OFWOnline site helps OFWs, families in crisis

OFWOnline, a website set up by the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development, continues to offer free professional counseling for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. Launched 2009, OFWOnline offers free counseling sessions, family chatrooms, and forums. The site was funded by a grant from the Singapore Internet Research Center and International Development Research Centre. The service is offered in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila Department of Psychology, Department of Information Systems and Computer Science and Ugnayan at Tulong Para sa Maralitang Pamilya Foundation, Inc. Dr. Gina Hechanova said she had the idea to set up the website in 2007, when she attended the ICT for Development conference, which focused on how technology can be harnessed to address social problems. "I was the only psychologist in that conference and wondered whether we could harness technology to provide psychosocial support for our OFWs," Hechanova told GMA News Online. Hechanova notes that there are other similar counseling sites but most are based in the U.S. and require a fee. OFWOnline has a roster of Filipino counselors, mostly from the Ateneo de Manila University. "For now, all our counselors are graduate students, graduates and faculty of the M.A. Counseling Program. This is because we also need to ensure supervision. We have regular case conferences among counselors to assure the quality of counseling," says Hechanova. Their profiles may be viewed on the site, and those who wish to have a counseling session may decide which counselor they would like to speak with. Appointments are made by directly e-mailing the counselor. One of the site's advantages is that it may be viewed in English or Filipino. But its main advantage according to Hechanova is accessibility, since the Internet makes it easier to reach out to OFWs all over the globe. "A second advantage is the anonymity that online counseling provides – no one needs to know they are seeing a professional counselor," said Hechanova. Technology limitations However, Hechanova noted that there are limitations that come with the technology. "It is also difficult because counselors do not have physical cues to help them empathize and understand their counselees better," says Hechanova. Another hurdle for the site is that not that many OFWs are aware that such a website exists. Although the site is promoted through employment agencies, NAIA, and newspapers both here and abroad,it appears the OFWOnline still needs to make itself more visible to its target market. Hechanova admits that the site is not for everyone. "Not everyone will want to use the site – but that is okay. What is important is that we are there when they need us. For some, that’s enough for them to know," she says. Family, marital issues An earlier article said the majority of the ADMU Department of Psychology's almost 200 OFW counselees have consulted on problems related to their marital partners, children and even in-laws they’ve left behind in the Philippines. “Counselees presented problems related to conflict between partners, infidelity, power and decision-making, and lack of communication," the department’s study on the nature of OFW issues consulted online read. The study said the other problems of OFWs included homesickness, adjustment concerns and financial issues. - VVP, GMA News