Study on the Healing Experience of Healing Activists in Seoul Citizens' Healing Project Maeum-on

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the healing experiences of healing activists participating in the Seoul Citizens’ Healing Project Maeum-on Program and to examine the implications of these experiences to the counseling site. Methods Using qualitative case study methods, we selected five healing activists who were part of a team as research participants from June to August 2020. Participatory observation journal was prepared from the moment the activists first met until their disbandment. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted 17 times befor, during, and after the program. Also, activity diaries, o-site sketches, and promotional materials written by activists were collected. The data Analysis was carried out using emic oding and etic coding metionds. To ensure the reliability of the study, expert meetings, member checks, and preliminary investigations were conducted. Results First, good participation experiences, interest in fields such as psychological counseling, and the belief that one’s activities make the world good became the context for healing activists to participate in healing projects. Second, the activists’s healing experience consists of receiving at the same time as giving, and was quite similar to he healing factors in counseling theory. Third, the moment of recognizing the need for conflict with colleagues, a lot of energy and time consumption, and counseling expertise was confirmed as a difficulty as a healing activist. Conclusions As the first study on the Maeum-on program, a new type of psychological program model that can spread social values was identified, and it was confirmed that a citizen-centered healing movement was possible. It can be used as basic data when developing group programs in the future.