Association of Professional Psychological Counselors (General Incorporated Association)
On June 9th, the Listening Professionals Association held a
“Professional Psychological Counselor Launch Meeting”
……
The Professional Psychological Counselors Association (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Mariko Ukiyo, hereinafter referred to as the “Listen Professional Association”), a non-profit professional association for psychological counselors, held a “Professional Psychological Counselor Inaugural Meeting” on June 9th. We would like to inform you that we will be holding an event.
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/143571/2/resize/d143571-2-b28a6bd2a46958ed4858-1.jpg&s3=143571-2-c5590ba1dbfb049e3140d1be284974d9-1018×679.jpg] ■Background/purpose
The Listening Professionals Association is a professional organization for counselors including professional psychological counselors (commonly known as listening professionals*), and provides mental care after disasters, incidents, and accidents, slander, sexual minorities, job separation prevention, and suicide prevention. We have been working on various social issues such as: In providing psychological care for disaster victims, the National Federation of Psychological Industry Associations (Zenshinren) has been providing psychological care for 11 years, utilizing the knowledge of psychological care gained in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, to provide care for Ukrainian evacuees suffering from war trauma, a first for Japan. We are conducting mental care activities for the people of Japan and those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January 2024. Additionally, since 2014, we have continued to provide home-visit counseling to students and families who are not attending school or are withdrawn from school.
Regarding SNS consultation, which is now being adopted in various fields including the national and local governments, I have been involved with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s suicide prevention measures project using SNS, which was first held in March 2018, and currently there are many “Professional listeners” are engaged in SNS consultation. After the coronavirus pandemic, there will be more and more situations in which mental care is needed, such as excessive stress due to changes in the working environment and educational settings, mental care due to a multicultural society, and the increasing scale of natural disasters. The role of psychological counselors is becoming even more important.
Therefore, we decided to hold the “Professional Psychological Counselor Inaugural Meeting” as an opportunity to share information such as improving the skills of psychological counselors and the outlook for the psychological industry. We will continue to work to improve the quality of our profession and earn recognition from society as a psychological counselor who can respond to the changing times.
■About the “Professional Psychological Counselor Inaugural Meeting” The launch event is open to not only qualified “professional listeners” but also those who aspire to become psychological counselors. In addition to deepening our understanding as
psychological counselors of our past activities as “professional listeners” and how to respond to the needs of society, we will also share information and the direction of our professional organization. This will be an opportunity for you to develop your vision as a “professional who listens.”
After the opening ceremony, we will tour “Kokorogoto Cafe”, a fruit tea and art therapy shop staffed by “professional listeners”. “Kokorogoto Cafe” was planned by Zenshinren as a cafe created by a psychological counselor and a place where “professional listeners” can provide psychological counseling. Especially for those who have recently acquired qualifications or those who aim to acquire qualifications in the future, it will help them to imagine the activities of a psychological counselor.
Sponsored by: Association of Professional Psychological Counselors Cooperation: Cocorogoto Cafe
Implementation date: June 9, 2024 (Sunday) 15:30-17:00
Location: Idea Human Support Academy 8F Room (8F SANWA Aoyama Building, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Participation method: On-site participation/online also available Participation fee: Free
Participation qualifications: Those who are qualified as “professional listeners” and those who are aiming to obtain the qualification. -schedule-
Starts at 15:30
A message from the representative director to “professional listeners” Ends at 17:00, visit Cocorogoto Cafe
*If you would like to participate, please apply using the form below. https://forms.gle/vqZ1aVtd3Zx1iUaS9
*We will send information via email to everyone who applies using the form. *Final deadline: 12:00 on Saturday, June 8th
■What is “Kokorogoto Cafe”?
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/143571/2/resize/d143571-2-1166ef2629ca2dbd331e-1.jpg&s3=143571-2-0f4334d3e9aec00199f171e0a9b95882-3900×2359.jpg] Cocorogoto Cafe
It was planned by the National Federation of Psychological Businesses (Zenshinren) as a place where anyone can receive counseling and therapy as easily as drinking tea at a cafe. In February 2014, under the management of Idea Human Support Service Co., Ltd., we opened a cafe with psychological counselors, “Kokorogoto Cafe”. A
psychological counselor devised a four-color food menu and heart talk and counseling to energize the mind and body, and received many orders from businessmen asking for iced coffee and 60 minutes of counseling. From May 2024, it will reopen in Aoyama as the fruit tea and art therapy shop “Kokorogoto Cafe”, and will also serve as a place of employment for Ukrainian refugees. With flowers, carefully selected tableware, fruit teas that are gentle on the body and mind, and a menu centered on low-carbohydrate foods, we offer a place where visitors can feel at ease. Kokoro Talk, which applies art therapy, is popular for its “Miniature Talk,” which applies miniature garden therapy, which is a type of psychological therapy, and “Crayon Talk,” which applies painting therapy.
Location: SANWA Aoyama Building 1F, 2-9-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Business hours: 10:00-22:00 (open all year round)
URL: https://www.idear.co.jp/cocorogotocafe_aoyama_shibuya/
■What is a “professional listener*”?
A “professional who listens” refers to a person who is qualified as a “Professional Psychological Counselor,” a nationwide uniform certification for psychological counselors recognized by the National Federation of Psychological Businesses (Zenshinren). Professional psychological counselors who are helpful in the field carefully listen to the inner voice of the client, empathize with them, accept them, and provide emotional support through dialogue. Rather than judge a client based on knowledge, it is important to accept the client and listen to everything, so we have given the nickname “Professional Listening” to our professional psychological counselors.
Unlike psychological counselor qualifications, which are certified by various organizations, the Professional Psychological Counselor qualification was created by examining the necessary elements of a professional psychological counselor and supporting working adults in their quest to become mental specialists. In addition to psychological knowledge, various skills, and field experience, the counselor’s social experience, ethical values, and personal growth are
comprehensively evaluated.
■Organization overview
Professional Psychological Counselor Association (commonly known as Listening Professional Association)
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/143571/2/resize/d143571-2-c111b78afde8556ecc28-0.jpg&s3=143571-2-fcee0d7a43f9d9ba016f30ba7e467ad1-278×272.jpg] Association of Professional Psychological Counselors (General Incorporated Association)
In order to industrialize psychological counseling, the aim is to provide support to create a place where highly qualified psychological counselors can play an active role as a profession, and to build a network for those who need it to receive mental support. It is a professional organization.
Led by qualified personnel from the National Federation of
Psychological Businesses (Zenshinren), we conduct projects
commissioned by the national and local governments, dissemination and awareness activities, and also focus on disaster relief activities. The activities of the Ukrainian “Mental Care” Exchange Center, which was launched by Zenshinren in May 2022, have been sponsored since its inception and supported by many professional psychological counselors. -Activity content-
◇Support to create a place of activity for highly qualified
psychological counselors
◇Awareness activities for companies, corporations, individuals, etc. about the need for mental support
◇Continuing education for qualified personnel
◇Support for disaster areas, etc. in cooperation with Zenshinren Organization name: Association of Professional Psychological Counselors (General Incorporated Association)
Representative Director: Mariko Ukiyo
Location: 3rd floor, 1-11-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://www.kikupro.or.jp
More details about this release:
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