PSYC297.1A Reflection Paper #1
Jebbie T. Tomas
March 12, 2021
Based on the two articles that we were assigned to read, it is clear that there is a trend
in the Philippines toward professionalizing psychology in research and in practice. Although
there is not much mental health legislation in the Philippines, the recent law enacted called
the Republic Act No. 11036 reflects the promise this nation has in taking matters of mental
health of its citizens seriously. Other laws such as the Philippine Psychology Act and the
Guidance and Counseling Act have also been enacted, demonstrating that there are attempts
to formalize the practice of psychology as a valid and official profession. The history of
counseling psychology as a profession has been long and trying, but in this day and age, it is
evident that we have reached a stage wherein there is a high demand for not only a greater
number of psychotherapists but also for higher-quality psychotherapeutic care, as noted in
Teh’s (2003) study. In addition, although the profession has plateaued into one that is taken
more seriously nowadays, there remains to be some issues and concerns regarding both
research and practice of counseling psychology in the Philippines.
In Teh’s (2003) study, there are certain commonalities that arise among
psychotherapists practicing counseling and psychotherapy in the Philippines. Among these
are the preferred use of the eclectic approach, the combined application of individual, group,
and family therapies, and the observation that most clients that see these psychotherapists
belong to the upper and upper-middle socioeconomic classes. Another commonality is that
the agreed-upon necessary characteristics of the typical psychotherapist seem to mirror Carl
Rogers’s necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic growth. After reading this article,
I have arrived at several insights regarding the practice of psychology in the Philippines
related to some commonalities that were pointed out, as well as regarding my own future
practice as a psychologist.
The first insight that I have arrived at is that it there is a need in the Philippines to
cater to the lower socioeconomic classes. Because Teh (2003) found that 500 pesos per
session is the norm for most psychologists (although this fee can range from 500 to 1,500
pesos), it is implied that for an individual to truly benefit from psychotherapy, he or she must
attend at least eight sessions with a therapist, which calculates to a total of 4,000 pesos, if not
more. This amount is easily accessible for individuals belonging to upper and upper-middle
socioeconomic classes; however, it is not for those who are less privileged than them. The
need to cater to those less privileged is made apparent upon pointing out the fact that poverty
is prevalent in the Philippines. With that said, there may be more individuals who need
counseling and psychotherapy but cannot afford these services. According to Teh (2003),
some of the respondents in the study try their best to adjust the fees of their services in order
to accommodate those who cannot financially afford the fixed rate. This is all well and good,
but even then, there are some clients who still cannot afford it. This brings me to the
realization that once I offer counseling and psychotherapy services, I may be persuaded to
lower my fees as well. Currently, this does not seem to be much of a problem, as I personally
am not in this profession for monetary rewards. Rather, I chose to be a psychologist to help
people alleviate their mental and emotional suffering.
A second insight that I have arrived at pertains to the approach that I plan to use as a
future psychologist. According to Teh’s (2003) study, most psychologists favor using an
eclectic approach, while one or two of those who participated in the study use a specialized
approach. Based on my discussions about the counseling profession with a psychiatrist, I was
told that indeed, many psychologists in the Philippines prefer to combine therapeutic
approaches depending on the individual client. Furthermore, I was told that most
psychologists tend to use the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, if they chose to
specialize at all. With that said, although I agree that the eclectic approach has various and
multiple benefits, personal experience has taught me that there are specific therapeutic
modalities best suited for certain psychopathology conditions. For instance, I have learned
that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is most suitable for those who are diagnosed with
Borderline Personality Disorder. With that said, Teh’s (2003) article has so far convinced me
that perhaps a specialization may be needed not only to advance the counseling profession in
the Philippines but also to be able to cater to those clients who have specific mental health
conditions. In relation to this, it may be helpful for clients if they have options regarding
finding a psychotherapist who can specifically treat their condition.
Finally, the last insight that I have arrived at upon reading the article is that at the time
the respondents were interviewed in Teh’s (2003) study, the most common concerns reported
by the respondents’ clients were related to marital/family problems and school concerns, but
work problems and psychopathology were not considered as commonly reported problems.
This may have made sense given the study’s year of publication and the contextual factors in
the Philippine setting, but it makes me wonder whether this holds true until now. As I have
observed in my generation and in the generation after us, it appears that mental health
conditions are on the rise and that a work-life balance seems to be a pressing issue nowadays.
With that said, I believe that psychotherapists of this day and age perhaps should be more
trained or ready to handle these types of issues, regardless of whether the psychotherapist is a
psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a guidance counselor. In relation to my future practice as a
psychologist, this insight has personally convinced me that it may be wise for me to advance
my knowledge on mental health and psychopathology, so that I can be more readily prepared
to handle people from different walks of life with different mental health conditions.
Additionally, it may also be wise to ready myself with knowledge on work issues, especially
on job burnout, as this seems to be a prevalent issue in the working force.
In summary, the articles that we were assigned to read has made me realize (1) that
the Philippines must find a way to make mental health services more accessible to the general
public, (2) that perhaps psychologists-in-training should consider specializing in order to
cater to individuals with specific and unique needs, and (3) that psychotherapists should be
familiar and knowledgeable with the pressing issues that concern today’s Filipinos, especially
those in the younger generations. Eventually, I hope to address these three realizations when
I finally begin to practice as a counseling psychologist, perhaps working first to validate or
disconfirm these insights and then adjusting the scope, parameters, and limitations of my
practice to benefit the majority of the Filipino citizens.
References
Teh, L. (2003). A survey on the practice and status of psychotherapy in the Philippines.
Philippine Journal of Psychology, 36(1), 112-133.