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Depressed and have no one to talk to? Here's a counselling service that offers troubled people the option of seeking help online
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PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY
HELP ONLINE Karuna Baskar and Archana Bisht insist they are no agony aunts
Alka Tandon was twentysomething and was with an MNC. She had all the creature comforts. Why then was she feeling so empty and burnt out? There was nothing seriously wrong but increasingly she was loath to go to work. And she couldn't bear to sit down with her family to talk about it. She knew there was a disconnect somewhere, but whom could she talk to? Could anyone help her straighten her knotted mind?
She knew her predicament would be out of her family's ambit of discussion. You can't put your finger on it, but it's there, that emptiness. Alka knew her family would not understand. She needed to talk to somebody. Somebody understanding and discreet. She didn't want to go to the counsellor in her neighbourhood and she didn't have the time or energy to go elsewhere. There is help for the likes of Alka and she has the option of going online. Professional counselling is no longer taboo and is helping many to draw together all the confidence needed to get on with life. Say Karuna Baskar and Archana Bisht of 1 to1 help.net Pvt. Ltd., a counselling centre at Indiranagar: "The skilfully manoeuvred diversion in thinking, extended patience, the art of taking a larger perspective of the showcased problems and a dignified approach to the pessimistic, downbeat attitude are all features that make counselling an interesting and challenging career.
It's okay
"It's not a crime to feel disgusted, depressed, agitated or anguished anymore. It is an over-reaction to a given situation that leads to disturbed nerves. Economically independent women and men who see themselves in dual roles have to play shaky balancing roles in the family. Cracks in relationships or clashes in thinking are inevitable after-effects."
It was the coming together of science and art (psychology and being articulate) that led to the creation of 1to1help.net in 2001 in Bangalore by Karuna Bhaskar and Archana and Anil Bisht. From the time counselling was scoffed at to the point when it was regarded as "not a bad idea," it has come a long way. So much so the concept is now accepted by not just troubled individuals but also multinationals and corporates. "We approached the HR departments in giant corporates and IT sectors where deadlines and tensions obviously run high. Over the years the response grew, inching its way to this period where we have Texas Instruments, IBM India, HP-GDIC, I-flex solutions, Metlife Insurance Dell International, L&T International, etc., as our clients," say the directors of 1to1help.net. "Companies have realised that personal problems can impact productivity," says Archana who thinks their frequent lectures, workshops and wellness talks have great response.
How does it work?
Employees are informed of the counselling services. Apart from performance stress and workplace relationships, personal issues like marriage, spousal squabbles, joint-family quarrels, loneliness and depression, parenting and finance worries and alcoholism are areas that invite a range of emotions known as situational upsets. Clinical depression is, however, referred to psychiatrists for treatment.
"Realising that there is still a stigma attached to counselling, we had to work out a method where one could overlook the barriers associated with these unique analysis sessions," emphasises Karuna
The team arrived at a combination of services that protected the privacy of the person and came up with three counselling options:
1) Face-to-face counselling by prior appointment available in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkota at the 1 to 1 help premises. Onsite help, from anywhere in the world, to travelling employees is also extended.
2) Telephone counselling for those preferring anonymity and for those constrained by time.
3) Online counselling, a concept pioneered in the country by 1to1help.net that utilises secure web-based messaging, highlighting convenience and easy accessibility (www.1to1help.net).
Karuna and Archana point out they have no quick-fix solutions. "We are no agony aunts here. Our sittings are an ongoing process to veer people into positive thinking." The team at 1to1help.net has 17 counsellors working with them.
Logon to their website for more information.
RANJANI GOVIND
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