Sunday, July 25, 2010

Indigenous Therapeutic Counselling: Indian Context


India has a long history of philosophy, education and healing systems that have been focused on the holistic wellbeing of people. However, counselling per se has not existed in the Indian subcontinent as a well-defined therapeutic modality. Even contemporary Indians tend to attribute various mental health issues to evil spirits, evil eye or supernatural powers and prefer to go for magico-religious remedies.
In the recent years, the demands of industrial and educational globalisation have initiated counselling and guidance services in India.  In spite of the fact that some Indian therapists integrate yoga and meditation practices into counselling and psychotherapy process, there are no indigenous counselling models that define precise therapy setting, distinctive counselling stages, culture-specific theoretical basis and exclusive mode of practice which would influence the process and outcome of therapy to satisfy the Indian psyche.
The author, a professional counsellor, uses autoethnography  qualitative research method, identifies the dilemmas in applying Western models of counselling in the Indian context postulates a culture-specific therapeutic counselling model for India.

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2 comments:

  1. India has unique cultural characteristics. culture and sub-cultures are there. Hence the counselor to be a culture interpreter, culture mediator and an agent for culture change. Cultural sensitivity - important skill needed for an Indian Counselor.

    Fr.Jomon Kerala, India

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