Child Centered Counselling Training in Ooty - Alliance India

This training in Ooty was for Alliance India - CHAHA project. This training was completed for 20 participants who were mainly counsellors or the supervisors of the project.The participants came from 10 districts in Tamil Nadu. 

Our resource team consisted of Jeeva Raghunath - professional storyteller, Chandra - theatre artist and our director Magdalene Jeyarathnam. The feedback and evaluation we received from the participants was excellent. The entire workshop was for 4 days from 19 to the 22 May 2008. 

The participants work with children who have HIV or whose parents have HIV/AIDS.

By the end of the workshop all participants learnt to tell stories, help children tell stories, draw, help children enact dramas, change the story line into something they want etc.

We also learnt fun exercises which help children to remember to take ART.

Workshop on Mental Health - April 2008

“The workshop had an equal balance of information on mental health and mental illness and enabled to get insights into the problems as well as the solutions …………..…. The different types of treatment for the mental illness and the well being measures for a sound mental health was a valuable learning ………………..The concepts were explained in simple way ………The activities helped to understand the concept in a more easier way………………..Excellent hospitality ……..” Ms.Cynthia Xavier, Stella Maris College student of M.Phil Social Work. 

Certificates distribution and Feedback

“The Workshop was excellent , informative and very useful…………….Learnt on the counselling aspect of dealing with mentally ill people……… Liked the methodology and it was fun…………….Wonderful hospitality…………….” Mr. Mohan Babu, Counsellor, Hopers Foundation.  

 “The workshop was very useful for me …………….. Learnt about Mental health and the various other topics …………I liked the methodology …………..The hospitality services were fine ………..” Mr. S.B.I Nathan, Manager,Child Haven International, kaliyampoondi, kancheepuram District.

“The workshop was good and very useful …….. Learnt about on mental health and mental illness and the counsellors approach towards handling various issues ……The methodology was wonderful and we enjoyed it ……….The hospitality and arrangement of the training programme was really good…………”Mr. G.Viswesvaran,  Hopers Foundation.

“This workshop on Mental Health was very useful to me …………. Learnt on mental health , mental illness, depression, self esteem, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, hyper activity  and a lot more……………. The methodology included personal sharing, group discussion, individual presentations, brain storming methods, practical sessions etc……………..” The hospitality was very good   …………..” Ms. Sankari, Sahodran, Chennai.

“The workshop was very good …………….. Learnt about  mental health , mental illness, mental retardation, stress management, bipolar disorder, problem solving techniques, etc ………The games and group discussions conducted for all the four days were very good………. The food was really good ………..” Mr. C.Sudhakar, Sahodran, Chennai.

Certificates distributed by Adhilakshmi advocate, High Court

“The workshop was good and informative ………Learnt various  aspests of mental health and mental illnesses………..The games were good ……… Good hospitality” Mr.Padamanaban - Child Haven

“The workshop sessions were informative and easy to learn ……. The sessions enabled us to implement the techniques practically with regard to the problems our clients are living with………………… Learnt many games and activities ……………Excellent hospitality” Mrs.Nalini Mothi, Director from Asha Kirana Hospital, Mysore 

“The sessions was very useful to my own personal life and was informative ………..Learnt a lot on mental illness and mental well being……….. I liked the games and activities that were conducted during the sessions ………. Thank you very much for all the services….” Mr.J.Ramakrishnan, Child Haven

“The workshop was very nice……….. Learnt about mental illness, how to improve self esteem, managing our stress, the difference between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation, and the different kinds of therapies used ………….I liked the methodology ……Good hospitality services…………” Mr. Kamalakannan,Child Haven International 

Mental Health Workshop - Day 3 - April 28, 2008

Group Discussions  in progress - Mohan from Hopers Foundation in discussion with Nalini from Asha Kirana, Mysore and Kamalakanan from Child Haven, Kancheepuram Dt, Tamil Nadu.

Cynthia from Stella Maris College, Chennai, Padmanaban from Child Haven and Sudhakar from Sahodaran in discussion

Sudhakar from Sahodaran making a presentation

Role play session - Visvesvaran from Hopers Foundation playing client, Sankari from Sahodaran as counsellor and Ramakrishnan and Fr Nathan as observors.

Sankari making her presentaion

Day 2 of the mental health workshop

Participants enthusiastically taking part in an activity.

Sculptors at work...

Workshop on Mental Health

Different activities that took place during the workshop. We had discussions, watched a video, and did exercises.