Child centered counselling approaches , 17 to 20 November 2008

We have 11 participants coming from the World Vision Projects, 1 participant from Clinton Foundation. 

The resource persons for this workshop are

1. Magdalene Jeyarathnam
2. Eric Miller
3. Mrinalini Sekar
4. Chandra 
5. Monique

The day one of the workshop was handled by Mr Eric Miller, Professor - Image Animation College and the Founder of the World Storytelling Institute(WSI). You can read more about the World Storytelling Institute on the following website - www.storytellinginstitute.org

Participants did a whole lot of exercises which reiterated the importance of storytelling. By the end of the day participants practiced their skills of telling stories to children.

On the day two we had a session on Art as therapy which was facilitated by Magdalene Jeyarathnam. Some of the exercises proved that there was a lot of ventilation through colours and symbols. Participants were encouraged to use Art as a medium to express themselves. We also had an introduction to Music as therapy for which Monique who was visiting Chennai for a conference on music therapy presented some important information of how she uses music with children. She demonstrated how she conducts a session using music as a powerful medium of communication.

Moment/ dance as therapy was the session that followed. 

Day three we had Chandra showing us some exercises and games which could be used for children. Role play, enacting a situation, redirecting it all help us see what children want in their lives.

Day Four we went through developmental milestones of ages 5 to 15 years. Then we discussed cases that the counsellors were handling currently. We found stories for each of the situation presented. We had another session of difficult cases with the group finding different methods of coping with those situations using stories, drawing, some games etc.

The feedback from the participants was very positive.

“This is one of the best workshop that I have attended, it is very informative, very enthusiastic and very much practical.  The few points that I learnt from the workshop was the different therapies to get the children in track. I liked the methodology very much , it kept me lively and very energetic. I wish to attend more number of training, because of the way it is organized. - Mr. S.Jeyakumar Chennai, GRACE Project World Vision.

 

“ The workshop session was really good to me to learn more things about children. It helps me to develop my skills. The workshop conducted was a pleasant atmosphere. The few points that I learnt  how to tell stories, how to teach art, how can one handle the children. As a counsellor, every person is unique, equal and never give advice. I liked the methodology very much and it is essential for children. - Ms. A.Gnana Kumari, Gutur HIV AIDS Project World Vision.

 

‘The workshop was very good. I never attended this type of counselling training, and I attended a counselling training before this workshop, but not like this, this is entirely different which I attended before. The few points which I learnt is that through the methods of story telling, art therapy and games/ dance , we could be able to deal the children, and make them to come out of their problem. I liked the method to counsel children very easily. Through this method we can be able to understand the children Psychology. Excellent hospitality’ - Tirupathi Rao.D,  Gutur HIV AIDS Project World Vision.

 

“The workshop session are very appropriate. Few points that I learnt was Music , Dance, Story telling and key counselling skills. All the activities very appropriate and very good. The methodology was very good. I can improve a lot in my work place.- G. Benjamin, Hyderabad HIV AIDS Project World Vision.

 

‘The workshop session was very informative and easy to understand and I also enjoyed. The therapies which are play based methods were helpful to ventilate. I liked the methodology and it is very apt for children”. - Sam Martin Chennai, GRACE Project World Vision.

 

“The workshop session was very good , I enjoyed all the sessions. I learnt story telling, how to tell counter stories to the problem and drama therapy, dance therapy, art therapy and how these methods can be used while  counselling children”.

- R.Prasanna Kumar Guntur, HIV AIDS Project World Vision.

 

“The workshop session was very useful and very informative. The few points that I learnt is to be self - sufficient and learn to conduct support group meetings and to do counselling for children and about how to handle children. I like the methodology it was very good and useful. I can implement in the support group meetings I conduct.

- Pramela, Chennai GRACE Project World Vision.

 

“ The workshop session was wonderful. I felt like home and not like other trainings. The timings were very convenient , I learnt about story telling therapy , music therapy and counselling through games and different activities like exercise etc. I liked the methodology very much and the games and activities gave meaning to life through this workshop. Since our work is involved in larger area, this training would surely help me to work and concentrate on little children more”. - Jayaraj,  Chennai GRACE Project World Vision.

 

“The workshop session was very interesting to know and learn. Gained knowledge to work effectively among the vulnerable children. I liked the methodology it was very interesting to learn”  - Ms. Freeda Augustin, Chennai GRACE Project World Vision.

Teacher's Training In Olcott Memorial School on 15th Nov

Magdalene Jeyarathnam and Mohan Babu facilitated a one day Teacher's training programme on 15th November in Olcott Memorial School for about 25 teachers. 

The group was divided in 3 and each group shared their own experiences of being physically, emotionally abused by parents, teachers or significant others in their lives as children. This sharing was followed by a discussion in their group as to the insights they have now as adults. What were some of the do's and don't s they need to keep in mind while working with children.

Self - calming techniques through yoga and meditation in Olcott School, Nov 8th 2008

Thamilarasi.S  facilitated a one day workshop on Self calming techniques through yoga for this group. She addressed some queries regarding handling menstrual pain and how yoga helps in relieving their pain was answered and certain simple asanas specific to the issue was taught and practiced. She also taught meditation and certain simple asanas to improve concentration. The students gave a feedback that they felt very relaxed at the end of the session.

Self - calming techniques (Yoga and meditation)

Pudumai Penn Programme - Olcott Memorial School

 

As part of the leadership training for a group of girls in the 9th standard at Olcott Memorial School, a half-day workshop was conducted. The workshop focused on Self - calming techniques using yoga. Ten girls were present in the workshop. The session started at 9 30 a.m with an introductory game, in the game everyone stood in a circle.  Anyone could begin the game by saying their name and demonstrating a [physical] motion to go with it.   Each person had said their name with their movement. This simple and interesting game helped me to learn the names of the girls. Then the session began by having an interaction about what they knew about Yoga? The students said that they were learning yoga from their school yoga master but they said they never did the asanas (postures) seriously as they were shy to do it in front of the boys.

The girls were asked to take 12 normal breaths and then they were asked to do conscious breathing. A feedback was asked and the girls said they very better able to focus with conscious breathing. The right breathing technique was taught to the girls. Few asanas incorporating the breathing technique was taught and demonstrated which was then practiced. Each student was given the opportunity to demonstrate the different posture, which was taught to them in front of the class. Individual attention to each student was given and feedback about how they felt was asked to them in between the session, to ensure that there was stability and comfort in their body while doing the asanas (postures). After doing the practice for about one and half hours. A small break was given to the girls. 

Meditation was taught to the students. During the meditative practice the students were taught to place their hands on their abdomen and the focus was on the menstrual pain which some of the girls experienced. Some simple breathing technique was taught so that it relieves the pain they experience. During the meditative practice they were also taught to place their hands on their heart and after that a small discussion was started regarding the emotions they go through when they are in a relationship. Few girls spoke frankly and shared their experience in being in any kind of a relationship and the emotions they experienced. Meditative practice was taught to help them have control over their feelings and also it will give them the ability to discriminate. After the discussion a simple specific breathing practice was taught to help the girls relax and to be better able to focus and concentrate during their examination.

We closed the session by sitting in a circle, holding hands and moving a pulse around the room as suggested by Ms.Shoba to emphasize unity within the group. 

The girls gave a very good feedback about how they felt and said they felt completely relaxed and comfortable.

 

 

 

Psychosocial issues through the human development - Workshop

      

This is a 4 day workshop. Beginning 29 October to 1 November, 2008. 

 

Resource persons list:

Magdalene Jeyarathnam - Founder, Center for Counselling

Thamilarasi - Training Manager, Center for Counselling

Sankari - Counsellor, Center for Counselling

Sandhya Palani - Part time trainer, Center for Counselling

Roshini Kumar - Counsellor, Olcott Memorial School

Eric Miller - Director, World Storytelling Institute

We had participants for the workshop from different backgrounds

 

Using Erik Erikson's 8 stages of human development as a base, we listed various issues that we have seen as issues in our experience counselling clients. Different ways of coping the transition in each stage was also discussed in groups.

 

We had extensive discussions on the different stages. We did role play sessions and many case senarios were discussed among the group. The feedback we got about the workshop was extremely positive.

Feedback from the participants 

“ The workshop was very informative, got to learn the behavioural changes in people as they grow- up; the workshop was entertaining and interactive.. I learnt few points about about counselling, children and their behaviour, sexuality - when people identity it and to deal with kids and adolescents... The hospitality was excellent”

- Mr.J.TEJHA SINGH

 

“ The workshop session was very good. The case studies and role play kept us more confident to do counselling. The few points I learnt from the workshop ..I learnt and now know about the changes and issues from childhood and late adulthood. How people think and act and how they feel. I liked the methodology and the roly plays were good. Please have more role plays so I will be easy to understand.

- Mr.M.KAMALAKANNA “Chid haven International”

 

“The workshop was very good and informative session. I learnt about counselling stratergies. Empathy towards sexuality minority groups. Understand and learnt to empathise the problems faced by both men and women during their psychological development The hospality was very good”

- Ms. GEETHA RAJENDRAN

 

“The workshop session was too good. Topic chosen by Magdalene was very appropriate for today’s busy life. Psychosocial stages of human development. Congratulations!! I was glued to the different stages explained and tuned to the lecture..Excellent hospitality I felt at home.

- Ms.MARIAM BASHER

 

“Really excellent training that center for counselling does. The way of presented sessions were well. The various stages was very interesting. The methodologies was very good. I liked the games and will implement in my classes”

- Ms.SHAKTHI DEVI “MCCSS”

 

“The workshop session was very good and very informative. I have never spoken in a group , it was like eye opener this session. The different stages were talked in depth. I really enjoyed the games. I was able break the barrier of being reserved. The hospitality was excellent”

- Ms.ASHRAF

 

Group therapy for LGBTQ community on 24th October

We had the second group therapy session. As before we had a Tamil group and an English group.

Tamil group: The topic undergoing surgery and harmone therapy.

English group: The topic we discussed was some of the sacrifices and compromises we make to hold on to a relationship. Was it worth it?

Considering the extreme weather conditions - there was such a heavy downpour and traffic in many parts of the city was jammed for 3 to 4 hours, we still managed to have 5 people who attended the tamil group and 4 people who attended the english group.

Parenting workshop on 18th October 2008 for Olcott Memorial School

 

As part of the series of parenting workshops conducted in Olcott Memorial School,  about 20 parents of 8^thstandard students from varied backgrounds were present.

Many issues like anger among the children, child not finishing homework etc were discussed. Parents and teachers worked in groups and discussed these issues. There were many suggestions from parents and teachers on healthy ways of spending time together and at home. Parents requested for regular such workshops. Parents enjoyed being in a group along with teachers and discussing some of the issues of children as a group.

Group therapy for LGBTQ community on 17th October

Center for Counselling along with Sakthi Center conducted two group therapy sessions in our office for the LGBTQ community on 17^th October in Tamil and English. 

Mr Sunil Menon from Sahodaran addressed the group and also laid out the ground rules to the participants. We discussed issues of confidentiality, documentation of the group sessions, photographs. We agreed to have a report of the session completed every week for the participants to look at if they wished. Although everyone agreed to be photographed, we agreed that a written consent from those who are on any photograph will be taken prior to the use of the photo either for funding or reporting. No names of the participants will be mentioned in our reports to funders. 

The Tamil group and the English group was facilitated by Magdalene Jeyarathnam and was co facilitated by Sankari, counsellor and Thamilarasi.S, Training Manager, all from Center for Counselling - Chennai. 

There were  about nine participants in the Tamil group and about seven participants in the English group. They was a lot of emotional ventilation among the participants, especially in the Tamil group. Many issues relating to the relationship participants had with their biological family and also coming out issues were discussed in the groups. The participants agreed to meet again on the following friday on 24^th October. 

If anyone wishes to join the group either Tamil or English, please get in touch with us.