Professor Kim Mirye of Honam University Leads Gwangju-Jeonnam Counseling Association "Educational Training"

Professor Kim Mirye, Department of Counseling Psychology, Honam University

Honam University announced on May 11 that the Gwangju-Jeonnam Counseling Association, chaired by Professor Kim Mirye of the Department of Counseling Psychology, hosted the "2025 3rd Educational Training."

The training session, held via Zoom on May 10, focused on the theme "Recovery from Trauma: Stabilization and Mourning." It was attended not only by members of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Counseling Association but also by external professional psychological counselors.

During the training, Kim Kyungmin, head of the Honam Region Trauma Center and psychiatrist at the National Naju Hospital, introduced mental disorders related to traumatic experiences that field experts in psychological counseling should be aware of. The session also provided practical exercises and case studies on stabilization techniques for clients recovering from trauma, as well as mourning counseling methods that support integrated management of emotional distress, identity changes, and the search for meaning.

Trauma is an experience that exceeds an individual's emotional regulation capacity, caused by the most shocking and overwhelming fear, helplessness, and pain among stressful events. While recovery generally occurs over time, there are individual differences, and in some cases, symptoms may persist or worsen.

Kim Mirye, president of the association, stated, "The theme of the 3rd Educational Training of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Counseling Association was set as 'Recovery from Trauma' to reflect the current era, which is marked by disasters, accidents, sexual violence, and assaults in our society."

She added, "I believe that field experts in psychological counseling must thoroughly understand the emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual responses related to clients' trauma. Furthermore, I hope this training has provided psychological counselors in the Gwangju area with the opportunity to learn stabilization techniques based on empathic understanding, which are essential for building an initial therapeutic alliance, as well as the practical skills required for each stage of mourning counseling."