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Matters of the mind

Meet C. R. Celin, psychologist and counsellor, who lends a sympathetic ear to your problems

OFFERING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS C. R. Celin

Her mobile has been screaming itself hoarse since a scene from a TV serial turned into horrifying reality. Why would young TV actors want to end their lives? Why would acting become actuality?

"It's a social problem," said C. R. Celin, psychologist and counsellor, who conducted a well-attended workshop for TV artistes last August. "You watch TV serials every day, listen to the characters and discuss them. You take their screen life for real and the characters as role models. Anjali (on TV) was smart, Anjali had the courage to die. Tragically, for young people, suicide becomes a solution. It is also common knowledge one actor's decision influences another."

Celin's career in human psychology follows her brother's lead. She started off as a BSc.Visual Communication student at Loyola and discovered she was deeply interested in the cases she studied for her elective psychology paper. She learnt Reiki and counselling from her brother and on a stint with a TV channel answered questions from women on emotional hiccups. She also began to write relationships-laced stories for Tamil magazines and newspapers and got herself a PG degree in psychology.

When her practical solutions found acceptance with her readers, Celin counselled herself to start an advice-dispensing business. Now trained franchisees at her Mothers Cliniq Counselling Centres spread her Life Positive suggestions to several southern towns. Help is available for warring couples, insecure individuals and those seeking vocational guidance. Kids are coaxed into shedding stubbornness, developing creativity, improving memory and better exam performance.

Attention-seeking tactic

"I've heard that 99 per cent of TV stars have attempted suicide," she said. More startlingly, "They do it to threaten their lovers, to get attention." While affairs top the list of reasons, some believe Fate failed to treat them as special. There is financial crunch, disappointment at not getting plum roles. Some are unhappy about their physical assets. With two to three call sheets per day, there is no time for friends, confidantes or family. Most TV actors are too scared to talk to anyone in the fraternity. In the artiste-eat-artiste atmosphere, there is no bonding, mentoring is non-existent.

So what does she recommend? "Off camera, take off your mask and be who you are — a daughter, a sister, a wife, mom. Be aware of yourself and your problem. If you had a tough time on the sets, sit back, rewind and relive those moments. What went wrong? You are bound to find a solution. Develop a hobby. Learn to meditate, breathe well. Take someone who cares into confidence." At 28, isn't she a tad young to be discussing emotional repair? Why would someone who has shed glycerine in a 1,000 episodes take her seriously? She laughed before saying, "Patients walk in and ask, `Is your mother in?' Their hesitation lasts just a minute. I tell them I've also had problems. Being young helps jell with young people." It is time to check out her audio CDs. There is one for kids, one on relationships and two are on the way. Her voice flows smoothly, punctuated by music, sound effects and tips on "should dos" and "must avoids". She is conversational, mass-based and uses everyday examples.

She will be reaching out to village kids, giving free lessons on motivation and self-development. Meanwhile, Tamil Sangams in Malaysia and the Andamans have invited her to speak. Celin wants 1 per cent of the population to be trained as counsellors. "Women's colleges have approached me for pre-marital counselling. And boys need counselling too. I'm planning to talk to self-help groups as well."

She put self-esteem over being a subordinate, she said. But Celin fills the gap we have all felt from time to time — the need for someone to have a genuine heart-to-heart with. She knows the problems of being in the limelight, of being bright in a man's world. "If you are good in your work, it's best to be your own boss," she said.

GEETA PADMANABHAN

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