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Hoan Nghênh (Welcome)!
In this issue, you can read
about the experiences of Phuoc
Pham, Emerge's Vietnamese
counselor. When working with
different cultural groups,
Emerge's goal is to provide the
most culturally appropriate
service possible in order to
give abusers the best
opportunity to make changes in
their lives. Mr. Pham works hard
to achieve this goal with his
Vietnamese clients.
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Vietnamese Counseling Offers
Opportunities for Change
 By
Christopher Hall,
Newsletter Editor
Each group leader in an abuser
education group brings a unique set
of skills and experiences. Phuoc
Pham, Emerge's Vietnamese Counselor,
has had a life where he has faced a
multitude of challenges. He has
chosen to work to teach others to
veer away from the path of abuse,
and help them see the advantages of
changing their abusive attitudes and
behavior toward their family.
After being in the Vietnamese
National Military Academy in Dalat
(300km north of Saigon) from
1954-1960, Mr. Pham graduated and
became an officer in the Army of the
Republic of Vietnam against the
Communist Party. He worked as a
district chief and as an assessor in
the Hue-Thua Thien Province Court.
After a total of 20 years in the
Army of the Republic, Mr. Pham was
captured by the Communist Party in
1975 and was placed into the hard
labor camps in the highlands of
North Vietnam.
Thirteen years of hard labor as a
prisoner of war allowed him to
qualify for transportation to the
United States via the
Humanitarian Offensive [HO] program,
which served Vietnamese refugees.
Beginning his career in the United
States, Mr. Pham had a strong desire
to help refugees like himself adjust
to life in their new country.
Because many Vietnamese did not
understand the laws, and were unable
to gather accurate information, they
would sometimes get in trouble with
the police.
Mr. Pham reports that in Vietnam,
when people witness domestic
violence, they do not report it.
Neighbors and family tend to lie to
protect each other from the police.
If someone violates that silence,
the abuser and others in the
community may retaliate against the
person who reports abuse.
Because of this experience in
Vietnam, when Vietnamese men commit
acts of abuse in the United States,
they may be shocked that their
neighbors call the police and that
no one retaliates against the
reporter.
Mr. Pham states that the Vietnamese
clients he works with also have a
limited understanding about what
constitutes abuse and violence. As
is true for abusers of other
cultures, many Vietnamese men do not
understand that they can be abusive
and controlling verbally.
He meets individually with each man
and allows them to tell their
version of the story, even when he
knows they are not telling him the
complete story. He is friendly
towards them and tells them the
advantages of being honest with him.
He says that he can help them learn
about the laws, and support them in
taking care of themselves and help
them have a better relationship.
Mr. Pham makes sure that when he is
educating an abuser, he also spends
time educating the abuser's family.
He will call older brothers and
sisters, mothers and fathers,
friends, and the abuser's partner.
He will educate them about abusive
behavior, and he will tell them that
he is working to help his client be
a better person. And he will also
hear from others what their
experience of the abuser has been.
Mr. Pham coordinates with probation
officers and child protective
workers. He gives them up to date
information on the abuser's
progress, and will work with these
referral sources to extend the time
for abusers who are being dishonest
or not taking responsibility for
their behavior.
He offers abusers a better
understanding of the consequences of
being abusive, as well as an
opportunity to have a better life.
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If you have any additional
questions about Emerge's
Vietnamese program or any of our
other culturally specific
groups, please contact our
office at 617-547-9879 or e-mail
us at emergedv@aol.com
Thank you for your interest and
support and we'll see you again
next month!
Regards,
Emerge:
Counseling & Education
to
Stop Domestic Violence
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