Universities, community hubs offer free counseling after Itaewon tragedy

For residents seeking support in languages other than Korean, a number of universities and community hubs in Seoul are offering free counseling services.

[SHUTTERSTOCK]

The Halloween tragedy that occurred in Itaewon on Saturday led to an outpouring of grief across Korea and around the world.

Struggling to process what has happened and dealing with the trauma and grief of the disaster is an ongoing struggle for people across the country. For residents seeking support in languages other than Korean, a number of universities and community hubs in Seoul are offering free counseling services.

━ Universities

[EWHA WOMANS UNIVERSITY]

Ewha Womans University Ewha Womans University’s Student Counseling Center is offering both individual and group counseling sessions. Individual counseling sessions are available in Korean, English and Chinese, while group counseling will most likely run in Korean only. To sign up for this service, students can call the university’s Student Counseling Center. However, if you are unable to speak Korean, signing up by email is preferred.

Ewha Womans University Student Counseling Center Operating hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.) Phone number: 02) 3277-3219 / 1577-0199 (24-hour hotline) Email: ESCC@ewha.ac.kr Website: my.ewha.ac.kr/escc/

Ewha Womans University’s Student Counseling Center is offering both individual and group counseling sessions. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

[HANYANG UNIVERSITY]

Hanyang University

Individual counseling sessions will be provided by Hanyang University’s Office of International Affairs for all attending international students. Counselling is available in English, Chinese and Korean, but if you would like counseling in another language, you can also ask the office and they will see if it is possible. To sign up, you must fill out their application form by Wednesday.

Hanyang University Office of International Affairs Operating hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Mon. – Fri.) Phone number: 02) 2220-2444~2451 Application form: answer.moaform.com/answers/RNlGDY Website: oia.hanyang.ac.kr/

Individual counseling sessions will be provided by Hanyang University’s Office of International Affairs for all attending international students. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

[KOREA UNIVERSITY]

Korea University The Student Counseling Center at Korea University is offering emergency counseling services in both Korean and English. Once the student signs up to receive counseling, the center will contact them by phone to schedule an assessment interview to be done online or in person. Afterward, the university will provide additional help if necessary, such as additional counseling, medical referrals and other helpful resources.

Korea University Student Counseling Center Operating hours: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Mon. – Fri.) Phone number: 02) 3290-1540, 1543 (for humanities Students) / 02) 3290-4581 (for sciences and engineering students) Application form link: forms.gle/2HcByhL2CZNEdqBr5 (English) Website: kuscc.korea.ac.kr/

The Student Counseling Center of Korea University is offering emergency counseling services in both Korean and English. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

[YONSEI UNIVERSITY]

Yonsei University Yonsei University is offering group counseling sessions in Korean, Chinese, and English over four different days at the Counseling Center on Sinchon campus. You can also schedule individual counseling appointments through their website.

Group counseling session dates (in Korean): Nov. 2, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Nov. 4, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Nov. 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Nov. 9, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Group counseling session dates (in Chinese): Nov. 9, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Nov. 16, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (will be conducted through Zoom)

Group counseling session dates (in English): Nov. 3, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Nov. 3, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Nov. 10, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (will be conducted through Zoom) Nov. 10, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. (will be conducted through Zoom)

Yonsei University Counseling Center Operating hours: 9 a.m. – 5:20 p.m. Phone number: 02-2123-6688 (Sinchon campus) / 032-749-2070 (International campus) Application form (for sessions in Korean): forms.gle/aaW2NR28o5g1UTjD9 Application form (for sessions in Chinese/English): http://bitly.ws/wdWq Website: counsel.yonsei.ac.kr/

Yonsei University is offering group counseling sessions over four different days, at the Counseling Center in Sinchon campus. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

If your university is not on this list, contact the Office of International Affairs or the Student Counseling Center for more information on available counseling services.

━ Mental health hotlines

If you are not enrolled in a university and are in need of counseling, here are some other hotlines you can call for help:

National Center for Disaster and Trauma : 1577-0199 (in Korean only) / 02) 2204-0001 (in English and Korean)Korean Red Cross : 1670-9512 (in Korean only, however you can contact the Korean Red Cross directly if you need assistance in another language)

━ Support groups and counseling services

If you want to receive counseling in person, you can also visit these support groups or counseling centers located in Seoul and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. You can visit the support groups mentioned in this article for free, but the counseling centers’ counseling fees vary depending on which therapist you would like to see.

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Korean Psychological Association

The Korean Psychological Association is providing its own consultation service in English for those who experienced or witnessed the tragedy by phone or through their online metaverse platform. Once you sign up through the application link, the association will match you with a volunteer professional psychologist to support you and to provide additional psycho-education. The service will be provided from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day and will run until January 31, 2023.

Application link: forms.gle/x5ptupz1nPTVsU8a9

Vegan & Beyond is offering group counseling sessions on Nov. 5, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Vegan & Beyond Vegan & Beyond is a vegan restaurant located in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, and is also offering free group counseling sessions. Katherine Singer, the head of the Non-Violence Communication Center in Korea, will be leading the session in English. The session itself is free, but visitors must buy a drink to participate.

@veganandbeyondkr 33 Yeonhuimat-ro, Seodaemun District Time: Nov. 5, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Phone number: 070-7543-9139 Application form: bitly.ws/w64L

AHS Counseling Center's is holding free support group meetings on Nov. 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Adaptable Human Solutions(AHS) Counseling Center AHS Counseling Center offers free support group sessions in English on Nov. 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visitors must make a reservation with their name and phone number and send it to their email address.

Booking individual sessions, conducted in English, is also possible by booking through their website. Their fees vary reflecting the therapists’ clinical background, training and demand for services, ranging from 150,000 won to 390,000 won for a 55 minute session. If the visitor has international or overseas insurance, they might be able to receive counseling coverage.

For those who are experiencing financial difficulties and are in need of counseling, patients can book four sessions for 110,000 won per session, or 90,000 won per session if they are a student.

109 Mapo-daero, Mapo District (Seoul Office) 46 Anjeongsunhwan-ro, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi (Pyeongtaek Office) Phone number: (02) 749-7915 Email: welcome@ahskorea.com KakaoTalk: AHSInquiry (in English only) Website: ahskorea.com

Seoul Counseling Center Seoul Counseling Center is another counseling center that offers therapy sessions in Korean and English. Their fees vary depending on the provided counselor as well, ranging from 60,000 won to 330,000 won per hour. If the visitor has international or overseas insurance, they might be able to receive counseling coverage.

The center also offers group therapy sessions over five weeks which last for 80 minutes, with a group size of five to eight people. The fees for this range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won.

35 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam District (Seoul Office) 40-15 Sinheungbuk-ro, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi (Pyeongtaek Office) Phone number: 02) 542-5553 (Seoul) / 031-692-5556 (Pyeongtaek) Email: support@seoulcounseling.com Website: seoulcounseling.com

━ Techniques to help keep your mind at ease

1. Take a deep breath.

Take a deep breath in with your nose for three seconds and out with your mouth for six seconds. Focus on the feeling of your breath leaving your chest and repeat slowly until you feel at ease.

2. Breathe using your diaphragm.

Inhale until your lower abdomen swells up like a balloon, then exhale. Breathe slowly, only using your nose. Imagine that you are pushing your breath all the way down to your lower abdomen and focus on the feeling of your lower abdomen becoming heavy.

3. Try the “landing method”.

Place the soles of your feet on the ground and focus on how your feet feel. Lift your heels and put them down as hard as you can. Feel the ground by gently applying strength to your heels.

4. Give yourself a butterfly hug.

Use your arms to cross over your chest, making sure the tips of your middle finger are touching the area below your collarbone. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Tap on your chest with each hand, like a butterfly flapping its wings.

These techniques are based on information provided by the National Center for Disaster and Trauma.This article will be continuously updated as we gather more information.

BY LEE JUNG-JOO [lee.jungjoo@joongang.co.kr]