A father's love contributes as much - and sometimes more - to a child's development as does a mother's love (ScienceDaily, 2012).

Introduction

Our Purpose

The Center for Guidance Counseling has provided a free seminar for Filipino adolescent fathers for the sole purpose of helping them in their daily life activities. Each 3-day seminar will cater to 30 participants, providing them with activities. Participants are free to apply at (02)895-8855 and will be contacted shortly regarding their assigned schedules. Together with 5 Psychologists and 15 Therapists, our approach will be holistic and person-centered, faithful to the Filipino culture. 

Our Location

The seminar is held four times a month, from Fridays to Sundays at San Carlos Seminary, EDSA Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City. 

San Carlos Seminary

Our Rules

Participants are expected to comply to its Rules & Regulations. The Schedule of Activities must be strictly followed as well. Participants are expected to attend and participate in all activities. Talks are held in the Plenary Room. Activities are held in the Plenary Room as well. Participants are allowed to discontinue their seminar as they please. 

Our Topics

• Identity
• Personality Development
• Time Management
• Study Habits
• Strength Psychology
• Roles of A Father
• Vocation

Day 1: Friday

Schedule of Activities

9:00AM - 10:00AM	Registration Room Assignment Therapist and Group Assignment
10:00AM - 10:30AM	Assembly Purpose of Seminar Flow
10:30AM - 11:00AM	Group Activity ("If You Really Knew Me...")
11:00AM - 12:00PM	Talk ("Your Identity")
12:00PM - 1:00PM	Lunch Break
1:30PM - 2:30PM	Therapy Session
2:30PM - 3:00PM	Merienda
3:00PM - 4:00PM	Activity ("Introduce Your Talent")
4:00PM - 5:00PM	Talk ("Personality Development")
5:00PM - 6:00PM	Break
6:00PM - 7:00PM	Dinner
7:00 PM - 8:00PM	Talk ("God's Purpose")
9:00PM	Lights Out

Day 2: Saturday

Schedule of Activities

7:00AM - 8:00AM	Breakfast
8:30AM - 10:00AM	Talk ("Basic Household Activities")
10:00AM - 12:00PM	Activity ("Basic Household Activities")
12:00PM - 1:00PM	Lunch Break
1:30PM - 2:30PM	Activity ("Time Management")
2:30PM - 3:00PM	Merienda
3:00PM - 4:00PM	Talk ("Study Habits")
4:00PM - 5:00PM	Therapy Session
5:00PM - 6:00PM	Break
6:00PM - 7:00PM	Dinner
7:00 PM - 8:00PM	Talk ("Strength Psychology")
9:00PM	Lights Out

Day 3: Sunday

Schedule of Activities

7:00AM - 8:00AM	Breakfast
8:30AM - 10:00AM	Sunday Mass and Confession
10:00AM - 11:00AM	Group Activity ("Skit: Future Goals")
11:00AM - 12:00AM	Talk ("The Roles Of An Adolescent Father")
12:00PM - 1:00PM	Lunch Break
1:00PM - 1:30PM	Activity ("Basic Household Activities")
1:30PM - 2:30PM	Therapy Session
2:30PM - 3:00PM	Merienda
3:00PM - 4:00PM	Activity ("Aptitude and Career Test")
4:00PM - 5:00PM	Talk ("What Is Your Vocation?")
5:00PM - 6:00PM	Break
6:00PM - 7:00PM	Dinner
7:30PM	Concluding Remarks

Topic Overview

Identity

 is defined as the distinctive characteristic belonging to any given individual, or shared by all members of a particular social category or group. Erik Erikson was one of the earliest psychologists interested in identity. The process of forming a sense of identity is conceptualized during adolescence. According to Erikson, a strong ego identity, along with the proper integration into a stable society, leads to a strong sense of identity. Otherwise, it leads to identity confusion or crisis (Cote & Levine, 2002).

It is crucial for the participants to seek and understand their identity not only as adolescents, but also as adolescent fathers. The seminar will give them knowledge on how to cope with what they are experiencing and how they can effectively transition towards adulthood. That way, they may be able to set goals for themselves and for their families.

Personality Development

Personality is an aggregate accumulation of the decisions made by an individual throughout their life. Inherent, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to the development of our personality. Freud believed that personality has three parts — the id, ego, and superego. The id is the pleasure principle. It wants immediate satisfaction, with no consideration for the reality of the situation (Santrock, 2002). The ego meets the needs of the id by taking into account reality. The superego develops as a result of moral constraints. A strong superego inhibits the id, resulting in a high level of guilt, whereas a weak superego neglects the id, resulting in a low level of guilt.

The seminar instills discipline upon the participants by helping them develop one particular area of personality – morality. A well-developed personality eventually leads to a higher self-esteem. People who have higher self-esteem have better relationships. They are more likely to ask for help and support from family and friends when they need it. How we feel about ourselves can influence how we live our lives. Having a good self-esteem allows acceptance and living life to the fullest. Studies also show that people who believe they can accomplish goals and solve problems are more likely to do well in school and in the workplace – important areas the participants may benefit from. Physicality is also tackled. Personal and professional success is greatly impacted by how people perceive us. Having a pleasing personality does not only refer to physical features, but more on the way we present ourselves, especially to our children.

Time Management

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. As adolescents in school or at work and as fathers responsible for their child, time management should be practiced efficiently. The seminar provides activities involving a range of skills, tools, and techniques needed to accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals complying with a due date. The seminar also follows a strict compliance to the schedule of activities. This will temporarily condition the participants and give them an idea on how to systematize their forthcoming activities.

Study Habits

 Study habits or study strategies are approaches applied to learning. They are generally critical to success in school, considered essential for acquiring good grades, and useful for learning throughout one's life. There are arrays of study skills, which may tackle the process of organizing and taking in new information, retaining information, or dealing with examinations. They include mnemonics, which aid the retention of lists of information, effective reading and concentration techniques, as well as efficient note taking. The seminar provides a seminar

Strength Psychology

Strong individuals have the power and the skill to take over situations (Zilca, 2010). According to Tania Davidson, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, a holistic approach in psychotherapy is based on the idea that healing results from treating all parts of the whole person instead of focusing only on their illness or challenges. Holistic treatment encourages integration and balance of the person’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, behavioral and relational aspects.

The seminar will focus on the strengths of the participants, highlighting their abilities that promote resiliency Strength-based approaches are found to be extremely effective, particularly with youth who are at-risk. The seminar considers Dr. Davidson's philosophy in working with clients, which is based on the humanistic approach pioneered by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. This philosophy acknowledges the basic aspects of humanness such as consciousness, value, creativity, freedom, will, love, and spirit. The first step is identifying the natural strengths of the participants. All of us are born with unique capabilities and skills, and the way to build one's strength is to focus on these specific skills and grow them. Building inner strength is a lifelong task. If done right, not only will it pay off when difficult situations arise, but it will also become habit, and eventually a part of one’s identity.

Roles of A Father

The legal responsibilities of a father towards his child include protecting them from neglect; supporting them financially; providing them with clothing, shelter and food; giving them access to an education; and getting them medical care and attention when they need it. In the Family Law, Parental responsibility is a legal status derived from the Children Act 1989. Unless a parent has parental responsibility, they will not be considered to a ‘parent’ of the child since the definition of parent in some cases include parents with actual parental responsibility. Willful failure to do so carries criminal penalties. Fathers who fail to live up to their responsibilities also face significant penalties from state and federal governments. Studies show that most children do best when their mothers and fathers engage in authoritative parenting. This style of parenting involves spending time with children, providing emotional support, giving everyday assistance, monitoring behavior, and providing consistent and fair discipline. Authoritative parenting may be expressed in different ways. While mothers tend to provide more emotional warmth for their children, fathers provide a strong sense of security. While children usually can depend on their mothers for unconditional love, they often must earn their father's approval. While mothers soothe their children more often, fathers often provide more stimulation. Better appreciation of where fathers fit in will lead to happier and more productive children. This seminar will provide our participants an approach towards their roles and responsibilities as a father, as well as the most suitable reaction for their child’s action.

Vocation

A vocation is a particular business, occupation, or profession. It is one’s calling. A person who has a strong impulse to follow a particular vocation strives for it; therefore it is important that we discover it. The seminar provides a series of assessments determining the aptitude of the participants towards a career in the future. And through Strength Psychology, that certain aptitude may be focused on. Moreover, the seminar also encourages the vocation of marriage in due time. As devout Catholics, Filipinos are obliged to follow the norms of society by marrying their partners. It is God’s calling.