Establishing and making available counselling services at different locations for psychologically affected individuals and families. Such counselling assistance is provided through hospital-based counselling centres and community-based locations.
Currently, the centres are at four locations in Chennai
Rapha Counselling Centre at Mogappair eri scheme, Chennai.
CSI Rainy hospital, Chennai (hospital based – liaison psychiatry and counselling services where the team works with General Medicine, Gynaecology and other specialties)
CSI Kalyani hospital, Chennai (hospital based – also liaison psychiatry and counselling services) and
Rapha Counselling Centre @ Ponmar, Chennai
Common issues dealt with are marital conflicts; interpersonal conflicts; various types of addictions; depression and mood disorders; sexuality related issues; paraphilias.
Individual counselling ranges from personal issues (offenders or victims), paraphilias, pornography addiction, relationship problems. Psychological screening tests are done to identify psychological illness and the need for medical intervention. When necessary, psychiatric assistance is referred to.
Marriage Counselling: Marital conflicts and counselling in this space require that both spouses are heard individually to arrive at a realistic context of the problem. Following this, they are counselled and then followed up with as a couple depending on their consent.
Medical assistance for psychological disorders: If the patient is found to have insomnia, mood swings, sexual pre-occupation and/or such symptoms which are barriers to an effective counselling session, then such patients are referred for appropriate medication.
Deaddiction Counselling: Counselling and treatment services are offered. Individual counselling is the norm. The scope of the session includes negative life patterns; sexuality issues; domestic violence etc. This field of counselling is available only at partner hospitals.
Child Counselling Services: The therapy focuses on young children, teens and adolescents. Often children tend to mimic issues adults face in their daily lives. Anxiety, depression and grief need counselling.
Other child-related counselling issues include: Divorce; grief and the death of a loved one, pet, home; traumatic events witnessed; mental health conditions; Sexual, emotional and/or physical abuse; relocation issues; family substance abuse or addictions of the elders.
Strict confidentiality is maintained in all centres. An outcome of the pandemic has been that of more persons desiring to be counselled online on account of anonymity and lesser distances travelled.
