View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
whiteshoes
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: Off The Record Counseling? |
|
|
I have a Korean friend who is having a hard time battling depression, and she wants to get help. However, she is a college student, and will be applying for jobs with the Korean government. In Korea, every visit to a mental health facility must be reported to the government (I think it has to do with the nationalized healthcare, right?) so she is afraid to get help if it ruins her chance to get a cushy government job.
If anyone knows of a good mental health professional who will be "off the record" could you please tell me? PM would be great. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
chrisinkorea2011
Joined: 16 Jan 2011
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i dont think its possible to get that kind of help, unless you could find a practicing doctor who was a foreigner with a clinic in one of the foreigner heavy towns (itaewon, hongdae, etc) yeah many things have to be reported for everything. Its hard to find someone who will be able to help honestly. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
These counselors were trained mostly in the USA and have good ethics when it comes to confidentiality:
Dr. Kim, Soo-young, (aka. Mike) M.D.
Itaewon Station Line #6. (02)790-0857. International Clinic
501 Hannam building, 737-37 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu Seoul, Korea 140-212
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 82-2-790-0857
Fax: 82-2-798-7480
http://www.internationalclinic.co.kr/
Dr. Steve Sangwon Shim AAPC Diplomate
#601 taeho building, 1-3 Seokchon-Dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul
송파구 석촌동 1-3 태호빌딩 601
02-549-5909
강 사: 심상권 박사(Ph. D)
수십년간 부부행복만들기 전문강사
수십년간 부부치료 전문가 및 교과개설 강의
전 숭실대 겸임교수 및 다수 대학 출강
한국전문심리치료원 원장
미국 AAPC Diplomate (임상감독자) 자격증
한국상담심리학회 상담심리사 1급 자격증
일 시 : 2011년 5월 28일 (토) 오전 10시 ~ 오후 5시 (총 7시간)
대 상 자 : 상담분야 종사자 및 상담 전공자
등 록 : 국민은행 478701-01-202142 / 예금주 : 전심원 (심상권)
문 의 : 한국전문심리치료원 (02-549-5909 / 02-541-8284)
참 가 비 : 10만원
장 소 : 한국전문심리치료원 교육실(홈페이지 참조)
홈페이지 : www.koreatherapy21.co.kr /
Good luck! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Hiromi C
Joined: 28 May 2011 Location: Gwanak-gu, Seoul
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In the meantime, I'd recommend looking into ways to arm your friend with tools to help herself. Self help books are pretty hit or miss, but The Mindful Way through Depression is pretty solid. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
whiteshoes
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hiromi C wrote: |
In the meantime, I'd recommend looking into ways to arm your friend with tools to help herself. Self help books are pretty hit or miss, but The Mindful Way through Depression is pretty solid. |
Yeah, thanks for that. I've dealt with depression in the past, so I tried to let her know that she knows at least one person who really does know what she's going through. I told her I'd try to get some books for her as well. If anyone else knows any good books, please let me know. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Hiromi C
Joined: 28 May 2011 Location: Gwanak-gu, Seoul
|
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't know if knowing would help her much, but statistically speaking, just about everyone in the world will experience severe depression at least once in their lifetime. It is just about impossible for someone to not outlive at least one loved one. That's not to say that death is the only possible trigger, but virtually every one of us has been, is, or will be in her shoes.
She's not alone, even if everyone else is too scared to admit it. She is both brave and smart for seeking help. I hope she realizes that. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
|
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
"Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman is a good book.
www.harpo.ca |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Linda868
Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Korea
|
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
I highly recommend:
Yvon Malenfant, M.Div. (Canadian)
Inter-faith pastoral counselor
Individual and Korean-Western (Intercultural) Couples Counseling
Close to Grand Hyatt Hotel Itaewon & Noksapyeong Stations Line #6
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02-335-3633 / 010-6268-1063
www.harpo.ca
He cares about his people and checks on them from time to time even if you have not had a session in ages. Although I am not sure if he deals with depression but if he does, he is a good person to go to. You can get it done over Skype or in person. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
|
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:25 am Post subject: Re: Off The Record Counseling? |
|
|
whiteshoes wrote: |
In Korea, every visit to a mental health facility must be reported to the government (I think it has to do with the nationalized healthcare, right?) so she is afraid to get help if it ruins her chance to get a cushy government job.
|
You have a source for that? Because every Korean I know or I've heard about wanting to get counseling are afraid that it'll somehow bite them in the arse later. Everything I looked (I admit it isn't a lot) up tells me it's strictly confidential like it should be. If true, it's a 100% bulls*** and is another reason why the government should keep out of our lives. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tukmax
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
|
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:35 am Post subject: Re: Off The Record Counseling? |
|
|
fermentation wrote: |
whiteshoes wrote: |
In Korea, every visit to a mental health facility must be reported to the government (I think it has to do with the nationalized healthcare, right?) so she is afraid to get help if it ruins her chance to get a cushy government job.
|
You have a source for that? Because every Korean I know or I've heard about wanting to get counseling are afraid that it'll somehow bite them in the arse later. Everything I looked (I admit it isn't a lot) up tells me it's strictly confidential like it should be. If true, it's a 100% bulls*** and is another reason why the government should keep out of our lives. |
There was an article in either the Korea times or the Korea Herald about two months ago that talked about Koreans seeking help for mental health issues. I don't have the link, but if you search this site and those news sites you can find it. I remember it saying that they get a big stamp on their health record (I think and I or H stamp, can't remember which) which signifies that they were treated for mental health. It said a lot of Koreans would just pay strait cash instead of using their health cards to avoid any record of it taking place. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Linda868 wrote: |
I highly recommend:
Yvon Malenfant, M.Div. (Canadian)
Inter-faith pastoral counselor
Individual and Korean-Western (Intercultural) Couples Counseling
Close to Grand Hyatt Hotel Itaewon & Noksapyeong Stations Line #6
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02-335-3633 / 010-6268-1063
www.harpo.ca
He cares about his people and checks on them from time to time even if you have not had a session in ages. Although I am not sure if he deals with depression but if he does, he is a good person to go to. You can get it done over Skype or in person. |
Linda868, thank you for your kind words. Yes, I do work with those that are dealing with depression, etc.
Many psychiatrists that I know absolutely refuse to tell the government about the patient's mental health history. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Suwon Fish
Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: Hongdae
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Order some St Johns Wort on the internet.
It's sold as a herb in most countries but it's prescription only in Korea. It's cheap and it works. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There was an article in the NY Times about Koreans seeking counseling. It stated many locals pay the doctor fee in cash so there is no record. Your friend could do that. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
hogwonguy1979

Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
be aware of people posting their services as counselors here, some have no business being in the business, do some investigating before using an expat "counselor" there are a couple of very shady/unethical people hanging their shingle here |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
mukukja
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have also had meetings with Yvon Malenfant and can say he is very professional, caring and discreet. It helps that he is also immersed in the expat experience and can speak to you on that level.
As previously mentioned, he even checks up on a fellow after sessions have ended. Highly recommended. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|