Nowon-gu Holds Senior Counseling Case Presentation 'My Stage, My Story'

Holding a Presentation to Effectively Communicate Elderly Counseling Cases
Adopting a Psychodrama Format to Share Vivid Counseling Experiences
Preparation Over 4 Weeks from October 10 to 31... Performance on November 14

Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is preparing a counseling case presentation event for seniors titled 'My Stage, My Story.'

'My Stage, My Story' is conducted in the form of a 'psychodrama,' where participants become actors and perform roles, rather than simply delivering information. Since clients actively participate to express their inner issues, it allows for vivid and realistic experiences, making it effective for empathy and psychological healing.

To this end, the district has been conducting a group counseling session in the form of psychodrama every Thursday from October 10 to 31, over a total of four weeks, with 12 seniors aged 60 or older residing in Nowon-gu.

The group counseling starts with basic education to help clients understand psychodrama, and proceeds so that all participants equally explore themes and share emotions and find solutions through 'enactment work.'

In particular, the main themes closely related to the participants include ▲ loss of vocational ability and reduction of social relationships after retirement ▲ isolation and depression caused by conflicts and severed relationships with the original family. Dr. Kim Ju-hyun, a psychiatrist who served as the director of the Korea Enneadrama Research Institute, will participate to enhance the reliability and professionalism of the counseling.

Mr. Song Eun-heon, a senior who participated in the first group counseling session on the 10th, said, "I was worried because it was my first time doing this, but after experiencing it today, I feel it will be a true meeting to find myself," and added, "I will share my feelings well with my peers to prepare for the stage in November."

Through the four weeks of group counseling, all participants will become protagonists of psychodramas unfolding their own stories and spend a time of healing. Afterwards, one specific case that resonates with the most people will be selected and produced as a 'joint work' to be presented on stage.

'My Stage, My Story' will take place on November 14 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the small auditorium on the 6th floor of Nowon-gu Office. At the presentation, about 80 people including seniors aged 65 and older in Nowon-gu and workers interested in psychological counseling will share counseling cases through psychodrama. The Nowon Senior Counseling Center will distribute a 'Counseling Casebook' compiled from the event, emphasizing the need for social attention to mental health issues in an aging society.

Meanwhile, the district started operating the first-ever senior specialized counseling center nationwide last year, providing counseling on a wide range of topics related to the elderly generation such as suicide, depression, and sexual issues in old age, and offering practical help through psychological stabilization programs and case management.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "Ensuring that seniors live safe and happy lives is an important responsibility of the local community," and added, "We will continue to strive to create a foundation where seniors can look forward to the days ahead and live healthily."