PHÒNG THAM VẤN TÂM LÝ CÁ NHÂN VÀ GIA ĐÌNH IFC (Individual and Family Counseling Clinic)

About me

A BRIEF HISTORY OF IFC
Individual and Family Counseling Clinic, HCMC

IFC, the Individual and Family Counseling Clinic, HCMC, was formed early in 2002. Designed as a practicum clinic, IFC was the first such learning environment in the country for the authentic practice of western Psychotherapy with a cross-cultural orientation. IFC is directed by a licensed, board certified American therapist.

The practice of psychology is called psychotherapy. It involves unique skills and understandings but it is based on a thorough knowledge of the field of psychology. After exposing the first student counselor to clients in her private practice who consented to the observation, the director invited more students of psychology to join IFC. These new student counselors were selected by Ngo Minh Uy, the first student to be trained at IFC.

The students were trained in the practice of psychotherapy for four years at IFC, one to two evenings a week. Their clients were Vietnamese who learned about them through marketing efforts, radio programs and newspaper articles. The students received over 2000 hours of training and supervision. The clinical director supervised and case managed each case. There was no fee paid to anyone, including the clients, until the director determined that the student counselors were well enough advanced to warrant a small, affordable fee. If the client could not afford any fee, none was required.

Gradually, as the students improved, less direct supervision was required, and case management by the director was the primary tool used to manage the clients’ issues and the direction and choice of therapy used.

IFC counselors were exposed to both informal and formal instruction and constant supervision. Dozens of books in the field and professional magazines imported from abroad were read and discussed in seminars. Examinations were held to test knowledge acquired and case management sessions were regularly held to provide an opportunity for all counselors to acquire knowledge and discuss their cases together.

During the development of the IFC clinic, a therapeutic group model was formed, consisting of counselors and the patient and/or family. The model was based on the understanding of the importance of family and community in Asia, and particularly in Vietnam. The progenitor of the model was the American “Greek Chorus,” or reflecting model. In Vietnam, the Confucian principles of honesty, transparency and respect enhanced the model, which proved to be an effective tool in stimulating client motivation and self esteem transferred ultimately to the resolution of the clients’ individual issues.

In 2005 IFC held the first psychotherapy conference presented in South Vietnam, complete with speakers and workshop sessions. Again, this conference became a model for other conferences in the country, and articles on the clinic were published. In addition, findings regarding cultural values and Vietnamese personality disorders were expounded in these articles published in Vietnam and the United States.

In 2006, the IFC counselors participated in an International Counseling Conference (ICC) held in Bangkok. Two of the counselors made presentations, one of them demonstrating excellent research skills. Their trip was funded by ICC, the organization which had become aware of the clinic during their first visit to HCMC in 2003.

By 2007, the counselors were considered capable to conduct their client sessions privately and to report the clients’ issues and progress at regular case management sessions, under the direction of the case manager.

In 2007, the IFC clinic became an affiliate for nearly two years of Singapore Human Dynamic Asia Pacific, a business organization company providing employee assistance programs to Vietnamese clients in primarily American companies in HCMC.

Now, IFC is attempting to open its own business, including providing similar employee assistance programs and developing referral bases in hospitals and schools, as well.

My work

- Tham vấn tâm lý cho cá nhân và gia đình
- Hỗ trợ tâm lý cho người lao động (EAP) tại các tổ chức và doanh nghiệp
- Huấn luyện, giám sát thực hành lâm sàng
- Và một số hoạt động khác sẽ được triển khai vào năm 2008