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.

Training on Orientation to life skills for the staff in the government home on Sep 26th

Training was conducted on the importance of life skill program for the house masters from the government homes. Recently there has been a spate of events happening in the government homes. It ranges from bullying other children to the recent murder of staff in Tanjore. The ministry of socail defence in response is continuing to do the good work by training the staff on child friendly counselling skills and orienting them on various developmental needs and aspects of up bringing a child.

Our founder did an orientation of the life skills training that will be held in the home soon. The life skills programme is going to be an ongoing programme in the government home. Some of the staff will be trained to do the life skill programme. This  2 hour orientation will help the staff learn the importance of life skills education. 

Upcoming Counselling Workshops

Center for Counselling in Chennai  announces it’s upcoming counselling workshops

October 2008

Counselling through Human Development

28 Oct Tues to 31 Oct Fri

November 2008 

Handling loss and grief

Nov 28th Fri , 29th Sat and 30th  Sun

December 2008

Crisis Intervention

Dec 27^th Sat to Dec 29^th Mon

All sessions are 10am to 5pm.

Counselling through Human Development (28th to 31st October) - This workshop will take one through the life-long process of human development. From this workshop one will be able to understand the counselling needs at different stages of human life, and the challenges faced in each stage.

Handling Loss and Grief (28th to 30th  November) - Grief is a natural, healthy process that enables one to recover from terrible emotional wounds. Understanding the nature of grief can help one to better cope with loss. Grief that is left unresolved may trigger depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, or other serious problems.

Crisis Intervention (27^th to 29^th December) - Crisis intervention can be crucial stage in victims. This workshop will focus on how to help victims confront the reality of what happened, begin to deal with the crisis, go beyond the pain and emotional trauma toward new strength and opportunities for growth and change.

Video recording and playback will be used for training purposes.

The workshops will be led by Magdalene Jeyarathnam, Founder of the Center for Counselling. She has worked as a consultant in counselling training, and curriculum development, for several organization including TANSACS (Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society), and the Governments of Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand.

The Workshop Venue is Center for Counselling Office –

18 Radhakrishnan Salai, 9th Street, 3rd Floor, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.

Telephone numbers: 044- 42080810/ 9884700174/ 9884100135

Email:info@centerforcounselling.org

magdalene@centerforcounselling.org

thamilarasi@centerforcounselling.org