The Contemporary Filipino Family Life: Towards A Comprehensive Family-Oriented Counseling Program

Abstract

This study is an exploration of the contemporary Filipino family interrelationships and dynamics with the objective of proposing a family-oriented counseling program which can be implemented for a better family wellbeing. Nine families from the province of Nueva Ecija were selected and interviewed to assess their overall family functioning. Data gathered were analyzed thematically. The qualitative data’s trustworthiness where squared through triangulation, stability check, and member checking. Yielded themes were then used as a benchmark for the organization of a comprehensive family counseling program. Major themes revolved around family relationships, familial decision making, and societal judgmental attitudes. Hence, it can be assumed that the contemporary Filipino family can be best understood from the viewpoints of these themes. The proposed family-oriented counseling program was designed based on the overall implications of the said themes. This consisted of responsive and expansive counseling strategies that can be piloted and validated as a part of an overall community-based mental health program. Further, drawing from these results, it was conclusive that the Filipino families are constantly changing so as to stay relevant in the changing world. This change may unsurprisingly result to challenges which can be dealt with using a guidance-oriented approach. Pertinent conclusion about the implications of the gathered data was further drawn and relevant recommendation were hereby proposed which are viably open for further explorations.