the progress of the resident.
GROUP COUNSELING
STATIC GROUPS
The Static Group is a permanent group of peers and leaders that meet
regularly while the residents are in treatment. It is a sort of "home" group who
provides support for one another and to the new members of the community. This is
designed to provide a forum for self-expression and disclosure. It is usually
facilitated by senior members of the group. It focuses on group relationship and
patterns of behavior.
Duration/ Frequency: one hour/once a week
Participants: 10-15 residents, Counselor
Procedure:
1. Once a resident enters the jail, he/she is assigned to a particular Static group.
It serves as a permanent group that addresses the general issues in
treatment.
2. It utilizes confrontation from peers to evoke changes in behavior though the
group is primarily supportive. The group provides immediate support to new
members of the community
3. Each resident member is encouraged in expressing and disclosing personal
issues and concerns and receives feedbacks from the other members.
Violence and threat of violence are prohibited.
4. For each session the group may discuss any topic of desire or may follow
certain themes for a more systematic flow of discussion.
5. By using confrontation, identification, support, affirmation and giving feedback,
residents learn and practice the TC norms and values.
6. The residents are oriented to new and positive coping styles which they can
utilize to live a new lifestyle and attain personal growth and better
relationships.
7. When their emotional needs and problems are properly addressed, their
positive behaviors and attitudes emerge and they will eventually feel better
about themselves.
8. Focuses on the issues of the "here and now". Personal disclosure of the past
is allowed if it affects the present. Confidentiality is strictly observed.
9. The static group does away with negative socialization and employs positive
re-socialization through a caring relationship with peers.
PEER CONFRONTATION GROUP
The group participants in Peer Confrontation group are selected by the staff
and group according to peers like adult members will go with the same date of entry
in the facility and same goes with the middle and young members.
It is done in a more compassionate way where each resident tries to help one
another. Participants confront each other on what they do for themselves while in the
facility and ask how they are coping with it.
Duration/ frequency: one hour/ twice a month
Participants: 10-15 residents, Coordinator
Procedure:
1. Participants will sit in a circle position.
2. Staff may sit just outside the circle or there may be no staff.
3. There is no particular order of speaking. It is conventional and free — wheeling.
4. Participants may start with a prayer.
5. Participants may then say "What do you say about me? Or Please give me a
feedback on my progress here "or how do you see me?
6. Any of the other participants may give an honest, straightforward feedback.
Tone and feeling should be proportionate to the issue.
7. Peer confrontation is done in a compassionate way where each resident tries
to help one another and identify certain issues which could be a hindrance to
his recovery.
8. At the end of the sharing, the resident is asked a commitment about issue that
he feels uncomfortable dealing with.
SECRETS
Secrets are a group activity where participants are given the opportunity to
unload emotional baggage and thus experience freedom from internal psychological
conflicts.
Before the group adjourns, the facilitators collect the letters and burn them in
a clay bag or garbage bin as a symbolic ritual of letting go of all the hurts and pains
and not allowing them to hinder their future growth.
It promotes trust among the participants knowing that each will reveal his
utmost secrets to the group. It also aims to deepen mutual respect among the
participants.
Duration/ frequency: 1-2 hours/ once a month
Participants: Staff, 10-12 residents
Procedure:
1. Form a group of 10-12 residents, preferably of variedly different persons.
2. Each one is instructed to go to a place where they can be alone and free from
distractions.
3. In a piece of paper, the resident will write a letter to himself about an event in
his life which he has been keeping as a deep secret because it has caused a
lot of pain, guilt, shame or anxiety.
4. The letter is written as if he is addressing it to somebody and could start as
"Dear friend". He should not state his name or any name and place which
could lead the group as to the writer. He may write it in a way that would not
give away any hint. This is done for 30 minutes.
5. The group then converges and all the rolled letters will be placed in a bag.
The residents will be seated in a circle. The first one will be asked to pick up a
letter and read it aloud to everyone as if he is reading his own letter. The
rest will
 provide advice, moral support, motivation or encouragement to the reader. No
criticisms or negative comments are encouraged.
6. The facilitator admonishes the participants to refrain from curiously trying to
find out the owner of the letters. Everyone is likewise admonished to keep the
discussions strictly confidential.
7. After all the letters were read, the facilitator will do a brief processing focusing
on the feelings of the participants and how it affected each one of them. The
group may choose to pray as a closing ritual.
8. Before the group adjourns, the facilitators collect the letters and burn them in
a clay bag or garbage bin as a symbolic ritual of letting go of all the hurts and
pains and not allowing them to hinder their future growth.

ENCOUNTER GROUPS
The Encounter Group serves as a "safety valve" within the community which
is usually high pressured and structured. It is a forum for members of the community
to verbally express pent-up or negative emotions within a structured and safe
environment without resorting to violence or aggression and without fear of reprisal.
There are strict behavioral norms and rules observed during an encounter group
such as no violence or threat of violence, no attack on personal dignity, speak only
for oneself and remain seated at all times. The language used in expressing their
feelings is seldom restricted though in the Filipino culture, use of foul language is
avoided to prevent harboring of negative feelings from the receiver. The primary goal
of an encounter group is to raise awareness of behaviors and explore the underlying
feelings that led to such negative emotions.
Duration/ frequency: 1- 1 1/2 hours/ once or twice a week
Participants: Counselor, 2 co-facilitators, 8-10 residents
Procedure:
1. A resident may drop a slip on another resident stating his name, the name of
the person he is dropping a slip and the reason for dropping the slip. Only
feelings of hurt, anger and concern can be reasons for encounter.
2. The staff will choose his co-facilitators who are also staff members. Once he
has gathered 2 or 3 slips, he may schedule an encounter group.
3. The facilitator will arrange the group in a circle in such a way that the two
parties involved are seated opposite each other.
The facilitator should be able to guide the flow of conversation and should be
skilled enough to interrupt anytime he feels that the safety of the group is
being compromised.
4. The flow of the encounter should pass through the four (4) phases:

(a) Confrontation: This phase involves verbalization of concerns or honest

disclosure of emotions that has been provoked during interpersonal
interactions with another resident. Regardless of the cathartic nature of
expression, the rules of the encounter group should always be respected.
The focus should always be about how one feels because of the behavior
of the other. There should never be any attack on one's persona but rather
 on his/her behavior. Each should be allowed to express himself before a
rebuttal is allowed. Name. calling and other hostile languages may not
resolve the problem and may even heighten the animosity between both
parties. This phase consists mainly of exchange of verbal expressions of
emotions as a way of release.

(b) Exploration: In this phase, all the feelings that were expressed are further
examined and explored and find out how it could have resulted in such
way in order to evoke awareness on the connection of behavior, feelings
and attitude.

In this phase, blaming or finger pointing at one party is avoided. It will only
cause resentment form one party. This phase hopes to enhance the
insight of both parties and encourage ownership of one's mistake and take
accountability for his/her actions. It gives both parties the opportunity to
examine themselves in relation to their conflict with the other party.

(c) Resolution and Commitment: After some realizations and attaining

some insights into their behaviors, the residents are now ready to move to
the last phase to practice new behaviors. From the feedbacks received,
the resident involved will now express how he feels about the whole thing
and may own up his behavior which has caused the conflict. He then goes
on to make commitments to avoid such occurrence in the future. Such
commitment made by the residents will be monitored to make sure that
they are being put to practice to avoid lapses.

(d) Socialization: This is a structured social event where all those involved in
an encounter will have ample time to mend fences with those they have
offended or hurt in the past. The purpose is to achieve closure, reaffirm
relationship and maintain the unity of the community so that all those
involved can move on and leave the past behind.
EXTENDED GROUP
The Extended Groups (Probe, Marathon) are usually composed of 5-12
residents and is being facilitated by 2 highly trained staff members.
It may last for 8-72 hours. The participants must have at least 4 months in the
program and have shown adequate stability before he can be included in the activity.
It is a potentially intimate and intense session which needs a significant amount of
preparation. It focuses on the "here and now" but allows a deeper exploration of
issues that affects new behavior. Special subjects may be the focus such as
sexuality, trauma, etc.
SPECIALIZED GROUPS
LOSS AND BEREAVEMENT
Duration/frequency: one hour once a week
Participants: 10 — 15 residents
Procedure:
1. Facilitator is knowledgeable in conducting the sessions and managing the time.
2. The group is very supportive and compassionate.
3. Facilitator discusses the process of grieving and the impact of losses, mad
feeling, attitudes and behavior derived from the loss of a loved one.
4. Counselor gives some suggestions on how they would handle the situation
appropriately when here was another similar situation.
5. At the last sessions, each participant was required to write a letter to someone
or a buddy to tell about the past and what they will do in the future regarding
losses.
WOMENS GROUP
Duration/ frequency: one hour once a week/ might last for six sessions
Participants: 8-15 residents, Counselor
Procedure:
1. Held once a week and run by TC personnel, It provides an opportunity for all
female residents to share and discuss their feelings on women's issues:
family, relationship, self -identity, self-image, societal role and reproductive
issues.
2. Issues to be tackled are gender specific problems and aims to help female
residents identify their challenges and needs.
3. Residents are helped to explore and understand the relationship between
women's issues and their influences on them. It enhances self-understanding
among women.
4. They can also help each other through mutual support and concern
MEN'S GROUP
Duration/ frequency: 1 hour once a week
Participants: 8-15 residents, counselor
Procedure:
1. Topics include expression of feeling, reveal of true self, dealing with feeling
and how to avoid abusive relationship, family conflicts, sexuality and sexual
relationships.
2. Group sessions enabled each of them to identify, express the feeling related
to the trauma and lessons learned from those experiences.
3. The counselor who raised the issue will be the one to conduct it.
MEDICATION SUPPORT GROUP
Duration frequency: as long as the residents are on medication
Participants: Residents on medications and Jail health personnel procedure:
1. Counselor holds the group once a week who are on medical and psychiatric
medication.
 Module 6: Psychological and Emotional Aspect

2. Group members are educated on different kinds of medical and psychiatric

problems and its effects.
3. Sharing on the intake of medicines and its side effects of taking it.
4. Cohesiveness is enhanced.
5. Share and discuss how to face their difficulties, coping with the disease and
problems encountered while they are on medications
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Duration/ frequency: 1 % hours for 6 weeks/as needed/curriculum based.
Participants: 10-15 residents
Procedure:
1. Facilitated by a counselor.
2. Questionnaires are provided to the residents to answer how they
demonstrated their anger before they came for treatment and while in the
facility and how they go through it.
3. Participants are selected based on interview and attitude showed while in
treatment.
4. The group is an avenue for the residents to know their anger feelings and
acquire new knowledge and information on how to deal with their feelings on
different situation and personalities.
PRE- RELEASE INTERVIEW
Participants: Resident/s to be released in jail, IWDO. Admin and OD
Duration: 1 Hour
Procedure:
1. IWDO should coordinate with the Paralegal Officer to monitor the status of the
case of the residents.
2. If possible, immediate member of the family is/are present before the
residents will be released from jail.
3. Do a pre-released interview to conduct an assessment of the resident’s
potential and map out plans after his release from jail.
4. IWD should coordinate with service providers for his/her referral for aftercare.
Let’s do this.
1. What is Counseling? What are Psychosocial Skills and Characteristics of
Counselling?
2. What do you think is the purpose of having a peer confrontation group?
Explain briefly.
3. What is the role of encounter groups? Discuss briefly.

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