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Posted on September 30, 2011 by PsychConsult

is a pioneering psychological firm in the Philippines.

We are a group of Filipino Psychologists focused on promoting our clients’ psychological health and well-being. We work with individuals, groups, and families to be empowered and attain better emotional wellbeing to function as productive members of the community. Our goal is to assist in bringing out the best in people and improving their quality of life.

Since 2001, we have dedicated ourselves to provide quality clinical psychological services, consulting and addressing the needs of our clients. As one of the pioneers of group practice in the Philippines, our consultants have engaged in their own clinical work for a minimum of 6 years, to as long as 20 years, and have held various posts in the academe and hospital settings.

We also commit to train aspiring junior psychologists and fellow psychologists through our supervision program.

Cancer Patients, My Teachers

Posted on January 19, 2012 by PsychConsult

by Sandra Ebrada, PhD. (cand)

My initial contact with cancer patients was when I joined a group of psychologists in putting up the Cancer Support Program in a government hospital way back 1996. For two years, we met with adult cancer patients and their caregivers to help them in their psychosocial care. There, we listened to their stories as they dealt with the shocking disclosure, the decisions they had to make regarding their treatment, the sacrifices they and their families will have to endure, dreams that will have to die, the plans for a better life, however tentative, when going home. Despite all these, in the program, we helped them celebrate what healing resources they have untouched by cancer and tap into them – their own bodies’ healing resources, remembering loving and good memories to uplift them, and sharing the love they have with their loved ones. Continue reading →

An Introduction to Play Therapy

Posted on January 2, 2012 by PsychConsult

One of the major services we offer at PsychConsult, Inc. is Play Therapy. We have received a number of queries about it and we thought it best to give you a run-down on what Play Therapy is all about. We hope this gives you a better understanding of such intervention and how this can be helpful to your child.

What is play therapy and why does my child need it?

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy for children conducted by trained psychologists/ therapists. It is different from simply “playing” since the therapist utilizes different theory-based approaches to conduct the therapy.

How will play therapy benefit my child?

Your child can communicate and eventually “play out” his/her difficulties, overwhelming experiences or feelings through play in the safe and affirming environment established in the playroom. Your child will have the opportunity to: Continue reading →

Finding the Rainbow after the Storm

Posted on October 1, 2011 by PsychConsult

In the past week our country found itself marking the second anniversary of the devastation of Typhoon Ondoy with yet another storm wreaking havoc on most of the country. By the end of its fury, Typhoon Pedring left many of our countrymen reeling and in need of help.

In 2009, our consultant Ria wrote a post about how we can help one another find the rainbow after the storm. Here is a re-post of that article dated November 2009. Continue reading →

When Working with Clients Change Us

Posted on February 20, 2011 by PsychConsult

by Sharon Ann Co

September 2010 marked my 7th year of service in Pangarap Shelter for Street Children. Just like that, seven years had already passed.Where did all that time go?

Looking back, I’d have to acknowledge that so many things have happened during those seven years.

I was initially hesitant to accept the part-time job working in an NGO.I just finished my Masters degree in Psychology, but I felt that I did not have enough experience. Was I ready to handle these street children? Was I good enough to fill the position? With these doubts and questions in mind, I took the job anyway, thinking that there is no better way to answer these questions than to plunge right in and give it a try.

I felt right at home in Pangarap Shelter. The staff members were warm and accommodating, while the administration was very approachable and supportive. Then you have the children!We had about 100 male adolescents in Pangarap Shelter, with their ages ranging from 12-20. Most of them are about 14-16 years old, who have experienced one or multiple forms of abuse – physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. In the streets, they were also exposed to various vices such as gambling and substance abuse (sniffing rugby or solvent, marijuana, shabu). I would say that most of the teenagers we had are smart, resilient, and ready to change and make their lives better. Well, some are more ready than others.

Working with street children is no walk in the park. I had my heart broken several times — when an adolescent I was working with suddenly decides to leave the shelter to stay on the streets, when a former resident of the shelter comes back to the shelter looking thin and malnourished, when an adolescent shoplifts from a convenience store. At times, when these adolescents misbehave, I can’t help but think if I’ve done everything I could to help them. Is there something I could have done better to help them make better decisions for them? Continue reading →

When Worrying is More than Just Worrying.

Posted on April 28, 2010 by PsychConsult

By Lala Alcala

I never liked reciting in class when I was still in school. It just made me nervous doing so. But, I would still do it, because I understood that I had to, even if my heart sometimes pounded in my chest or I felt a little bit lightheaded.

I remember a girl in my class though, Maria* – she was a nice, quiet girl. Whenever teacher called on her, she would obediently stand up, but then would literally look like she was unable to move or speak; she would then turn red in the face, and shed copious amounts of tears, as the confused teacher looked on. Eventually, my classmates and I just came to expect that she would behave this way every single time.

We both dreaded recitation, but hers has gotten to an extent where it affected her ability to perform well academically. Rather than merely being afraid, Maria was anxious and most likely severely so at that.

Anxiety in children is quite common. In every stage of development, there is a new challenge to be tackled, and this brings with it a whole host of fears and anxieties. But what is the difference between fear and anxiety? Continue reading →

Why is He Strange? Understanding the basics of Autism

Posted on March 10, 2010 by PsychConsult

by Tina Enriquez

Many people first learn of Autism through the media. A few years ago, an ad came out on TV with a child banging his head on the wall, which was meant to develop Autism awareness. For those who watched the movie Rain Man, they might have formed the impression that a person with Autism is somewhat odd but has certain exceptional skills like dealing with numbers, such as what Dustin Hoffman had in the movie. The TV program, Grey’s Anatomy, also featured a doctor with Asperger’s Syndrome, who was highly intelligent and skilled but who had difficulties relating socially with her colleagues. I myself first encountered Autism through the TV show, St. Elsewhere, a hospital drama back in the 1980s. One of the doctors in the show had a son with Autism who exhibited behaviors like rocking himself while seated on the floor, having severe tantrums, and not being able to express himself verbally. The above examples reflect some of the efforts to make people more aware of Autism. Unfortunately, there are still misconceptions about it, such as when the term “Autistic” is used as a derogatory term to insult others. In addition, the common understanding of a person with Autism as someone in his/her own world (“may sariling mundo”) is quite limited.

Autism falls within the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which as the name implies, is a range. Some people in the spectrum exhibit more severe difficulties whereas others exhibit milder ones. In addition, people with ASD are unique individuals with their own strengths and resources. Nevertheless, people with ASD exhibit three common areas of difficulty: communication, social, and a restricted pattern of interest. However, it is important to note that not all the sample behaviors listed below would manifest in every person within the spectrum. Continue reading →

Towards the Emancipation of Battered Women

Posted on February 25, 2010 by PsychConsult

By Dr. Boboy Sze Alianan

For many years, Agnes painfully admitted being physically, verbally and emotionally abused by her ex-husband. A year ago, she managed to separate from him, and is currently living overseas. “Every time he hurt me,” she reported, “he apologised and acted really repentant.” And this often led her to take him back, believing what he told her that only she can make him better. After all, he promised never to hurt her again. And she believed him. Only thing is, he did it again. In fact, he did it again, and again, and again in the 12 years they were together.

Women like Agnes often have a hard time seeing what appears to be obvious for many who see the relationship from outside looking in. Somehow, they find some reason within themselves to really believe that they were helping their partners become better persons. For some of these women, they see themselves as some kind of martyrs who need to suffer in order to fulfil their purpose in life, in being some kind of saviour to their man. For others, their values have misled them to think that they are meant to stay in their marriage for life, despite and in spite of their suffering. They might even use some religious belief to justify needing to endure such sustained pain. Still others mistakenly think that having an intact family is ultimately still better for their children, even as the children, whose interests they are so concerned about, often witness the abuse first hand. Continue reading →

“Pagtataya” for a better relationship

Posted on November 6, 2009 by PsychConsult

By Sandra Ebrada

I enjoy watching the TV show, Clean House. It’s a US show where a team of designers renovate a few rooms of a family’s house. Usually, the common problem is clutter and disorganization—just too many things and no place to hold all these items. One of my favorite couples was a police sergeant and his fiancée. They were living together for two years but one look in their house, one could see that if they don’t clean up their mess soon, no wedding was to occur. What I like about Niscy and her team of designers is that they ask three basic questions to every couple:

What exactly is the problem?
What is your personal style and what dream do you have for this particular space?
What are you willing to give up to attain this dream? Continue reading →