Seminar for foreigners providing consultation services② - Overcoming cultural differences with clients and realizing sustainable consultation services - was held

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There was lively discussion in the group.

Date and time Saturday, February 23, 2013 18:00-20:00 (doors open at 17:45)
Venue: Itabashi Ward Green Hall, Meeting Room 503
Lecturer: Neri Tanaka (Chiba Mental Clinic, Yotsuya Yui Clinic, clinical psychologist)
Contents: 1. Intercultural psychology for supporting foreign residents (lecture)
2) How to overcome cultural differences with clients (individual work/group work)
Target: Foreigner consultation workers and those with an interest
Participation fee: Free
Organized by NPO ASIAN PEOPLE'S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY (APFS)

Following the first seminar held in December 2012, this second seminar was held and we invited Ms. Neri Tanaka (Yotsuya Yui Clinic, Chiba Mental Clinic), a clinical psychologist involved in the mental health care of foreign residents, to give a lecture on the psychological issues faced by foreign residents and burnout among counselors for foreign residents.

Foreign counselors tend to be more likely to burn out due to cultural differences between them and the people they consult, and the difficult cases they face during their consultation work. In addition, many foreign residents live in harsh conditions, making them more susceptible to mental health problems. In order to realize sustainable counseling activities, we considered mental health care for those who consult and self-care for foreign counselors themselves through Professor Tanaka's lecture and group discussions.

At the end of the seminar, Professor Tanaka Neri said, "It's such a wonderful time to be able to exchange opinions with everyone like this." As she said, there was a lively exchange of opinions between the lecturer and the participants, and among the participants themselves. By exchanging opinions with each other, participants from diverse backgrounds were able to gain new perspectives. However, strangely enough, there were many opinions that were shared in common despite the different perspectives. Although the fields are different, the attitude necessary to support foreign residents may be the same.