A national-level collective has been formed here to enhance the efficiency and practical knowledge of counsellors and help people facing psychological problems.
The members of the collective are practicing counsellors having a diploma or degree from any of the recognised universities in the country.
The professional collective named ‘Indian Counsellors Association’ would be inaugurated by Minister for Panchayat and Social Welfare M.K. Muneer in the city on Sunday, said the association chairman K. Sivarajan on Thursday.
Facilitating continuing education for practicing counsellors and providing counselling programme for students with learning disabilities as well as their parents would be some of the priority tasks of the new collective of counsellors, said Dr. Sivarajan.
The counsellors’ association would conduct orientation programme for new entrants to the counselling fields as well as offer refresher programmes for practicing counsellors, he said.
“We have prepared a calendar for the next year’s programme,” said Dr. Sivarajan.
As part of extending counselling services to newer areas and sectors in the society, the association would also organise customised counselling programmes to address psychological problems of groups including women in distress, differently abled children, their parents, youths getting ready for marriage, couples, employers from different industries, and senior citizens.
According to a study conducted by the State government, it was found that nearly 13 per cent of students in schools faced one or the other kind of learning disabilities.
“Addressing their worries by providing counselling services to the students as well as their parents is on of our prime objectives,” said Dr. Sivarajan.
The association, in connection with its formal inauguration on Sunday, would organise two seminars at the Government Training College auditorium in the city.
While one seminar would focus on ‘Learning disabilities in children and their causes,’ the other would be on ‘Behavioural disorders in children.’
Those who would like to register for the seminar could contact the organisers at 9846634678.