Survivors ‘process’ traumatic experience

Facilitators urge victims to release emotional hurt through drawings, songs and dances.

Earthquake survivors in the towns of Loon, Tubigon, and Sagbayan in Bohol are undergoing stress debriefing to help them “process” their traumatic experience, move on and live normally again.

The sessions are handled by 22 facilitators from Lakbay Kalinga Pastoral Care who flew into the province from Manila. The group is led by Fr. Alberto Abelardo.

The organization is one of the private groups accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct mental and psychological support to survivors. They are being assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Grace Yana, a DSWD social worker, told Cebu Daily News that 460 children underwent play therapy while 240 adults had defusing and emotional comfort sessions.

“Children can play, draw and sing while the adults can really express and vent their feelings during and after the earthquake,” Yana said.

The therapy and emotional comfort activities were split into two sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. It is conducted in the camp sites where camp managers assist the facilitators as well as the participants.

Residents of Buenavista and Calape towns are scheduled next for the play therapy and emotional comfort sessions.

The facilitators will visit all the evacuation camps in Bohol being managed by the DSWD. /Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag