Charis Counselling Center opens in Dimapur
Dimapur, January 31 (MExN): Charis Counselling Center opened on Friday, January 28, 2017 with Rev Dr Wati Aier, Principal Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS) inaugurating the facility here at Dimapur. The center, located at Grace Cottage, Lake View Colony, Khermahal, Dimapur, is the brain child of Centena Aier, a trained counsellor from Singapore Bible College.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Aier noted that such a counselling center was the need of the hour for society and predicting that ‘mind counselling’ will become a growing need to cater to the challenges of a modern world.
Referring to studies done of physical illness and the subsequent medical treatment in hospitals, he pointed out that a big percent of patients who visit hospitals are actually in need of psychological therapy. “Many of our health problems can be solved if we can bring healing to our minds”, he said.
Dr Aier expressed his firm belief that Charis Counselling Center, which is rooted in Christian principles, will grow into a place where patients will find peace, comfort and new hope in their journey of life.
Explaining the purpose behind opening such a center, Centena said that “it was a response to a special calling” as she saw “a greater need in helping others, especially those hurting emotionally”. She said that there was a great need of counselling among different age groups in our society keeping in view the rate at which our society, family, peer groups of different age are undergoing change.
“In a society today that seem to value competence and performance, the need for tending to one’s emotional growth becomes less important and often an area neglected and compromised”. Centena also laments that despite the urgent need, our society is yet to open up to the ‘concept, idea and need of counselling’.
She further explains that the biggest taboo in our society with regard to counselling is that counselling is meant only for people with psychological issues. “The fear of finding out and how society will brand them is a fear. We need to break out of this”.
Expressing her personal philosophy, Centena sees the work of counselling as a restoration within families and individuals, of empowering clients to manage their issues and experience healing. “In this broken world we are touched by difficult relationships at work or school or even at home, faced with crisis situation, losses, trauma, etc”.
She also explains that counselling is no easy task and there are no quick-fix solutions. “The process of counselling takes one to examine parts of self that are broken, bringing to awareness what needs to be repaired. It is like laying a foundation for a home; starts with one brick at a time, until the house in built, one step at a time until life is transformed”.
It may be mentioned that Centena has done her Bachelor of Divinity at Union Biblical Seminary from 2007-2011 and M.A in Counselling (2014-2016) from Singapore Bible College. She also received additional training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Choice Theory Reality Therapy (CTRT), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Addictions Therapy and Expressive Therapy.
Since returning to Nagaland, she has worked with families, individuals, secondary schools and rehabilitation centers. She has handled different clients with issues such as depression, self-esteem, anger issues, grief and loss, personality disorder and schizophrenia.
