Four days workshop on counselling therapies concludes
Dimapur, April 30 (MExN): Interacting with the participants on the fourth and final day of the workshop on ‘Counselling Therapies’ at NEISSR Conference Hall on April 30, Dr. Mathew Thuniampral, Director, Shalom Rehabilitation Centre pointed out that guidance system is non-existent in our educational institutions.
“There is a misconception on the meaning of guidance and counselling in our educational institutions. Even the basic counselling that is provided in our educational institutions is provided only to students with behavioural problems.
This kind of counselling looked onto as a punitive measure not as a therapeutic measure,” he said. He proposed to the teachers present in the programme that a model of guidance for each student should be developed so as to help the students to develop fully, not only in the intellectual sphere.
In another session, Dr. Joan Chunkapura spoke on the importance and uses of family therapy in counselling. Every one of us comes from dysfunctional family and has experienced some dysfunctions while growing up. A dysfunction how negligible it may be cannot be taken for granted; it impacts our personality and how we view the world, she explained. She taught the participants on how to use various therapies relating to family like psycho-dynamic therapy, communication therapy, structural family therapy and systemic therapy.
In a culture which is not expressive in nature, trauma can happen and is very common. More than listening and counselling, there are different other therapies that can help individuals suffering from trauma. Dr. Joan guided the Participants into practice different exercises related to different therapy like pain drain therapy, immune system boost, exercises to reduce anxiety and different forms of meditation. The participants expressed that the exercises were very beneficial and will help them in ameliorating the pains of people who need counselling and assistance. The workshop on Counselling Therapies concluded with a valedictory function graced by Akum Abraham, SI, Junior Adjutant, Nagaland Police as the chief guest. He exhorted the students to work and strive without diluting the values and the determination for which they decided to pursue the Master of Social Work Course. He on his part too promise to work in his own small ways utilizing the skills acquired from the workshop in making his work more people oriented and people friendly.
‘The workshop has changed my outlook towards counselling. It was a normal thing for me. But, this workshop has opened many doors to my approach towards counselling. It know it can help solve problems in various ways’, said a participants during the evaluation.
The workshop saw various queries and doubts being clarified on the concept of counselling and guidance. The organizers and the resource persons expressed hope and trust that the workshop will help in developing a new approach of counselling in the educational institutions. The management of NEISSR (Master of Social work Institute) would like to express our gratitude to the school authorities and NGO heads for sending their staff to attend the training.
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