Preaload Image

Course begins from- 25th September’23 —-

Post graduate Diploma in Psycho-therapies (PGDP) is a course that covers all major psychotherapeutic approaches, with primary focus on Rogerian principles.While the syllabus is largely based on MA/M.Sc. (Psychology and Counselling) syllabii of Indian universities, it is adjusted to the specific needs of our students at Banjara and elsewhere who are interested in learning and getting a deeper understanding of the process of counseling.

We believe that to be a counselor, along with the particular skill sets, we first need to understand ourselves. The theoretical foundation will bring in a deeper insight into the bases of the counseling process and most importantly, an awareness leading to becoming a ‘person’ as a counselor.

The syllabus includes major psychotherapy frameworks structured by Freud, Ellis, Beck among others, with a primary focus on Humanistic and Rogerian approaches. The syllabus is mainly a guideline and a reference frame – the course itself follows a non-traditional path and is more process based rather than a customary “exam-marks” style. Students are expected to listen, read, study, discuss, interact and be participatory with the topics and themes to gain a wider understanding and connective learning.

This is a process-based, theoretical and experiential based course and you will get the best out of the sessions if you come well prepared. We will also have video or live sessions with Guest speakers who will give an in-depth coverage on the topics.

The highlight of the course is a Weekly Interactive Mentoring Session, which will help you to improve your understanding of the topics previously covered in the Online class. We will also have a monthly Interactive Review Session with the faculty, to discuss the important topics covered in that month. This shall further enhance your learning and application.

Course Details

  • Six-month Online course with Live classes on first three Mondays in a month for 2 hours each (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm) and one Interactive Live Review session with the faculty on the 4thMonday (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm).
  • Your Mentor: A Group Mentoring Session every week, in a smaller group, on a convenient day decided at the start of the program by the mentor and the mentees. The mentor will be your friend and guide who will help you to enhance your learning and review your progress.
  • Weekly notes, with assignments once a month
  • Monthly live sessions by Dr. Ali Khwaja (Chairman and Founder, Banjara) and other eminent Guest Faculty.

Certificate will be awarded by Banjara Academy on full attendance, timely submission of questionnaires and assignments to the satisfaction of assessors, and proper responses in sessions. Those not coming up to the expectations of Faculty will be given a participation certificate.

Eligibility

Graduates of psychology or related mental health fields, social work, or practicing counselors or those who have done or are doing Diploma in Counseling Skills at Banjara Academy.

Duration of course

  September ’23 to April’24

Our Faculty

Dr. Lakshmi K.

M.A.(Psychology), M.A. (Health Counseling, SCU, USA), M. Phil, Ph.D

Lakshmi has studied and is trained in psychotherapy, counseling and clinical work in various universities including a Masters graduate programme and M.Phil from Osmania University, and a Masters in Health Counselling from Santa Clara University, USA, eventually completing her Ph.D. from National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). She has been a longstanding counselor and faculty member at Banjara Academy. She has been guest and visiting faculty and visiting counsellor at Bangalore University (PG students), NID, Bangalore campus, and at NIAS, Bangalore. Lakshmi’s pet passion is knowing the self and through the self process attaining well-being and mental health. She has also been trained in grief therapy and has trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from Psychotherapy Advanced Resources Centre (PARC), Bangalore.

Dr. Chandra Janakiraman

B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A. Psychology, Ph.D. in Psychology

Chandra has had a teaching experience at various educational levels – ranging from pre-school to post-graduation and university level psychology, and in in-service teacher education. She has had an exposure to different education systems – both in India and abroad, and has done coursework development. She has worked as a remedial teacher in Nan-gang Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan where she identified and diagnosed specific problems in learning at the individual level, teaching, counseling, family counseling, etc. Chandra has also counseled and worked on empowering parents to help children who were struggling with schoolwork. In addition, she has been a Trainer/Training Mentor/Subject Matter Expert at Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini and other schools, and Direct Taxes Regional Training Institute, Bangalore. Chandra has participated actively and regularly in the community volunteer program for assisting classroom teachers in a pre-school and a primary school in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. (2001 to 2005). Also, she has participated in the UGC Refresher Course for Faculty of Psychology, is qualified for NET in Psychology, and has been awarded UGC-JRF and SRF Scholarships from 1993 to 1998 for Doctoral Research.

Dr Ali Khwaja (Founder-Banjara Academy)

B.Tech(IIT),MIE, MIIM, Ph.D

A Montessorian, an engineering graduate of IIT Bombay, MIE, MIIM, with a Ph.D in behavioral sciences, he has always carved out his own path and been a free-lancer, ensuring that work is joy every day. He is invited regularly to conduct workshops or lectures for Defence, Central Government, prestigious National institutions, schools and colleges, but he prefers to be informal, learning while he teaches, and being honest and congruent in whatever he says or does. He is the founder and Chairman of Banjara Academy, a unique institution committed to improvement of quality of life. He nurtures and motivates over 300 volunteers to give free service in 10 hospitals and the Academy’s own counselling centres. He conducts a very popular and practical one year part-time Diploma in Counselling Skills and a 6-month Certificate in Life Skills. He written over 30 books and 80 booklets on all practical aspects of day-to-day life, and writes regular columns and articles in many reputed publications, and edits a unique newsletter. His videos on Banjara’s website get thousands of viewers from all over the world. Notwithstanding all that, he loves all human beings alike, is willing to listen, and his prime focus is on empowering individuals to help themselves.

 

Every baby and small child has an innate desire and curiosity to explore, learn and acquire skills. 

Adults find it so difficult to hold back toddlers who wish to move around all over the place and investigate everything within their reach. They use all their senses to see, listen, touch, taste & smell whatever they come across.

As the child grows older, he is sent to school to get ‘educated’, but all his motivation and desire to learn reduces.  He then has to be forced to listen to the teacher, take notes, do calculations, complete his homework, and ‘mug up’ for exams. Is it the fault of the student, or is it the fault of all of us adults who kill the curiosity and the joy of learning?

Instead of blaming the system or authorities, each one of us can, and should, do our bit to rekindle the spark of learning in any child we interact with, and send him off on a path of growth to become a capable adult.

It’s not difficult.

Careers and Studies:

Find out your most suitable learning style: 

Each one of us is unique, and the best method that suits our study should be determined by trial and error, till we are satisfied.  Check out if any or many of these techniques give you better learning and retention:

  1. Sitting in one place and reading, or standing, walking around, moving place of study every few minutes, or even lying down.
  2. Writing as you read, either in a notebook, small flip-cards, or on a black/white board that you can keep in your room.
  3. Reading mainly from the notes instead of the main text book, and referring to the text book periodically.
  4. Reading aloud to yourself, or even reading out to a friend or parent.
  5. Highlighting or underlining with a pencil the important passages or definitions.
  6. Closing the book once every 5, 10 or 20 minutes and recalling what you have read (or even writing down in point-form)
  7. Playing soft music when you read
  8. Reading one subject continuously for hours vs. shifting periodically from one subject to another.

 

Case Study

Rohini has been a good student and managed 10.0 CGPA in her 10th standard CBSE.  However she did not like science too much (though she enjoyed Math), and took up Commerce at the +2 level.  Her parents were not too happy with it as everyone in their family were engineering, doctors etc and they felt that science students have better careers than commerce students.

As an after-thought Rohini’s parents asked her to enroll for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) which is the first step to becoming a Chartered Account.  Again it was entirely in the belief that CA’s are the most respectable professionals in commerce.  Rohini appeared for CPT but missed clearing it by a few marks.  Her parents again coaxed her to re-appear, and in the second attempt she succeeded!

Rohini is not interested in becoming a CA, but did not know how to convince her parents.  Finally she went in for an Aptitude test.  The result was that she is a people-oriented person and would be much happier in areas of applied finance, not pure accounting.  The report mentioned many careers that have commerce as a base but which involve understanding and dealing with people.  The family started looking up details of the careers highlighted in the report, and were pleasantly surprised to see very interesting and exciting options open for their child.  Rohini is now happily doing her B.Com, getting fairly good marks.  She has also taken up a couple of on-line courses suggested by her counselor to enhance her skills in the fields she is considering as her final career.

A famous writer once said: “We Indians are only focused on weddings, but do not give any significance to marriage”.

I look around and find people doing everything to arrange the grandest weddings, but hardly spending any time or effort on helping the couple understand how they can make their married life harmonious.

When two people of opposite gender, having had different upbringing, education, relationships and attitudes, come together to share such an intimate relationship (and even bring up children together), don’t they require to plan, prepare, look into possible hurdles, and learn how to build a strong and loving relationship – which may last more than half a century ?

There is so much that can be done on working out all issues of the marital relationship in advance, the way we work out careers, homes, finances or health. Wish we start working on this crucial issue. 

Generally we are contented with the way our days are going and can deal with minor issues without much discomfort.

But sometimes life throws up unexpected challenges at you. Circumstances change, fortunes go up and down, luck favors or abandons you, and you face intense happy or sad situations. Sometimes you have no control of what is happening, and you do your best to overcome the hurdles or setbacks.  When faced with very difficult times, one thing becomes clear – you get to know who your true friends are, and who will give you unconditional support. 

Hope Diwali brings brighter days in your life.