PHILIPPINE Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA hold its 60th National Midyear Conference on October 23–24, 2025, at the Bohol Tropics Resort (Day 1) Graham Ave, Tagbilaran City and Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran, J. Clarin St. Purok 3, Dao, Tagbilaran City, Bohol (Day 2). The theme for this year’s mid-year conference, “PGCA Legacy: Stories to Conquer New Glories,” is so timely to address some of the issues and concerns, the country is facing nowadays.
A midyear conference is typically held halfway through an organization’s fiscal or academic year and serves several important purposes, depending on the context. This midyear conference is a checkpoint and momentum-builder, it helps organizations or groups reflect, realign, and refocus for success in the second half of the year.
A remarkable opening program was held at Bohol Tropics. Atty Handel Lagunay expressed an inspirational message for all the delegates from the different parts of the country. One of the highlights of the two-day activity is the oath-taking of the new board passers of the Registered Guidance Counselors’ Licensure Examination.
On the second day, Holy Spirit School hosted the workshops for the different sessions. Room assignments for the different sessions were provided. The sessions were categorized as: Basic Course, Intermediate Course, and Advance Course.
The following topics were considered for basic course sessions: Brief Introduction to Existential Humanistic Counseling, Wired to Connect: Cracking the Code of Group Energy, Navigating Life’s Storms: Enhancing Client and Counselor Well-being through Adversity Quotient, and From Our Stories to Our Strategy: Co-Designing Effective Employee Assistance Program (EAPs).
Considered as intermediate course are the following topics: Topography: Unfolding Stories (Bibliodrama: Psycho-Spiritual Approach), Becoming Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Professionals, Know Your Impact: Leveraging AI Tools for Research in Counseling, and Creating Safe Spaces: Trauma-Informed Approaches for Student Well-being.
Five topics were considered a advance courses: A Journey to the Qualitative Research, Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Navigating Grief Experiences of Students, Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Applications and Interventions in Counseling, Empty Chair- A Technique: A Magical Approach Towards Healing and Wellness, and Family Sculpturing: A Journey Towards Wellness.
The participants are looking forward for the end-of-year activity for the additional inputs for committed, dedicated, and competent guidance and counseling services for the new generations.
