Ali’s Reflections…
FAQs
Yes, DCS is designed to suit even those who do not have prior theoretical knowledge of psychology. If you are fascinated by human behaviour, you will get ample opportunity to dive deeper into understanding human emotions and behaviour!
I have been ‘just a housewife' since the last 20 years. I don't know if I can understand the course.
The course is simple and at a very practical level and helps you to understand relationships. We do not have textbooks or syllabus. We will mail you short notes which are easy to understand and comprehend. DCS helps you to become more self-aware and identify your hidden potential. You can certainly use DCS as a means of self-growth as well as to kick start your second innings in a new and meaningful field like counselling.
As long as you are able to understand and reflect the other person’s feelings and emotions, and have a basic knowledge of English, you will be able to go through the course without any difficulty.
While you would have gained theoretic knowledge in the field of psychology, DCS will complement your learning to enhance your practical skills to be able to actually deal with different types of human behaviour and issues. It is totally experiential without any theory or text book. Internships at various institutions of your choice help you with practical learning.
DCS can be managed along with your existing career to start with. You can use this one year journey to identify your core strengths and make a gradual shift into the world of human behaviour, which is immensely satisfying.
Counseling is a two-way process. When you work on self, you are able to help others better as you experience the change in yourself. Simultaneously, helping others also makes you a better person and expands your perception on various aspects of life. In fact you may be more effective in some ways because you will be able to empathize with others who are facing trauma. Also, counseling at the Academy is free and you can meet up and discuss with any one of us who you feel comfortable with.
It could possibly be a little overwhelming in the beginning. However, we will train you to emotionally insulate yourself and not get affected. Managing your own emotions and preventing burnout forms a very important part of the course. Throughout the course, we take up several case studies and role-plays to help you to empathize, and emotionally detach yourself from your counselee.
You can certainly pick up all the practical skills of counselling and reach out to people in whichever sector you are concerned about. You will in fact be more mature and understanding of people’s issues due to your long work experience. You can, if you wish, become a part of our team of volunteers working in hospitals, and guide, help and give emotional support to patients and their care-givers. That way you can surely do meaningful work – and of course, you can choose to take up counselling as a career option as well.
Yes, if you are a caring and sensitive human being and have keen interest in human behaviour then after detailed discussion, we will guide you how to adapt yourself to the program. Educational qualifications do not determine your eligibility to the course.
DCS provides an ‘environment for learning’ which includes role plays, demonstrations, face to face interactions, understanding a person’s body language, building rapport using non-verbal cues etc. All this is best imbibed in a classroom environment, both from the faculty as well as your classmates. You will have personal interaction with people from different ages and stages in life which can significantly broaden your horizons and change your attitude towards life and relationships. Well you may get used to the travel since it is only twice a week, and you may find others you can share transport with.
We have four teams and most topics are covered four times. In case you are going to miss a class with your team, you can attend the same with any other team. So, if you plan systematically, you can take the break without actually losing any class. We will guide you suitably.
We do not give any guarantee of jobs. However, our students are working in a wide range of institutions including schools, colleges, NGOs, corporate offices, government institutions, and some have even opened their own counselling centres. In fact, many organizations reach out to us when they need counselors. All such vacancies are put up on the website for the benefit our students.
We have had innumerable students coming from various places and some from even other countries to pursue this program (Salem, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Iran, Tumkur, Maldives etc) You can take up a PG accommodation near to the Academy and pursue your DCS as well as take up internship in other organisations to hone your counselling skills, or take up part-time job to occupy your free time. We will guide you suitably.
We have consciously kept away from any affiliation or recognition, though we were offered affiliations to reputed institutions. All our courses have been designed without exams and tests, hence that gives you ease of learning with any pressure of completing portions or being worried about exams, grades or marks.
We are members with fully voting rights of the World Federation for Mental Health, USA.
DR. ALI KHWAJA B.Tech(IIT),MIE, MIIE, Ph.D
Chairman of Banjara Academy, Counsellor, Columnist
Principal faculty, Life skills coach and perpetual student
When we look back on a lifetime’s work and experiences, what really matters is how much we enjoyed (and contributed) to the journey, and not the destination that we have reached. Since childhood I was fascinated with human beings (often animal beings too) and their behavior.
Wanting to contribute my mite towards welfare of individuals, I sought out ways and means to reach out and enrich quality of life through empowerment, and not by charity. It is a joy to see how Banjara and Banjarites have flourished in the past over four decades and have made a mark in the world of human behaviour and counselling, and I look forward always to include more and more people into the ever growing Banjara family.