Category: Mental Health

Author: Ms. Shyamala, Ātmaprasāra volunteer 

Ātmaprasāra, a mental well-being centre in Rajapalayam, has been successfully serving the community and completed its five-year milestone in December 2025. Among its many initiatives is a strong emphasis on continuous professional development, providing regular opportunities for the volunteer counsellors to learn and grow. This helps us “sharpen the saw” and reminds us of the famous Tamil proverb attributed to poet Avvaiyar: “Katradhu kai mann alavu; Kalladhadhu ulagalavu” – what we have learnt is but a handful of sand, while what remains to be learnt is as vast as the world.

Learning is a continuous and periodic process that we eagerly look forward to. We participate in training sessions conducted by expert mentors from Anna Chandy & Associates, both offline and online, which continually refine our skills and expand our knowledge. I was fortunate to be part of a batch that underwent a seven-day in-house training programme. We also had the opportunity to undertake an online training programme with the Link Centre, UK, which helped us further hone our counselling skills and become more effective counsellors each day.

There have been many such enriching programmes over the years. One of the highlights has been the opportunity to learn from Mr Thorsten, an expert in organisational psychology. Our most recent training session was conducted by Ms Elvis, a renowned psychotherapist based in the US. The session focused on impasses in relational therapy. We explored adult and child ego states and the factors that can contribute to impasses in relationships. Ms Elvis also shared valuable insights into how people use “escape hatches” when faced with difficult relational situations and how counsellors can help them recognise and work through these patterns.

There have been many such opportunities to learn, reflect and grow. The journey with Ātmaprasāra has been truly meaningful, kindling in us a constant desire to learn more and continually enhance our counselling skills. This ongoing learning enables us to serve our clients with greater sensitivity and effectiveness, helping create meaningful change during their time with Ātmaprasāra.

Our clients come to us with immense trust, often taking the courageous step of moving beyond the stigma associated with seeking help and entering a space dedicated to self-care and well-being. Being able to accompany them on that journey is both a responsibility and a privilege.