Evening star., 1943-07-04
|YWCA Counselor
Cites Loneliness
AS Problem Here

Loneliness, q search for recrea.
ton, housing and vocational de-
eisions are involved In almost so
per cent Of the problems brought
to the counseling department Of the
USO at the YWCA at Seventeenth
and K streets NV, according to
Mrs. Eloise K. Boen, the secretary.
She Is here to assist girls new IN
Washington, Mrs. Boell explains.
but she found that loneliness can be
Just as real to a native Washing
tonian as to q newcomer. Girls VINO
have grown up here often report
that their high school friends either
have left the vicinity or are work.
ing In such separated areas OF the
city that the natives" must fnd
new friends.
Sometimes problems are compn-
Gated, of course, but more frequent-
ly they resolve themselves when
girls are persuaded to work on So
cial committees of the Government
dormitories, attend such af1airs as
the Tuesday evening newcomers
nights" at the YWCA or enter into
church and USO activities.
Once the young war worker. long.
time resident or newcomer, discov-
ers where to 60 to find friends and
fun, her troubles often are over.
As a result of such guidance, trunks
packed for the retreat back home
have been unpacked again and
rooms have begun to receive new
curtains and other little touches
which show their keepers have ac-
cepted them as home"
Work on Swing shift" hours
poses some Of the problems brought
to Mrs. Boell. Her prescription OF
q good brisk walk in the morning
before the night worker goes to bed
has produced satisfactory results in
more than one case, she said.
The range is from religious prob
lens, which are referred to min
isters; readjustment following di-
vorce, advice on the completion OF
high school and college education
and cases which are referred to
psychiatrists. War brides and serv-
ice wives have problems which come
In for q share Of attention.
Girls are referred to Mrs. Boell
by the E Street and Strong resi-
dences OF the YWCA, by DEPART
mental secretaries of the associa-
ton, by Government counselors and
by interested members of commit
tees. She works closely with the
Home Hospitality Committee, with
Jewish, Catholic and colored coun-
selors, with the USO hostess courses
and the Girl Reserve Mothers
Council.
Not a small part OF her work has
been group counseling with Girl
Reserve Clubs, Girl Reserve Moth
ers' Councils. Business Girls Clubs
; and the USO hostess training
. courses. YWCA counselors in other
: cities have called on the counseling
department of the local YWCA for
help in working out situations
which have been reported through
the families in their communities.
: For several girls who wanted to
! work in South America or United
! States territories, Mrs. Boell has
written directly. used the facilities
] of the World YWCA ONCE and the
Department Of the Interior and
;. reached persons who have lived in
E those places in order to find out
! what the prospects are for normal
social life, and how housing and
living conditions compare with war
time Washington. When the facts
have been accumulated. the idea
may have lost some of it's glamour,
j Mrs. Boeu is assisted by COM
E mittee headed by Mrs. John Thomas
,. Also included are Mrs. M. S. Pea
}. body, Mrs. Elva C. Wells, assistant
= principal of Roosevelt High School
: Miss Gwen Hurd, executive secre-
E tary of Neighborhood Councils. and
!. a member of the Washington USO
: Women's Committee, and Miss
] Genevieve Poole, chief of Employe
. Relations Branch, Civilian Person.
J mel Division. Surgeon Generals Of
flee Of the War Department.