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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.

Time has come for exams, tension, anxiety …..and hopefully the end of the academic year.  Then the rush for admissions, entrance exams, confusion of which course to take.

We teach children for 12 years in school, but do not give them any skills to choose their careers.  There is a mad rush for Computer Science Engineering or medicine, and lakhs of students prepare for years and years to crack JEE or NEET, without knowing what they are in for and where it is leading them.

It is the responsibility of all of us to give inputs and familiarize students, and their parents, about which career (out of innumerable lucrative choices) is suitable for any specific child, and to resist the herd mentality.  Please make that effort…..

It is a question of their whole future, they need a little hand-holding.

Learn to Enjoy Stress - By Dr. Ali Khwaja

How often have you felt that you are stressed out the moment you think of studies and exams?  Have you ever felt like just giving up and running away somewhere?  If you have faced or are facing such situations, did you ever stop to think how and why stress accumulates in some of us, while others are carefree and whistling their way through exams and life?

There are answers to these questions.  All we need to do is to take a short break, stop getting stressed out by thinking of exams all the time, and pay attention to a few important facts.  Otherwise we will become like the over-enthusiastic boy who was so happy when he got a contract to cut trees that he just went on chopping with all his might.  He never stopped to sharpen his axe, with the result that all his efforts were in vain.  The blunt axe could not cut, and in his frustration he kept hacking harder and harder till he dropped of exhaustion and lost the contract.  Are you ready to sharpen your mental axe?

The countdown to exams has begun.  You are probably counting days now, and are getting tensed, particularly when you think of those tough and boring subjects that you have begun to hate.  No one can be good at all subjects.  There are at least eight types of intelligence: mathe-logical, linguistic, interpersonal, intra-personal, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, spatial and ecological.  Eventually you will find the right vocation that suits your intelligence, but right now you have to study all subjects from languages to technical ones.  To make the best of it, here are a few tip:

  • Start with relaxing BEFORE you sit down to study. Don’t wait till you are tired and fatigued.  The fresher your mind, the more you will be able to take in, in the least time.  Find out a method of relaxation that suits you, don’t copy what someone else is doing.  A few examples are: Long, brisk walk; Jogging, Tennis, golf, Swimming, Aerobics / dancing, Playing with child/pet, Gardening; Driving into nature, Shouting loudly and freely, Yoga, Meditation, Prayer / discourses, Talking to a friend or counselor, Listening to (or playing) music, Maintaining an informal diary, Thought-provoking books, Punching a pillow, Tearing old newspapers.  Experiment till you hit upon the right one.
  • Take periodic breaks. Never study till you are so tired that nothing is going to your head.  Only you know how long you can study before you need a break, follow your mind.  The duration may vary depending on whether you are studying an interesting or boring subject.  At the same time, keep in mind that your break should be short and relaxing, and not taking your mind away into another activity.
  • Study systematically. List out all the chapters, mark those you have trouble with, keep periodically revising or reviewing.  Don’t get bogged down into one subject the whole day.
  • Keep giving yourself periodic tests, both verbal and written. Do mock exams even at home, they will prepare you for facing the actual exam.
  • Keep track of your biological clock, when you are at peak energy, and when you are down and out. Study difficult subjects when you are feeling energetic.  For boring subjects, allot a fixed time and tell yourself that you will finish as soon as the time is over.

As your exams get nearer, do not cut down on your sleep beyond rational limits.  You can certainly do with 25-30% less sleep than average, but cutting it down to 50% or less can actually add to your strain.  Keep up your hygiene, food habits, get fresh air and clear your mind periodically.  On the day of the exam, don’t cram till the last moment.  Have a healthy meal, go early and check out the place, talk to friends or family to calm down your nerves, and then begin the exam with the clear thought – it is just an exam, it is not going to kill you.

Ali’s Notes:

Technology has advanced immensely. Schools have state-of-the-art facilities in every aspect of child requirements, and millions are spent for providing all comforts and amenities to the students. Yet a survey by Banjara showed that 95% of all children, including those in high-end schools, still carry a water bottle in addition to the already heavy bag. Is it not possible to provide purified drinking water to the students in their classrooms? If we really cared for our children, we can think of these (and many similar) small steps to make life convenient to them.
We have still not managed to reduce the size (and weight) of the school bag in today’s e-learning era. We continue to give all our attention to home work, completion of portions, innumerable tests and exams, and rote learning.
If we wish to create a better world around us as the next generation takes over, it is high time we took some initiatives.