Contact Us
For inquiries, you may contact Ms. Daryl Coleen Pimentel or Ms. Liza Suarez. Email address:[email protected] or [email protected]; Address: Office of Counseling and Career Services, Room 304, SPS Building, De La Salle University Manila, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, 1004; Telefax no. (2) 536-0226

You may also contact Dr. Aimee Guarino at [email protected]. Address Counseling and Psychological Wellness Center, Brokenshire College, Davao City; Telefax no. (082) 222-4085 local 126.

The CHED and DepEd memoranda will be available upon request.

REGISTRATION The registration fee (non-refundable but transferable) which covers participation in 2 workshops, a kit,handouts for the workshops attended, a certificate of participation, 2 buffet lunches, and 4 snacks is as follows:

	Early bird & Group rates
	Before August 31, 2009	On-site
PACERS members	Php 3,500	Php 4,000
PACERS non-members	Php 4,000	Php 4,500

We encourage early bird registrations (individual) and group rates (at least four participants from the same institution). Payments may be made through a check payable to PACERS or a cash deposit to any branch of UCPB (Acct # 120-001664-9) or BPI Family Savings Bank (acct # 6081-0441-96). Please fax the check/deposit slip and the Reply Slip to Ms. Liza Suarez at (02) 536-0226.

PROGRAM
Day 1: September 10, Thursday

7:00-8:00	Registration
8:00-8:30	Opening Program
8:30-10:00	Workshop A Session 1
10:00-10:30	Snack
10:30-12:00	Workshop A Session 2
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:00-2:30	Workshop A Session 3
2:30-3:00	Snack
3:00-4:30	Workshop A Session 4

Day 2: September 11, Friday

8:30-10:00	Workshop B Session 1
10:00-10:30	Snack
10:30-12:00	Workshop B Session 2
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:00-2:30	Workshop B Session 3
2:30-3:00	Snack
3:00-4:30	Workshop B Session 4

THE WORKSHOPS

Improving Counseling Programs Through Action Research
Dr. John Addy Garcia, and
Dr. Rufino Ramos III

Supervising Counselors and Counselor-Trainees
Dr.Leo Capeding, and
Dr. Julian Montano

Defining and Living One's Counseling Philosophy
Dr. Maria Socorro Eala, and
Dr. Barbara Wong-Fernandez

Conducting Counseling Program Development
Dr. Benedicta Lascano, and
Dr. Cristina Saldivar

ACCOMMODATIONS
Waterfront Insular Hotel, Lanang, Davao City is overlooking Davao Gulf and is strategically located 15 minutes away from Davao International Airport, 10 minutes away from the Sasa Wharf, and 20 minutes away from downtown Davao.

Participants who wish to stay at the Davao Waterfront Insular Hotel may contact: Jen Romero at 0917-7218592 or Che Zurita at 0917-7218494. Fax number: (082)2332801.

See/print Invitation Letter from PACERS Chairperson
See/print Registration Form

2008 PACERS MIDYEAR WORKSHOP CROWN REGENCY HOTEL AND TOWER CEBU CITY September 4-5, 2008 CONTACT INFORMATION For other inquiries, you may contact Dr. Susan Estanislao or Ms. Liza Suarez. Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]; Address: Office of Counseling and Career Services, Room 304, SPS Building, De La Salle University-Manila, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, 1004; Telefax no. (02) 536-0226. The CHED and DepEd memoranda will be available upon request. REGISTRATION The registration fee (non-refundable but transferable) which covers participation in the convention, a workshop, a kit, hand-outs, a certificate of participation, 2 lunches, and 5 snacks is as follows: On or before Aug. 20, 2008 On site PACERS members PhP 3,000 PhP 3,500 PACERS non-members PhP 3,300 PhP 3,800 We encourage early bird registrations. Payments may be made through a check payable to PACERS or a cash deposit to any branch of UCPB (Acct # 120-001664-9) or BPI Family Savings Bank (Acct # 6081-0441-96). Please fax the check/deposit slip and the Reply Slip to Dr. Susan Estanislao or Ms. Liza Suarez at (02) 536-0226. PROGRAM Day 1: September 4, 2008 8:00 AM Registration 8:30 Welcome Remarks 9:15 Keynote Address 9:45 Oath taking of officers 10:00-5:00PM Workshop Day 2: September 5, 2008 8:30 AM Workshop 2 12:00 Lunch 1:00PM Workshop 2 4:00 Closing Program WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS: Research Conceptualization: The best way to start a good research work is to understand what you want to study and how to study it. In this workshop, you will be guided on how to come up with the idea for a research project (translated into research problems) and develop an initial research plan. We will accomplish these seemingly insurmountable tasks through a series of structured learning exercises. Improving Counseling Programs Through Action Research: The workshop introduces the basic features of action research in counseling, while emphasizing research as a proactive professional activity among counselors. Furthermore, the workshop highlights the use of action research in order to assess student-based outcomes and to evaluate and improve counseling programs. Activities include critical reflection of practices, formulating good research questions, anchoring research problems on scientific literature, and writing a research proposal. Utilizing Data for Program Development: This workshop aims to train counselors how to use school counseling data for planning interventions, reporting outcomes, and enhance programs. Participants are expected to uncover research trends and patterns in order to produce new observations from existing data. Writing for Research Publication: The workshop will provide guidelines on how to prepare journal articles for publication. Tips derived from various experts in the field of psychology will be discussed. Although the major focus of the seminar is on the preparation of manuscripts, some guidelines will also be given on how to conceptualize research studies that can eventually be published. Mental health professionals who are excited about research are encouraged to attend. ACCOMMODATIONS: Participants who wish to stay at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers may contact the hotel directly at tel. (032) 418-2493 or 418-7777 loc. 8320 or cell (0918) 850-0038, fax (032) 418-2494 or email [email protected] / [email protected]

Day One – February 20 Wednesday
11:00 – 01:00 Registration
01:00 – 03:00 Opening Program and Keynote Address
03:00 – 03:30 Snack
03:30 – 05:00 Panel Discussion 1: Application of the Scientist-Practitioner Model

Day Two – February 21 Thursday
08:00 – 10:00 Panel Discussion 2: Ethics in Counseling Research
10:00 – 10:30 Snack
10:30 – 12:30 Panel Discussion 3: Research Trends
12:30 – 01:30 Lunch
01:30 – 02:00 Presentation of Candidates for Elections Elections
11:40 – 02:30 Interactive Poster Presentations
02:30 – 03:00 Snack
03:00 – 05:00 Concurrent Paper Presentations

Workshop Theme and descriptions:

Workshop A: Action Research

The workshop presents the nature of action research and its significance to counseling and educational development efforts. It will introduce the basic features of action research and its benefits. Upon the study of the general process of action research—inclusive of identifying possible areas of study, developing research questions/problems and refining the research problem—the participants will be guided towards developing an action research proposal.

Workshop B: Qualitative Research

The workshop is designed to provide a basic understanding and appreciation of the qualitative research approach. Research strategies, such as the phenomenological and grounded theory research are introduced to equip the participants with the knowledge necessary to conduct studies using these strategies. Methods for gathering and analyzing qualitative data, as well as reliability, validity and ethical issues are taken up through lectures and exercises. The workshop should enable the participant to consider the appropriateness of a qualitative approach in their chosen areas of investigation.

Workshop C: Research Conceptualization

In doing research, counseling practitioners have to start knowing exactly what they want to study. Thus in this workshop, they will be guided on how to come up with the idea for a research project and develop an initial research design. Participants will go through a process of identifying and clarifying concepts through which they will specify what they mean by using certain terms.

Workshop 1: Supervising Counselors and Trainees
Facilitators: Susan Almeda-Estanislao, Ph.D. and Ma. Socorro M. Eala, Ph.D.

Description :
This workshop is designed to provide participants basic theories and guidelines in supervising counseling practitioners and trainees. Different approaches that integrate supervisor roles, counselor/trainee skills, and stages of the supervisory process will be discussed in terms of its usefulness to a diverse group of practitioners and researchers in human service areas/training settings. The participants will go through various learning experiences that will enhance their competencies as counseling supervisors and practitioners.

Workshop 2:Crisis Care & Counseling Interventions: Its Human and Spiritual-Pastoral Dimensions
Facilitators: Benny Lascano, Ed.D. and Fr. Francisco Rojas Bustamante, SJ, Ph.D.

Description:
This workshop militates on the assumption that all counseling is initiated as crisis care and counseling interventions on its two interacting dimensions, namely, the human and the spiritual. Most clients enter counseling because of some sort of personal crisis, human or spiritual, in their lives.

The interacting primary purpose of this workshop is to present applied therapeutic crisis care and counseling interventions in one hand and spiritual-pastoral care and counseling crisis in the other. This can be applied in practically all counseling dimensions, not just in crisis situations.

This workshop is based on what current research and practice indicate as appropriate and applicable. Yet this may not be appropriate and applicable for all practitioners in all situations. This workshop suggests creativity and ability to adapt to changing condition of the therapeutic moment. There may not be clear-cut prescriptions or simple cause and effect answers in this workshop.

Workshop 3: Counseling Interview and Observation Towards Case Conceptualization
Facilitators: Julian R. Montano, Ph.D. and Barbara Wong-Fernandez, Ph.D.

Description:
In the counseling intake interview, we take in a vast array of client’s data (e.g., family background, development, culture, gender, sexual orientation, violence, symptoms, etc.). These information are then utilized to formulate the case conceptualization—our understanding of the underlying dynamics of a presenting problem. Indeed, these are the two pillars of the counseling process upon which the development of a sound treatment plan rest on. This workshop presents techniques and approaches to help counselors proficiently collect essential data and organize these to reach a comprehensive understanding of the problem at hand.

Workshop 4:Helping Families in Crisis: A School-Based Intervention
Facilitators Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD, Ph.D. (Cand.) and Ma. Liza D. Suarez, Ph.D. (Cand.)

Desription:
This seminar-workshop is designed to provide participants with a basic, practical, and applicable strategy for responding to families in crisis so as to prevent and/or minimize the self-defeating and even self-destructive behaviors that can emerge in students as a result of a family crisis. The participants shall be exposed to different family counseling models but special focus will be on the educational approach so as to equip counselors with knowledge and skills in dealing with family crisis in schools and communities.

See invitation letter from Dr. Montano, PACERS Chairperson

Overall Workshop Description:

This year's workshops will focus on showcasing the delivery of the counseling services in four different settings: Community, Special Population, Drug Rehabilitation and Industrial settings. For each setting, emphasis will be given in presenting its rationale, conceptual framework / model, general view of the practice, competencies required of the practitioner, common cases, clients' demographics, and case management procedures. Participants may choose to attend one of the following workshops below. PACERS shall reserve the right to cancel the workshop with less than 15 participants.

Workshop A : Counseling Special Population(s)
Workshop B : Counseling in a Community Setting
Workshop C : Counseling in a Rehabilitation Center
Workshop D : Counseling in an Industrial Setting