Abstract:
The intention of this study is to evaluate post Tsunami Psychological Counseling Process
in Kalutara District. Tsunami was the worst natural disaster in the history of Sri Lanka.
Which caused more than 31000 deaths & 550000 houses were damaged. Central Bank of
Sri Lanka has estimated the damage caused by the Tsunami hazard as US $01 billion. But
it is very difficult to measure the impact of Psychological damages done by a natural
disaster.
Epidemiology of Natural Disasters is not a wide spread subject in Sri Lanka. In this
context, the possibility of drawbacks in rehabilitation programmes is very high.
This study focuses on implemented Psychological Counseling Process for Tsunami
victims. These counseling processes were launched according to psychological responses
to the disaster. But for an effective process we have to evaluate it periodically. Since this
is a qualitative research, basically the researcher has used case study method. In addition
to that functional method & comparative method also used. It has been used both primary
& secondary data. Primary data was collected by using several data collecting techniques
such as interviews & observation. Magazines, Books, Government & Non Government
reports and some websites were the secondary data. Primary data were collected by a
sample of 20 people.
This research was able to find 03 types of disaster syndromes, i.e. emotional, avoidness
and anxiety. These syndromes were categorized under Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
(PTSD). Even after a period of one year of the disaster many psychosomatic syndromes
can be identified.
On the other hand this study focused on organizational structure of psychological
counseling providers. It also examined the theoretical approaches used by these
organizations. Many drawbacks were identified in practical sessions. Interconnected
psycho social programmes were conducted by various I/NGOs. This kind of
interconnectivity was not identified in the government sector.
Inspite of that psychological counseling process need reforms. Now, Tsunami victims are
undergoing new psycho-social problems which did not appear previously.
