Psychiatric Counselling

PSYCHIATRIC  COUNSELLING


Continuous Counselling is conducted by the doctors of PIMS for the prison staff and the inmates. A huge difference in the behaviour was noticed in few of the inmates. Psychiatry is both a way of understanding human behaviour and of helping people with their emotional difficulties and personal problems.

 

  • PEDAGOGY

The group session was held with 4 prisoners on 3rd march in Kalapet jail, Puducherry at 3:00 PM for 1.5 hours. They were specifically called for the session as their release had been cancelled by the government and their state of mind was disturbed more than usual.

The session started with a brief introduction of everyone. The main purpose of the session was to build rapport and make sense of the current state of these inmates and also, to provide them a space where they could vent out and express their thoughts and feelings.

The activity done during the session entailed 5 questions that the inmates had to answer. These questions were-

  1. Which animal would you like to be in your next birth?
  2. Which bird would you like to be in your next birth?
  3. Which flower would you like to be in your next birth?
  4. Which story has stuck with you through all these years?
  5. Who is your role model in life?

 CASE STUDY

  • RAVI

It was observed that Ravi is an introvert and because of minimal exposure to life he was hesitant to emote and express. However, it was noticed that when he was given a little nudge, he was able to appropriately respond. After realising that his friends were being validated and heard, he also slowly started sharing whatever little he could.

  • PREM

He was very intense throughout the session. At one point, he also broke while expressing his thoughts. It was also observed that he was quite analytical (deeply processing everything).

He also came across very well read. He came across someone who understood the lessons of life. He was very philosophical in his approach and his speech. He had a high pitch. He had a point of view and at the same time he was respectful of other people views and where they were coming from.

After the sessions was conducted, they seemed very pleased and excited in the sense that they were very eager to show us around and talk about the different activities (showing temple, goshala) they are involved in. The reciprocation was so inclusive that they offered the sacred vibhuti (holy ashes) to us which is their aspect of closeness for them to the divine.

  • OUTCOME

The purpose was to provide them the guidance for the future. Apart from that hearing their conversation, it felt the need to direct them to live in the moment because all of them were either caught up in the past or in the future and when things did not work out according to their wish, it led to a disappointment and loss of faith in themselves and even in the divine. It was very natural for us to bring them back to the present moment.