15/05/2014
Cool @ School
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Cool @ School is a unique program based on psychotherapeutic intervention strategy. It is unique because all the students’ counseling programs in existence now, move on the strategy of giving information, advice and tips. Even while such programs do style themselves as counseling programs, their counseling is like the ‘counseling’ given to those about to get admission to medical or engineering courses. That is to say, their counseling has nothing to do with psychological counseling.
This is vouchsafed by the fact that Mass Counseling and Mass Psychotherapy were non-existent prior to their development by the designer of Cool @ School. These came into being as the direct result of Prof. S. Siddharthan’s research work that led to his PhD. In Cool @ School, self-mastery is the key to academic excellence. And, self-mastery is not something that could be had by mere informing, advising and tips giving. It demands enhavior management. The fact that the word ‘enhavior’ itself is a coinage by the designer of this program goes to show that the claim that this is a unique program is well founded. The structure and dynamics of the program cannot be explained in terms of conventional programs. However an attempt is made below to explain the same.
Overview of the program:
The program shall be conducted in three stages: 1) Mass Counseling of 3 hours duration. 2) Group Counseling of 2 hours duration. 3) Individual session of duration not more than 1 hour. There shall be an interval of 1 to 2 weeks between each stage of the program.
Benefits of attending the program:
As Mass Counseling has all the appearance of just another lecture class, it helps in overcoming the resistance students usually have for seeking psychological help. One who attends the Mass Counseling is enabled to carry out self examinations in an objective manner with the help of tools that lend objectivity. These tools are called monitoring devices. As the concept of monitoring device in psychology is originated by the designer of this program, it may not be understood by others without explanation. But the students shall be properly trained in the practical application of simple but highly effective monitoring devices. The monitoring devices once learnt and applied for self observation and self correction shall remain with the student for life. Thus Cool @ School is not a program meant to tide over exam fear; but it is a program that seeks to make the participants self observant and self governing for life.
The learning from the program:
Besides the above, group counseling teaches the students safe and secure manners of sharing ones problems, and taking feed backs to actualize self correction. Also it teaches them to give feed backs instead of airing mere opinions or raising criticism and the like, which will lower the quality of inter-personal relationships. Whereas the ability to give and take feed backs would foster intimacy. Thus the participants learn how to avoid conflicts and how to promote harmonious relationships. In short, they learn how to live in peace which is essential for goal oriented living characterized with creative smart work rather than mulish hard work if not downright vagrancy.
Syllabus of the program:
As therapeutic intervention is not mainly didactic but experiential in nature, it is not proper to speak of a syllabus. On the other hand it would be better to speak of the curriculum of the program. However bowing to the convention, one could mention the following as the elements of its syllabus:
• Witnessing meditation to facilitate introspection leading to enhanced awareness of one’s own thoughts, emotions and sensations on the body.
• The concept of monitoring device in psychology and, a thorough understanding of some simple but highly effective monitoring devices.
• Practical assignments:
o Behavior diaries using monitoring devices
o Enhavior diaries of challenging situations
The methodology of conducting this program:
The designer of the program shall be supervising the work of his team trained by himself. And where ever his direct intervention is contracted for, he shall be conducting the program under his direct super vision or by himself.
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For more info, please contact
Prof. (Dr.) S. Siddharthan
Director, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Therapeutic Psychology; SH College Campus, Nangiarkulangara.
Ph: 9447483225.
