Sexual violence

1. Introduction

Sexual violence is among the hot issues in the world. It became a headache for our society and
the government at large. Sexual violence actions are far more common. Sexual violence is
widespread especially in educational institution. According to Ejeta (2015) sexual violence
among youth encompasses acts that are sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive to limit a
student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity, or to create a
hostile or abusive educational environment.

People of all ages, all financial classes, all races and all level of educational status are victimized
by sexual violence. The victims as well as the attackers may be a women or a man. According to
Sara (as cited in Hand and Sanchez, 2000) Sexual violence is relatively more detrimental for
female in terms of negative behavioral, emotional and educational outcomes.

This practicum has been done at Hawassa city, Tabor sub-city, Hawassa Tabor secondary and
preparatory school. The school is governmental school contained with about more than 6000
students.

In this practicum session, as a practitioner, I tried to investigate and treat the problems that are
related with sexual violence. In addition to this, in the sessions I tried to provide the knowledge,
awareness and prevention techniques during the guidance and counseling sessions for my client
who experienced sexual violence.

2. Selected Organization:

I intended to conduct a practicum on Sexual violence in Hawassa tabor secondary and

preparatory school from October, 2018 to Feb, 2019. This School is the first high school at
Hawassa city. The school was established in 1969 E.C. The total area of the school is about 11
hectare. At the time its establishment the first enrollment of students in this the school was 885
males and 327 females. Totally the students were 1212. The numbers of teachers were 19 males
and 3 females (Eshete, 2016).

The school compound is separated into two parts, the Secondary school from grade 9-10 and
Preparatory school from grade 11-12. Generally, in 2011 academic year, the school has 87
classrooms from grade 9-12 with 3,397 males and 2,670 females a total of 6067 students.

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Regarding teachers, 158 male and 70 female a total of 228 teachers are working. In addition to
this, there are 2 guidance and counseling officers, who are hired both for female and male
students to support students coming to their office with various problems. The school also has
well-furnished 3 separate libraries. And also there is a clinic which provides first aid service for
the community in the school. In the school compound there are playing pitches for football and a
court for basketball. A school has 1 head principal and 4 assistant principals (2 males and 2
females).

3. The Topic selected: Sexual violence

According to Gutek (1985) the issues that has been problematic to researchers and scholars in
this filed have not agreed up on a single universal definition of sexual violence

Pina, A. and et al. (as cited in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], (2008)
stated that sexual violence defined as a form of sexual attack that includes: unwelcomed sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal and physical conduct of sexual nature
when:

The World Health Organization [WHO], (2011) define sexual violence as “ any sexual act,
attempt to obtain unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic or otherwise directed
against a person sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the
victim , in any setting, including but not limited to home and work”.

American Association of University Women Educational Foundation [AAUWEF], (2001)

defined Sexual violence as “unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior in a work or educational
setting affecting both physical and psychological wellbeing of a person”

4. The extent of sexual violence

According to the school’s counseling office, there were documented data of some students who
experienced sexual violence harassment in different times. The most frequent sexual violence
was rape which is direct physical violence.

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The study made by Ministry of Education and Ministry of Women’s affairs [MOE &MOWA],
(2013) clearly indicated that girls experience sexual violence in different social settings showed
differences across Region.

5. Consequences of sexual violence

The experience of sexual violence has many consequences on behalf of the victims. The
consequences can be psychological, social or physical. When the woman is subjected to
forceful sex it is likely to see the occurrence of unwanted pregnancy. The girl may develop
psychological disturbance (trauma). Most of the time sexual violence is considered as a norm
especially in the rural areas. Health related consequences become visible when the physical
damage occurs. It is obvious that physical damage such as blindness, broken bones and teeth, and
deaf will occur when the girls forcefully sexually violated.

Sexual violence is not only the victim’s problem but it is the problem of all family members even
the problem of the society at large. Sexual violence breaks the rule of the country and the right of
the victim; it can also have devastating consequences physically, emotionally, and socially.
Unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, STDs, and HIV/AIDS are some of the consequences
that are highly likely to occur because of the sexual violence.

6. The therapeutic techniques used:

6.1. The Eclectic approaches

For efficient handling of the observed problem, the counselor highly intended to use the eclectic
approach, so as to use all the therapeutic methods as necessary. This counseling approach is
significantly important and appropriate in handling such kind of cases as that of my client faced.
Basically, the aim that the counselor preferred this approach is to help the client to regain her
high self- esteem that she had earlier (the life before phenomenon sexual violence).

Eclectic therapy is a therapeutic approach that incorporates a variety of therapeutic principle and
philosophy in order to create the ideal treatment program to meet the specific needs of the client.

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Instead of insisting upon strict adherence to one particular approaches eclectic therapy employ
elements from a range of therapeutic techniques , with the goal of establishing a course that is
personally tailored to the client.

Advantages of eclectic counseling approach

• Allow new ides to be generated

• It is more cost effective & practical approach.

• It is a more flexible approach of counseling. It does not restrict ideas to only one perspective.

• It is more objective & coordinated approach of counseling.

6.2. Behavioral Counseling

A general definition of behavioral counseling is that it ‘consists of whatever ethical activities a

counselor undertakes in an effort to help the client engage in those types of behavior which will
lead to a resolution of the client's problems’ (Koumboltz, 1965). This definition is perhaps too
general to portray fully the character and color of behavioral counseling, but it highlights two
important facts:

(1) There is no end to the variety of methods, used in behavioral Counseling and

(2) The goals of counseling - resolving the client's problems – that can be stated in Behavioral
terms.

The methods and procedures of behavioral counseling are based on social-learning theories -
theories about how people learn and change their behavior. Forms of learning, such as operant
conditioning, classical conditioning, modeling, and cognitive processes are mostly used to help
individuals in avoiding unwanted behavior and developing new or productive behavior.

Some methods and techniques of behavioral counseling can be grouped into the following
categories:

• Learning social skills.

• Changing and controlling the antecedents of behavior.

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• Changing and controlling the reinforcement of behavior.

• Using models to identify unwanted behavior and to learn desirable behavior.

• Using imagery techniques to extinguish and/or practice behavior.

Stages of Behavioral Counseling

1. The counselor helps the clients to explore their concerns, and a behavioral analysis and
assessment is conducted through questions and, perhaps, a questionnaire or survey Instrument.

2. The two parties set mutually-acceptable goals, stated in behavioral terms.

3. Developing and implementing goal-oriented strategies on learning theory principles (i.e., any
set of ethical procedures that helps clients to engage in behavior that resolves their concerns).

4. Accountability, when client feedback indicates that the strategy was effective in Promoting
target behavior and problem resolution.

6.3. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy:

Rational emotive behavior therapy used to restructure the by avoiding the undesirable or the
negative thoughts

7. Objectives of the counseling process

The overall objectives of the counseling process are:
 To find out the causes of client’s psychological problem
 To diagnose the signs and symptoms related to the problem
 To help the client gain an insight into the origins of the emotional difficulties and control
over feelings and actions
 To provide the client with skills of improving her life in the future
8. The background information of the client:

Genet is a fictitious name that I have given to my client. She is grade 11. She is 17 years old. She
was born in Tikur Wiha ( Bishan Guracha) a small town which is in between the big towns
Hawassa and Sashemene. She is the third child in her family. She has 4 older sisters and 2
younger brothers. Her father is a gardener and her mother is a housemaid. She spends most her
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time in various domestic activities. Such as preparing food, cleaning the house and the
compound, and washing clothes are some of the tasks that she performs after school. These
domestic activities let her not to be intrinsically engaged in her study.

9. Getting school permission

It was the first task to get permission from the school principal before starting any activity.
Primarily, I went to the office of the school principal and explained why I presented there, what
kind of activity that I perform, the reason why I preferred his school, for how long or for how
many sessions I probably stay there, whether the responsible (focal ) person appears at his office.
The school principal was very happy regarding the clear plan I explained to him. After he asked
me some sort of questions, he phoned to the school counselor to check whether the counselor is
in his office or not. Fortunately, the counselor was in the office with a client. After completing
the case with the client came to the office of the principal. The principal introduced the school
counselor and me each other. Then told the counselor to help me in what I need during the
counseling session. After that, the school counselor selected one of the students who were in
need of and requested and ready for voluntary counseling service, permitted his office and other
materials to use and facilitated a condition to meet with my client. Then my client and I decided
a day to meet.

10. The Case in Brief

The major problem that Genet facing was feeling of depression, sense of guilty and pessimism
because of her behavior as a result of sexual assault, decreased academic performance, the
repetitive vulnerability to sexual violence made her lose her self-confidence, fearful, feel
discomfort in the school and in her residence.
The current persistent thought of the case affected her life in different ways. These include,
1-She has increasingly lost her concentration during study.
2- Strong negative feeling and bad thoughts towards all males because of the physical violence
and psychological shock,
3- Weak interpersonal relationship with classmates and other friends outside the school.
4- Developed feeling of loneliness and increased low self-esteem.

 The First Session of the counseling

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Place of meeting: In the school counselor’s office.

Objectives /issues of the session
 To assess the biography of the client
 To set a date, time and place to a counseling session.
Genet and I formally established a professional helping relationship by the help of the school
counselor based on her request to get a counseling service. Then I appointed her in counseling
office which was provided by the school counselor.
The client’s Short Profile
Name Age Sex Date of Place of Grade Family Birth School’s
birth birth level status order name
Genet 18 Female Nov, Tikur 11 Poor Third Hawassa
(fake or 1995 Wiha Tabor
fiction) E.C (Bishan Secondary
Guracha) and
Preparatory
School

The Summary of the Session

In this particular session, the client came to my office as we both decided to meet in the school’s
guidance and counseling office. During this session, discussion has been made on how the
counseling sessions should proceed. It is always believed that developing a rapport is the key
therapeutic ingredient. Genet (my client) word by word tried to answer what she was asked
concerning her biography. As a counselor, I respected, understood her empathetically and gave
attentions in all what she appeals. At the end we decided the place and the time we meet where
it should be in the coming session.

The Report

In most counseling relationships, it is usual to see various observable behaviors from Clients.
While the clients reveal and discuss their problems and missed opportunities, the counselor can
observe clients how they differently express their feelings. some of them by speech and others by
their facial expression or body language. Some clients are highly expressive and some others are

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decent and low in expression. So, this may indicate something to the counselor. The counselors
need to develop an effective helpful relationship to address the problems.

 The Second session of the counseling

Place of meeting: In the school counselor’s office.

The previous status: - The general biography of the client was properly assessed.

The present Objective of the case: To establish a counseling relationship and to develop a
rapport with the Client.

 The Activities performed in the session

Genuine and formal communication made with the client.

- The counselor showed how much he concerned to help the client by giving due attention.
 The Summary of this particular session
- Based on the scheduled time, the counselor arrived early and welcomed the client warmly
with great respect. After welcoming greeting the counselor tried to clarify his roles and
responsibilities to the client with special emphasis by focusing on the ethical issues to
develop the trust in between them. Additionally, the counselor told to the client what should
be expected from her. And also explained that the counseling process needs commitment.
Other than this the counselor aware about the counseling as it is based on voluntarism, free
of charge and depends on the full participation and the willingness of the client to cope the
problem. During conversation, the counselor has identified that a feeling of self-defeat,
pessimism, stereotype about all males and the negative thought from the client’s side.
During the counseling process we had good collaboration. There were no activities that
could catch the attention of the client and also there was no sound distraction around the
guidance and counseling office. The room was comfortable, clean and ventilated enough for
the counseling purpose.

 The third Session of the counseling session

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The Previous Status of the session - the relationship established well (the rapport developed
adequately)

The Present Objective of the counseling session: - Structuring the counseling relationship

The summary of the Session

Counseling is a helping relationship between a counselor with the limit of time, action and role
between the counselor and the client. But it usually depends on the willingness of the client to be
responsible in all issues that are taking place in the counseling process. It is therefore important
to structure the counseling process in terms of time limit, action limit as well as role limit.

Time limits: - The counselor and the client agreed to limit the date and the time of counseling
sessions before starting the relationship. The days were limited for two days in a week and for 30
– 45 minutes per sessions. The time was arranged based on the conveniences of the client and the
counselor.

Action limits: - The actions of the counselor have been limited and were not extended from the
regular time which was set earlier. Because of the unlimited time, the counselor may not be
comforted and exhausted. So the counselor should take care of the limited actions to progress in
the relationship. The counselor focused on the only and only issues rather than focusing on the
personal or other private issues.

Role limits: - The roles are limited clearly. Both the counselor and the client agreed and arrived
at consensus after discussing on it.

The role of the counselor: the role of the counselor was included. Such as;

 Assessing the root causes of the client’s problem.

 Assessing the client’s observable and hidden behaviors.
 Assessing what is perceived and internalized by the client using various therapeutic
techniques.
 Setting and analyzing goals.
 Taking part in Participation during the intervention activities.
 Providing the feedback to the client at the right time.

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 Strong follows up after terminating the counseling sessions to strengthen the client’s
change.

The role of the client: the role of the client was included the following. Like;

 Voluntarism (willingness to attend in the counseling office without the force of external
factors).

 Being punctual (presenting on time and not delaying without justifiable evidence).

 Being open for sharing ideas and/or information which is significant and helpful to
strengthen the counseling process.

 Highly participating at the time of setting and analyzing the goals.

 Helping the counselor by forwarding genuine information that can give direction in
solving the client’s problems and bringing the change in behavior.
Structuring communication lead
In the previous sessions, the counselor tried to motivate the client using various communication
techniques both verbal and non-verbal. Body language is one of the non-verbal communications
that significantly encourage the client to fully participate and to make the counseling relationship
meaningful (like, direct eye contact, moving the head, etc.). However, gradually the
communication lead become widens. Some of the techniques used by the counselor to structure
the communication lead are: paraphrasing her statements, interrogating, and reflecting his feeling
by saying; oh I got it…, I see…., I understand..., etc. expressions.

 The fourth session of the counseling

The previous status of the counseling session – the counselor briefly explained the limits of
both parts (the role limits, the time limits and the action limits of the counselor and the client)
about the contract or agreement in the counseling relationship.

Present Objective: To read and give clarification concerning the rules in the contract.

Most of the time, many counselors feel disappointed because of the clients’ unmanaged
behaviors. The behaviors like; uninformed absenteeism, quitting the counseling process with no
reason and breaking the rules that the client agreed to accomplish. So, by taking the above points

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into consideration the following statements are read and clarified to the client to be performed
correctly.

- I agreed to be fully responsible to respect the appointment time

- I take responsibility for returning back to my appointment.
- I agreed to keep the instructions and command that the counselor may give me.
- I totally agreed to take the responsibility if there are some possible changes of time or place
in the counseling process.
- I promised to attend all the sessions until it ends up unless something difficult faced me.
- I promised keep calm and give due attention in all counseling sessions.
- I agreed to be confidential in any of the issues raised in the counseling session.
- I agreed not to make any sexual contact with the counselor and not try to attract sexually.
- I promised to keep the secret of the client unless the client wanted it to be disclosed. The
fake names will be used if it is important for reporting purpose.

The summary of the session

The client totally agreed on the rules stated in the agreement paper but she gave stress on the
statement which was talking about confidentiality. She did not want her secret to be
disclosed rather she wanted her secret to be kept in between them.

 The fifth Session of counseling

The Objective to be discussed

Previous status: The counseling relationship (the contract agreement) was properly structured
and the responsibilities of both parts clearly discussed.

Present objectives: Assessing the root causes of the client’s problem.

The summary of the counseling Session

The client finally decided to expose what she feels inside. She herself has taken measure to
release out the thought which usually comes to her mind and worries her. She believed as the
problem is getting worst because she encountered for communication problems, easily irritable
for any issues, academically decreased performance, weird relationship with friends especially
with boys and feeling of loneliness are some of the problems she faced. As my client tried to

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explain, the end result (the violence) was first started from the harassment. Genet was first
sexually harassed by her brother born from different father who lives around her residence. He
visits her occasionally if the other family members do not present at home especially her mother
and the older sisters. He often tries to explain his sexual feeling using body language which is
bold and clearly identified. Many times she tried to stop his bad actions by telling him that the
need he is going to gain is out of norm and sin. And also she tried to aware him as he is her older
brother. He looks stopped for four or five days but after these days his aggressive sexual feeling
immediately relapses again. He couldn’t stop his evil action. Once up on a time, there was no one
except her. Her brother who committed a sexual violence came home. She was performing her
domestic activities as usual. He was totally changed his sexual feeling from what he showed
earlier. This day his sexual feeling turned into aggressive and forceful sexual attack and raped
her. After this cruel action, he warned her to hide the case and keep silent. He frightened her as
he kills her if she share this secret to anyone around including her mother and. These made her
furious, fearful and anxious. From that time on, she started experiencing anxiety and later she
became traumatized.

For many days she struggled to free herself from the bad and shocking thoughts that are coming
to her mind. Like guilty and suicidal feeling and also the feeling of uselessness. One day, the
school counselor met her while she was observing the girls club. That day was the right day for
her to regain and restructure her thought which was already disordered. First she was not ready
to come to the counseling service office but at the end the frightening internal force pushed her
to contact the school counselor and then she decided and came to meet the school counselor.

 The sixth session of the counseling

The previous status of the counseling session: the root causes of the client assessed.

Present objective: Identifying the Problem of the client.

In this session of counseling, the client tried to mention most of the problems that she
experienced. As it is stated above, the client tried to point out some of the sources. After listening
to the client’s problems pointed out in her own words, the counselor tried to diagnose and
summarize the findings as followed. Such as;

 The feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

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 Concentration problem concerning academic activities

 Lack of attention to the lesson presented by the teacher in the class room.
 Highly observed aggressive and irritable behavior.
 Stereotyped behavior or over generalized views towards all men.
 Irrational beliefs (thoughts) about sexual practices.
 Increased hatred about the world and the life itself.
The summary of the counseling session
The client forwarded to the counselor those lots of problems she experienced. Since all the
problems can’t be solved in one time, it was needed to set a goal. So, both the counselor and the
client set a goal. Setting the goal comforts the client to realize another ways dealing with detailed
difficulties which hints the accomplishment of the vital goal.

Thus, the counselor questioned the client which problematic condition should be given primacy
to originate with the immediate goal to solve the problem. In conclusion, it is fixed to resolve
academic difficulties (ineffectiveness to focus during study) and violence connected matters.

The Goals in the Counseling Process

This is a logical step that enhances the understanding of the client to proceed to the action. The
problems are converted into solution and possibly will be defined in practicable components.
Prioritizing the issues increases the probability of moving the client on the way to success. So, it
should take a first phase as a prime task. Concerning the explanations that are specified above,
the counselor established the three goals of counseling processes as followed.

A. The immediate goals

 Discoursing with problems that have connection with academic
performance
 Resolving the undesirable or unreasonable thoughts that are
usually coming to the mind of the client.
B. The intermediate goals
 Building the clients self-esteem and to let the client to think as she
is a deserving individual.

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 Encouraging the client on how to defend those who try to attack

sexually.
C. The ultimate goals
 To empower the client in well-adjusted manner and to develop an
optimistic view towards her life and the world at large.
 To support the client grow an awareness to crack her own
upcoming complications by herself.
 To face her encounters of life and accepting the certain one and
live an industrious life.
 The seventh Session of the counseling

The Objective of the counseling session

Previous status of the counseling session: major causes of the client’s problems were identified

The Present objective: to help the client to avoid irrational thoughts.

Techniques used to resolve the negative thoughts: the cognitive behavioral therapy, rational
emotive behavior therapy and eclectic approach used to dispute the irrational thoughts
(negative stereotype of the client) that she developed about all males. In addition to this,
the therapeutic techniques mentioned above can help to avoid the feeling of guiltiness, the
negative thoughts like helplessness, hopelessness, prolonged anxiety and loneliness that
would be the result of sexual violence.

Session summary

Based on the counselor’s question, the client (Genet) replied her reasons why she developed the
negative stereotype towards all men. She said, “I have been sexually violated or raped by my
brother the one whom I trust that is my reason not to trust all men coming to my life”. And also
she says that is why I hate males in general. After her shocking momentum of sexual violence
many boys tried to form sexual relation with her. But she immediately ignores them. Whenever
boys come close to her she thinks as they are coming to fulfill their sexual desire. For her all
males are the same and created to harass her. That was her negative thought that she experienced
after that day. The other thing that frightens her was the infection of HIV/AIDS and STDs. In

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disputing irrational beliefs using rational emotive therapy, the counselor define the problem of
trying to forget the incidence, negative thoughts including suicidal thought and unable to deal
with academic tasks indicate the consequence (C) following the irrational beliefs (B) and the
activating events (A). Thus, the counselor believed and performed that replacing the irrational
thoughts of the client in to rational and acceptable interpretations brings a better life pattern of
emotion and behavior.

Finally, the client(Genet) got an insight and realized that her belief of hating all males, trying to
commit suicide, filled with confusion when thinking about future, filling with guilty while
thinking about past was the result of irrational thoughts. So, she decided to accept the reality and
to avoid mistaken thinking.

 The eighth Session of counseling

The Objective of the counseling session

The Previous status: the client (Genet) has got a clear insight to avoid her irrational thoughts.

The Present objective: to help the client how to develop high self-esteem and tackle the
committers of sexual violence.

The summary of the counseling Session

Based on the question asked by the counselor, Genet replied that as it was difficult time she
passed and she was not ok to tolerate sexual behavior. So, she easily became furious and angry
for any type sexual harassment. The counselor reacted on this behavior by using disputation
techniques to avoid her dichotomous thinking now she is likely to adapt such easy cases but if it
grows to a form of physical violence, she developed her insight to make it a legal case and
inform it to police stations when she insists that thing wrong is going to happen especially related
with extreme sexual harassment or violence..

The counselor and the client revised and discussed on how to develop self-confidence, self-
esteem, self-efficacy and other forms of coping and problem solving skills during the counseling
session. Then we came in to a common understanding of how to tackle sexual harassment.

 The ninth Session of the counseling

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The objective of the counseling session

Previous status of the counseling session: the client (Genet) has clearly understood how to
tackle and protect sexual violence committers.

Present objective: to help the client how to develop concentration and effective in her study.

Session summery

Though there had been domestic activities Genet performs, she had time for study. The
difficulties that she often faced in her academic activities were lack of motivation and study
skills. In this particular situation, the counselor used directive counseling procedure in order to
help the client learn the simplest, organized, and planned study techniques which in turn
motivates the client to study. Some of the techniques are mentioned as followed.

- Creating a vision board.

- Choosing silent place which is free from sound distraction or sound pollution.
- Scheduling the time for each lessons.
- Putting specified topics that are going to be studied.
- Preparing a time table
- Previewing the topics and sub topics.
- Keeping the cleanliness of the study room.
- Keeping the study room well-ventilated.
- Question the topics
- Starting intrinsic reading
- Rehearsing what has been read.
- Revising the lesson twice or more in every study time.

In addition to this, the counselor also advised the client to perform a relaxation technique and
to use a recreational activity when she feels stressed because of the prolonged stay at one
place. Genet was so happy regarding the study techniques which are shared by the counselor
even she was eager to apply them at home.

 The tenth counseling Session

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The Objective of the counseling session

The Previous status: Genet (the Client) has developed the knowledge of study skill.

Present objective: To avoid the feeling of hopelessness and loneliness

Recommendations

Genet was not happy and comforted in this session compared to the last two sessions. As the
discussion issue was about hopelessness and loneliness, go went back to the time she was raped
and started weeping and showed expression of grief because no one was able to help her even
she shouted a lot and needed for help. That was what she experienced. The counselor questioned
the client about her feeling, and she replied that this feeling of grief forces her to weep when she
thinks about the trauma she experienced.

The counselor has given time to the client to be calmed. Then the counselor told to the client
what she has to do when she feels unhappiness, loneliness and helplessness. And the counselor
advised her to use the techniques of cognitive restructuring in order to correct her perception.
This helped her in developing good communication and interaction with others.

 The eleventh counseling session

The previous status: the client could be hopeful, interactive and friendly.

The present objective: to avoid irritable behavior of the client

The summery session:

Genet was easily irritable, angry, furious, less interactive, quarrelsome, shameful, highly
detached from friends, filled with guilty and unable to cope with problems when we meet at the
beginning but after restructuring her cognition, she perfectly changed her previous odd
behaviors. Now, Genet is completely free and happy of her life and made good interaction with
friends.

 The twelfth counseling Session

Termination and Follow up

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Previous status: the client’s irritable behavior improved.

Present objective: To discuss on the client’s changes or progresses and future opportunities.

Session Summary

The client reported that she was becoming good from one day to the other. Her pessimism replaced
with optimism. Her sexual relationship with a man was improved. She became strong in social
interaction and psychologically stabled. Her view about life and the world changed. She developed
an insight in protecting sexual harassment from its easier to the sever one. She has got an insight
how to report to the police station when she faces sexual violence. She promised not to ignore
males.

Regarding her academic activities, she has brought change in her study skill. She believed that the
skills that she obtained from the sessions helped her to be motivated and inspired. And she hoped
that her achievement will be good. The counselor assured the client that the confidentiality of the
counseling process as a whole would and will be kept.

Finally, the counselor and the client exchanged their telephone number to meet and discuss if the
problem will be relapsed. The counselor also planned to call and talk to the client as a follow up
mechanism until she is fully confident to deal with her personal problems before the counseling
relationship is terminated.

Recommendation

In the whole counseling sessions, the client was very cooperative, active participant, volunteer and
had a strong desire to change her behavior. She had also been committed in making actions and
decision and was active enough in performing the assignments given to her.

11. Results obtained/change observed

At the time of interventions on sexual violence, I could observe a number of changes.

Some of the changes are listed as followed:-

 The client’s awareness concerning the sexual violence is raised.

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 The techniques that are used during the counseling session helped the client to avoid
the undesirable behavior.
 The psychological, social, health and legal issues are dealt appropriately.
 The client’s self-esteem, self-efficacy and confidence became high.
 The client’s unprotected sexual behavior, interaction with others, management of
sexual harassment are improved
 Lack of attention on studies, Irritability and suicidal thought has been removed from
the client.

12. The opportunities and challenges faced during intervention

Various opportunities and challenges have been observed in the sessions of the intervention.
12.1. Opportunities
 It increased my feeling in becoming a counselor.
 There was a regular support and feedback.
 Helped me to build a linkage with the school.
 It helped me to realize my potential.
 I have got big opportunity how to identify and intervene the problems
 It helped me refer books and gain knowledge of counseling in a better way.
12.2. Challenges
 The transportation problem.
 Client’s heavy domestic activities.
 Sometimes there were problems observed regarding disclosing about sex relates
issues (taboos).
 The shortage of time to organize and compile the report.

13. Personal reflection of the course

I have good reflection and have understood more about the course and some of the
recommendations that will help to improve the course explained as followed.

14. Importance of the course and Lesson Learnt

Regarding the importance, in doing practicum, I have gained a big opportunity in transforming
the theory into practice. Additionally,

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 It helped me having a better understanding about the social problems.

 It helped me applying different counseling theories in the counseling session.
 I have advanced my knowledge of problem solving mechanisms.
 It has given me the chance to evaluate various types of sexual violence and harassment.
 I have developed my listening, speaking and response skills.
 It helped me in evaluating my personal interaction with others.
 It helped me more how to handle different cases.
 Helped me to evaluate myself how effective I am in a helping relationship under close
supervision.
 Helped me to share experience in real life situation.
 Helped me to evaluate my professional growth.
 It developed my report writing skill.
 Generally as a social psychologist I have observed a number of social problems which
needs our support. So, I want to advance my knowledge and help the people in need.

15. Recommendations that will help to improve the course

First of all, I would like to appreciate this practicum attachment of Social Psychology because it
enable us to make sure that how far we are capable to apply theoretical ideas we learned in class
into practice and it also helps us to add knowledge that is not addressed in the classroom from
social environment where real problems are observed.

 The counseling session will be more interesting if the instruments like sound recorders are
accessed.
 . It would be better if the budget is allocated by the University for Practicum Attachments.
Because, there may be some interventions which requires finance.
 It is better to start the course early to improve the complications that appear at end that are
related with time.

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