Developing Counselling Practice in South India: A Participatory Action Research

Professional counselling in India is an emerging field where current practice is largely influenced by Western models of counselling. These methods are integrated with methods of Indian holistic healing. There is limited research and reviewed literature in this field in India. Most mental health research is based on psychiatry and social work. The aim of this study is to explore practitioner experiences in the social reality of their practice using a culturally sensitive, strengths perspective. These strengths stem from the individual’s core and develop within the influence of culture. This study will examine current personal and professional experiences of trained practising psychological counsellors, create awareness about strengths and develop a goal for the emancipation of professional counsellors in the given cultural context. This qualitative research has a Participatory Action Research (PAR) design with seven participants in a PAR group setting. The data collected over 10 meetings across 8 months was recorded and transcribed by me. The data was analysed using a non-interpretive, recursive, reflexive analysis. The major findings are the realities of practice and effects of socio-cultural influences on the professional counsellor, for instance: age, gender, spirituality, language, cultural expectations and strengths. The transformative outcome was professional awareness of being instruments of change and to enable change in social reality. It also led to the development of a support group for practising counsellors. The research process was emancipatory as it directed participants to acknowledge their value as Indian counsellors, voice their need for professional recognition and begin a process of liberation by implementing their own growth and awareness socially and in practice. The methodological approach, findings and outcome of the study are intended to be disseminated through publications in counselling, educational peer reviewed journals and presentation of papers at conferences. This aims to impact counselling training, research and practice. It will also enhance the limited body of existing knowledge in psychological counselling in India.