Why we need mindfulness in counselling therapy
The good news: a certificate course in this technique has launched at Carmel College, Goa...
In February 2024, my dearest friend Wilma Dsilva, a psychologist by profession, invited me to attend a workshop hosted by her Australian mentor Mr Gary Logan, at Carmel College (my alma mater!).
Wilma runs a counselling practice in Margao, and she was keen to do her part in boosting the standard of counselling therapy in our sunny state. And in this regard, Gary, a clinical psychologist with MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), was the perfect conduit to her plan.
During a three-hour highly interactive workshop, Gary spotlighted the Acceptance & Commitment (ACT) Therapy, a technique that is growing in relevance in the counselling domain. Framed around the basic concepts of mindfulness, the therapy gently empowers patients to focus on the now, harnessing acceptance of emotions and commitment to action as tools for enhanced mental health.
Attending the workshop, which was primarily for students and practitioners of psychology, excited me for two reasons. Though I’m no therapist myself, I have benefited greatly from therapy, during some challenging times in my life. Secondly, I’m a big proponent of mindfulness, which has had a transformative effect on the way I am, each moment of my life.
Mindfulness is described as “a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment and being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and body”. Simple as it sounds, the ability to stay true to the moment we live in, can be difficult. Yet, it can have compounding effects on positive mental health.
During the workshop, Gary demonstrated the transformative potential of ACT to an audience of over 50 women students from Carmel College, Dhempe College and MES college, and some practitioners from the South Goa District Hospital’s Palliative Care unit. The workshop was interactive, engaging, and had a hands-on quality, which helped students understand complex concepts, with more insight.
Wilma shares that she also actively practices ACT with her patients, today.
“The psychology field is constantly evolving, as people and circumstances are continually evolving. Gary’s influence as a mentor helped me establish a relevant counselling practice. When he expressed an interest in engaging with the psychology community in Goa, I immediately reach out to Dr Aldina Braganza, who heads the psychology department at Carmel College, and the idea of a live session for students took shape, ” she says.
Dr Aldina, an Associate Professor, Dept of Psychology at Carmel College, also shared her views on the impact of expert workshops for students, “Industry exposure plays an important role in helping our psychology students gain useful knowledge on emerging, high-impact therapies. We are considering introducing a certificate programme, to help psychology students and mental health professionals build a deeper, practical understanding of this therapy, and how it can be leveraged to support patients.”
Well, I’m happy to share that the success of the workshop has paved the way for more activity, and a certificate course in ACT has been launched in 2025!
Practical exposure to the industry and the world of work is an extremely powerful and transformative experience for students and professionals, alike. I wish our ACT practitioners all the best in their endeavors!
