Psychological Well-being of the

Society: Need for Professional

Mental Health Counselor
Presented by
P.K. Saru
Psychotherapist and Managing Director
Asha Counselling and Training Services, Coimbatore, India

11 August 2010
© 2008 Asha SEVA
 Healing

Self Other

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All of us are Born relational. We
need relationship to know who we
are. We need each other to grow
and change.
Rechared Erskine

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What is Mental Health?

The sense of well-being

physically emotionally,
socially and spiritually.

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Counseling is the need of the Hour

 Breakdown of joint family .

 Globalization and communication
explosion.
 Advancement of technology.
 Multiple roles of women.
 Education.
 The gap between the haves and the
have nots
 Poverty
 Natural Calamites
© 2008 Asha SEVA
 What is NOT Counselling?
• Counselling is NOT advising
• Counselling is NOT deciding for others
• Counselling is NOT solving others’ problems
• Counselling is NOT just suggesting
• Counselling is NOT selling
• Counselling is NOT compelling
• Counselling is NOT directing
• Counselling is NOT quick answers
© 2008 Asha SEVA
 What IS Counselling?
• Counselling is helping through talking
• Counselling is empowering self
• Counselling is using one’s full capacity
• Counselling is based on mutual respect
• Counselling is facilitating solution
• Counselling is taking charge of one’s life
• Counselling is coping with life’s stresses
• Counselling is enabling choice or change
© 2008 Asha SEVA
 Why Counselling?
• To talk freely and openly
• To explore various aspects of one’s life and
feelings
• To express bottled up emotions
• To deal with grief, bereavement and depression
• To feel supported in pain and distress
• To gain clarity and choose freely
• To ventilate fears, anxieties and trauma

© 2008 Asha SEVA

 Goal of Counseling
Autonomy

1.Awareness
2.Spontaneity

3. Intimacy

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 Counselling in NGOs
• Employee Counselling
– Social Workers
– Field Staff
• Client Counselling
– Benefactors
– Relatives/care takers
– Friends

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 Counselling in NGOs
Aim is to improve employees’ and
benefactors’ physical, emotional and
social wellbeing, and capacity to work

© 2008 Asha SEVA

 Counselling Skills in NGOs
• Social Workers – better relations
• Support Staff – better understanding of
stake holders’ emotional state and
empathic response

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 Scope for Counselling in NGOs
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Addiction
• Mental retardation
• Child labour

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 Client Counselling
• Emotional support
• Relief from stress, trauma and pain
• Support for depression and grief
• Accepting reality
• Conflict resolution
• Problem solving

© 2008 Asha SEVA

 Organisations recommending
Counselling
• ILO – International Labour Organisation
• UNICEF
• DCI- Defense for Children International
• CRIN – Child Rights Information Network
• WHO – World Health Organisation

© 2008 Asha SEVA