Share
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 3 (EMN): Carl Rogers Institute of Mental Health and School Counselling (CRIMHSC) was inaugurated on Monday at its head office opposite Don Bosco College, P Khel, Kohima village.
The institute was founded by two counselling psychologists with the primary objective to promote mental health and school counselling as propounded by Carl Rogers, with the vision to provide mental health and counselling services to all categories of students to cater to their mental health and emotional well-being.
Dr. Zavise Rume, educationist, counselling psychologist and teachers’ trainer is the chairman of the institute and Kezhazolie Cornelius Mere, a certified psychological first aid and college counsellor the vice-chairman.
Minister for Higher Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, the guest of honour, in his address in the virtual mode said in the fast-paced 21st century dominated by stressed lifestyles, there is need for more professionals for counselling, mentoring and guiding.
Along also exuded hope that the institute will nurture mental health and make people face life with positivity while also showing a path in career counselling.
Former director of SCERT, T Sekhose, the special invitee of the event, in his speech said children face unprecedented challenges and are exposed to many influences and pressures.
Sekhose said there is a strong need to address the issues and pointed out that these challenges are also reflected in the national educational policy (NEP).
He opined that the challenges are vast but for a child to excel and progress, the child’s mental health issues should be addressed to ensure his or her mental well-being.
He also elucidated on the importance of institutions, individuals and churches to address the issue of mental health with love and compassion.
In his keynote address, Dr Zavise Rume, said the institute was conceptualised and founded to practice and promote counselling according to the principles of non-directive, person-centered approach to counselling founded by Carl Rogers which, he said, has revolutionised the modern concept of counselling.
Dr Rume informed that the CRIMHSC will provide services like counselling services to students, teachers, and parents and at the same time train parents and teachers to become good counsellors.
He added that the institute will provide a common platform for interactions through seminar, workshop, webinar, orientation conference while also providing space for counsellors to practice Carl Rogers’ method of counselling.
Vice-president of Angami Public Organisation (APO), Neivor Rutsa, also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Kezhazolie Cornelius Mere delivered the welcome address.