July 23-24, 2025, at Alfahad Hotel Hat Yai

Target audiences: Frontline Practitioners Working to Support Vulnerable GroupsBased on the provided curriculum and handbook for the project

“Enhancing Psychosocial Services for Traumatized Persons in Conflict-Affected Areas in Thailand’s Deep South,” here is the analysis for Module 1: “Inner Self”

While the module is designed for Frontline Practitioners Working to Support Vulnerable Groups focuses on building a foundation of mental health and counseling skills rooted in self-awareness.

1. Core Competencies Developed

The curriculum for Module 1 focuses on three primary competency areas:

• Foundational Mental Health Literacy: Participants gain a basic understanding of psychosocial health, identifying stress, and understanding the social factors that contribute to mental suffering.
• Basic Counseling Skills: Building the “Counselor’s Mindset” (Counseling Foundation), which includes understanding roles, building trust, and practicing Deep Listening.
• Resilience & Self-Compassion: Developing the ability to explore one’s own successes and obstacles to build internal resilience and empathy.
• Cultural & Group Sensitivity: Developing an awareness of cultural nuances and group sensitivity.

2. Session Deliverables

The workshop is delivered for two days, focusing on the transition from “Inner Self  Exploration” to “Practical Counseling Skills”.

Day 1: Foundation and Self-Awareness

• Exploration of Suffering & Strengths: Group activities to exchange life experiences, focusing on identifying internal strengths and external supports that aid resilience.
• Stress Management: Sessions to identify the four physical and mental signals of stress and practicing real-world reduction techniques, such as breathing exercises and religious activities.
• Roadmap of Life: An evening activity where participants draw a “Roadmap” of their past and present to foster psychological healing through storytelling.

Day 2: Counseling Skills and Application

• Interviewing & Role Play: Training in interviewing techniques and questioning styles specifically tailored for vulnerable populations.
• Psychological First Aid (PFA): Learning to understand reactions to trauma and how to facilitate a rapid “Link” back to social support systems.
• Goal Setting (WOOP): Learning the WOOP Coaching method (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) to create concrete action plans for implementation in the field .

3. Assessment of Learning

The assessment for Module 1 is designed to be a “Formative” process, focusing on the learner’s ability to apply skills in a preliminary setting.

• Behavioral Observation: Continuous assessment by instructors of how participants engage in workshops and role-plays.
• Learning Reflection: Sessions at the end of each day for participants to summarize their takeaways and reflect on how they will apply the lessons to their work and life.
• Self and Physical Monitoring: Participants report on their own physical and mental states throughout the training to practice self-awareness.
• Preliminary Competency: The ultimate goal is for participants to be able to provide basic, initial counseling to vulnerable individuals within their community.