About Us

Prafulta means
exuberance, abundance, wholeness

Prafulta Psychological Services (a Don Bosco project) was initiated in the year 1998. It is a set up of the Salesians of Don Bosco, an organization that works with the children and youth, though now there is an equal focus on adults also. It promotes emotional intelligence and offers a whole host of psychological services like assessment and diagnosis, professional counseling, career guidance, remedial education, psychological evaluation, psychiatric services, occupational therapy, workshops for academic and emotional issues.

Our Mission

To provide quality psychological and psychiatric services, to help individuals, groups and families move towards optimal, independent functioning and improving their quality of life.

Our Aim

To help clients understand, accept and deal effectively with the influences of their environment, take personal responsibility for their lives and create a meaningful future for themselves .

A - Z of Careers

A- Z of Careers


ADVERTISING


Advertising involves the process wherein a message is designed so as to promote a product, a thought, an idea or even a service. The concept of advertising has assumed a dynamic form with the use of the various mediums of communication like print, audio-visual and displays. The advertising industry has three major sectors; business or organization, which wishes to advertise, media, which provides the medium for advertising and the ad-agency which creates the ad to suit the needs of the firm. Advertising serves three basic purposes:


ANTHROPOLOGIST

Anthropology is the science concerned with the study of the evolution of man. It is involved with the study of the origin of man, his physical characteristics, systems, languages, traditions, material possessions as well as social, cultural and religious beliefs and practices.


ARCHITECTURE
Architects plan, design and observe constructions for human habitation. Buildings have to be functional, safe and economical and must suit the needs of the people who use them. Architects take all these things into consideration when they design buildings. Their duties demand a variety of skills – design, engineering, managerial and supervisory work.

ARMED FORCES AND PARAMILITARY FORCES

Security is vital for every nation. Our Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Air Force have the responsibility of guarding the nation against foreign invasions.


BANKING

A bank is a financial institution licensed by a government. Its primary activities include borrowing and lending money. Many other financial activities were allowed over time. Banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds. Most banks offer insurance services (and now real estate services) to their clients. Banks now also offer a wide range of services such as exchanging foreign currency, advising on investments and insurance and acting as executors and trustees. There is a growing need for banking facilities due to nationwide growth, international trade and industrial liberalization, which have all contributed to changes in the banking environment. Management graduates, Chartered Accountants, and Chartered Financial Analysts are hence in greater demand in the banking sector.

BIOCHEMIST

Biochemistry is a branch that is concerned with the chemistry of the biological processes. Biochemists study the chemical combinations and reactions involved in such functions as growth, metabolism, reproduction, and heredity and the effect of the environment on living tissue. Biochemists are mainly engaged in research related to the fields of medicine, agriculture, and nutrition. They identify chemical changes in cells and body organs, which signal the starting point of disease such as cancer, diabetes, or mental disorders.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Living things have been the subjects of study for biologists. Biologists develop more and better food stuffs, medicines to combat disease, practice conservation to protect our forests, water supplies and wild life, develop support systems for life in space in better environments for our increasing population. Biology includes fields such as Agronomy, Animal Husbandry, Biochemistry, Forestry, Horticulture, Fish and Wild life conversation. New exciting careers have opened in Oceanography, Marine Biology, Environmental Biology, Bioinstrumentation, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Cryobiology, Bionics, etc. Due to extensive technological advancements and demand for specialized understanding for all aspects of the entire living world, biologists must specialize.


BIOTECHNOLOGY


Biotechnology is the application of techniques to living cells. It is related to subjects like life sciences, genetics immunology, agricultural engineering, horticulture, food and dairy technology and pharmaceutical technology. It applies knowledge and techniques of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics and Chemical Engineering, to microorganisms and cell structures.

BEAUTICIANS

Beauty culture includes specialized areas of work such as hair and skin treatments, make up of TV/ film performers, hair cutting and styling, cosmetology etc.


CHEMISTRY AND ALLIED FIELDS


Chemistry is a study of substances, their properties, structures and transformations. Chemists study what substances are made of and how they can be combined to make new materials. Manufacturing industries which depend on chemistry or one of its many applications include petroleum, rubber, food, chemical metallurgy and machinery, textiles, soap, paper, aromatics, fuels, paints, drugs and agricultural products. It would be hard to find many items that people use which either do not contain chemicals or have not somehow been affected by applications of chemical knowledge.


CIVIL SERVICES


Civil services constitute all departments of the government machinery, which run the state administration. The Central and state Civil servants are in charge of the governance of the various departments (non- military) to ensure that the administrative infrastructure works according to the Constitutional provision. The personnel of these services occupy the most important echelons of the bureaucracy that are very closely and intimately associated with decision making, policy formulations and its execution. The officers of Central Service are posted within or outside and they serve the Government of India only. The members of All India Services, on the other hand, are appointed by the Government of India and are placed at the disposal of the Government of different States. All India Services (AIS): Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police service, and Indian Foreign Service are the three All India services.


COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Computers are immensely important tools, which are used in almost all spheres of activity like department stores, educational institutions, libraries, media, travel industry, banks etc. Careers in computers are divided into two major groups namely hardware and software. Information Technology (IT) has changed the face of the workplace and how people view career options. Information Technology (Information Technology) includes computing, telecommunications and microelectronics. IT has not only enabled work to be done quickly, but also gives decision makers the opportunity to consider far more data when making decisions.


CUSTOMS SERVICES

The revenue department of the ministry of finance has under its purview the Customs and Central excise department. The functions of customs and central excise department fall under two categories-Prevention of evasion of customs and excise duties-Evaluation of goods and collection of duties accruing to the government.


CALL AGENTS


A call center in the IT lexicon is a place that has adequate telecom facilities, trained consultants, access to wide database, internet and other on-line support infrastructure in order to provide information and support to customers on real time basis. The demand for call center professionals is on the rise in our country.


DENTISTRY

Dental Surgeons or dentists perform various functions to preserve teeth like filling, crowning and sealing, extracting and fitting artificial dentures. They also perform jaw operations and are involved in the preventive aspects of dentistry. Usually a dentist works as an assistant to an established dentist, with a view to gaining experience to run a practice independently. Dentists need a methodical scientific approach, ability to work as a team, warmth and ability to calm nervous patients.


DISC JOCKEY


Disc jockeying as a profession has caught on and become lucrative as well. It is not only playing tracks together into one long continuous piece. It is also how you mix your records, which records you mix and their order. The ultimate goal for a DJ is to create something magical with the audience, to make time stop and to give the crowd a great time. When crazy crowds are partying, dancing and shouting for more, these are the guys who call the shots, with their finger on the pulse of the people and of course an ear for music.


DESIGNING & ART


Designing refers to the application of creative and artistic work to a practical end. Designers are creative people who must develop their own genius.
Designing can be divided into

2 Dimensional 3 Dimensional

- Graphic Design - Industrial
- Textile Design - Fashion
- Interior& Exterior Design
- Jewellery etc

ECONOMIST


Economists study the way things and facilities that people want can be brought to them. This is done by studying the way people and countries choose things they actually buy, from among the things they have wanted. Economics hence is the study of how goods and services are produced and distributed .The study of economics encompasses the most effective means of utilizing available resources in virtually every sector.

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY


Engineering is the application of scientific principles, theories and methods to achieve practical ends. There are various fields under engineering such as Aeronautical Engineering, Agricultural Engineer ,Ceramic Engineering ,Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science ,Electrical Engineering ,Electronics Engineering ,Instrumentation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Naval Architecture, Textile Technology Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering ,Telecommunication Engineering ,Plastic & Rubber Technology – Packaging Technologists Leather Technologists

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Environmental concerns have been growing for the past few decades. With the rapid increase in human population, an increased disruption of the natural environment as well as increased pollution of the atmosphere, land and water, there is a greater awareness of the need for protecting our natural resources. The jobs in this field relate to environmental awareness, education, mass media involvement as well as technical inputs for environment engineering.


FINANCE & ACCOUNTS
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

Chartered Accountants (CA’s) maintain records of the financial transactions that an organization keeps. They give a detailed breakdown of the company’s income and expenditure and help formulate the company policy in financial dealings.


CA’s may specialize in any of the following areas:

1. Financial Accounting,
2. Auditing,
3. Internal auditing
4. Cost Accounting
5. Tax management Consultancy
6. Management Accounting.


GENETIC SCIENTISTS

Genes determine individual characteristics. Genetics studies show how characteristics are passed from one generation to another. It is a study of plants, animals and humans.


GEOGRAPHERS & GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSYTEMS SPECIALISTS

Geography is a rapidly developing subject, fundamentally concerned with the earth’s surface and the people who live there. Emerging primarily from an interest in understanding the world, its structure and size, the study of geography is gradually pervading areas where an understanding of physical and cultural phenomena is used to interpret economic, political and cultural life.

Geographic information Systems (GIS) Geographic Information Systems or GIS is a technology that attaches a database to an electronic map. Here specialists focus on the scientific theory of geographic information and analysis and may develop new geographic information systems application. This option blends computing skills with geographical knowledge. GIS technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management and development planning. Emergency planners use GIS to calculate the emergency response in the event of a natural disaster.


GEOLOGY

Geology is the science that studies the earth’s history, composition and structure. Geologists use theoretical knowledge of various disciplines of geo-sciences to locate underground water, oil and other natural resources. Geologists play an important role in the study, preservation and cleaning up of the environment. They advise construction firms and the government on construction sites, highway planning and in the planning of geological reports, maps and diagrams.

HISTORIANS, ARCHAEOLOGISTS, ARCHIVISTS AND CURATORS

Modern historians are trained to gather, interpret and evaluate the records of the past in order to describe and analyze past events, institutions and people. Archaeologists: Architectural relics, old monuments, inscriptions, excavation sites are all subjects of study for the Archaeologists. Archivists: Public and administrative records are maintained for reference and are kept as archival records according to historical significance and value Museum curators: Curators job involves an artistic and aesthetic bent of mind and administrative skills. Conservators / Restorers: Preservation of art objects, monuments has become important for reasons of conservation.


HOME SCIENCE & FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Home Science is both a science and an art related to modern housekeeping. Home science can be defined as a field of study built upon many disciplines for the purpose of achieving and maintaining the welfare and well being of home and family life in an ever-changing society. The subjects studied are chemistry, physics, physiology, biology, hygiene, economics, rural development, child development, sociology and family relations, community living, art, food, nutrition, clothing, textiles and home management. Home Science graduates may opt to specialize in any of the specific areas pursued at the undergraduate level e.g. dietetics and nutrition, child development, or even textile designing. The study and work in any of these areas requires essentially application of knowledge to practical skills. Home economists study the application of economic principles relating to income, expenditure, consumption etc. The most interesting feature in the pursuit of home science is that it offers options for the creative student as well as for the aspiring scientist.


HOTEL INDUSTRY

Hotel personnel work to ensure that the guest’s visit is pleasant. Hotel managers are responsible for the efficient and profitable operation of the hotel. Managers are at the top rung of the organizational hierarchy in hotels. They head either the establishment or their respective departments. For the efficient functioning of any hotel, work is divided among key departments.

LAW AND RELATED OPTIONS

Law establishes the rules that define a person’s right and obligations. It also states how a government shall enforce the rules and penalties. Law is broad based and practice is dependent on specialization resulting in the emergence of an entire new genre of law, e.g. in areas of labour laws security transactions, insurance, cyber law, intellectual property, real estate, tax law etc.


LIBRARY SCIENCE

Libraries are treasure troves of knowledge, information and entertainment. They contain books, periodicals, microfilms, discs, videos, slides, cassettes and records - for education, research, reference and pleasure. These materials are catalogued, systematically stored and displayed for user access by librarians. Librarians are information managers. They are professionals, who manage and exploit information, and it is they who have been devising and exploiting new technology to manage the explosion in information and knowledge of the last 4 decades, which is one basis of the need for information technology..


MANAGEMENT

Management is a vast field. Broadly, management can be defined as controlling and / or coordinating the work of other people. It may also involve coordinating the work of various sections or departments. Management is an academic discipline and a profession in its own right. Managers need to understand the underlying economic and sociological principals of business so that they can adapt present methods and concepts of future development.


MARKET RESEARCH

Market research has gained a prominent and a unique place in selling. There is no doubt that the success of any product depends a great deal on the marketing strategies employed to sell the product. With a diverse and ever-growing marketplace, studying the needs and demands of the people has become crucial.

Market research executives organize surveys to identify customer choices both current and potential. Their job entails locating the product, collecting relevant information about competing products, suitable location of sale outlets, price of the product and profitability. Feasibility market research is also carried on from time to time.

MATHEMATICIANS & STATISTICIANS

Mathematics is needed in all walks of life, to try and sell, to figure costs, to calculate real interest rates on loans, to fill out income-tax forms, and in a host of other ways. Mathematics is rapidly becoming the language of all the sciences - physical, biological and social. Subjects like economics, business administration, and psychology are making increasing use of statistical methods, linear programming and other mathematical technology. It is a study of form, structure, operations and relationships. It involves study of quantities and relations through use of numbers and symbols.


MEDICINE

Medicine is among the most sought after career by youth. The power to heal has traditionally placed the medical field several rungs above any other profession. A doctor’s profession involves a lot of hard work and at the same time it brings with it the satisfaction of having cured patients and of having alleviated pain and suffering.


MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS

Medical transcription is an emerging career option. Jobs in medical transcription are mainly offered by US - based companies in India who in reality cater to customers (doctors) in the US and in Canada. In these countries, unlike India, a medical report is considered to be a vital document with legal implications without which doctors cannot claim fees from their patients. India offers cheaper and faster transcription services due to advancements in the telecommunication system and the availability of cheap and highly skilled English-speaking, computer-literate people.

MERCHANT NAVY

The Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial fleet, which deals with transporting cargo and occasionally passengers by sea. The merchant navy is therefore composed of passenger vessels, cargo liners, tankers, carriers, refrigerator ships, barges, as well as other types of vehicles. Professionals employed in the Merchant Navy include Navigating Officers and Marine Engineers. They are usually employed on a contractual basis by shipping companies. So far there are no openings for women in the Merchant Navy but in future openings could be present. There are three areas of work in the Merchant Navy. These are Navigation, Engineering and Radio Communication. The major tasks performed are in the three major departments of the ships: The deck department, the engine department and the service department.

METEOROLOGISTS

Meteorology is the science related to the study of the atmosphere. Meteorologists study the atmosphere (from the Earth’s surface to outer space), monitoring and analyzing its changes to make interpretations and predictions for the benefit of man. Meteorological data is useful for weather forecasting for the general public as well as for the airline and shipping industry, for media reports, farmers and for government use.

MICROBIOLOGISTS

Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms, which include algae, bacteria, moulds, protozoa, viruses and yeasts. They affect health, food, agriculture, industrial development and even our existence. Examples of industries based on microbiological processes are antibiotics, production of food and the control of pollution, exploitation of enzymes for specific transformations of chemical compounds etc.

OCEANOGRAPHERS

Oceanography is the science of the oceans. With the need for complete and optimum utilization of natural resources attention has been drawn to the resources under the sea. A career in oceanography is bound to provide both challenge and opportunity to those with an intrinsic curiosity about the world around them, a true sense of excitement in discovery of the truth and a desire to venture into the vast realm of the unknown, which exists within our oceans.

PARAMEDICAL CAREERS
(Nursing/Medical Technology/Physical and Occupational
Therapy/Optometry/Orthotic & Prosthetic Technology/Speech Therapy & Pharmacy)
Paramedical professionals supplement the work of doctors in specialized areas for facilitating diagnosis, treatment or therapy. Paramedics work in varied specialized fields with extremely sophisticated equipments and assist medical practitioners in their work by carrying out diagnostic investigations, recording results or carrying out prescribed therapy.

PHYSICS AND ALLIED FIELDS

Physics is a fundamental science and for this reason most other scientists need to study the subject. Chemists, engineers, biologists as well as doctors need a basic understanding of physics. For this reason many physicists often find themselves working in related areas as Astrophysics, Geophysics, Medical physics, Nuclear physics, Meteorology, Astronomy and Biophysics by acquiring specialized knowledge of these fields.


PSYCHOLOGISTS

Psychologists teach, counsel, carry out research and conduct programmes in an attempt to understand people. Psychology is both a science and a profession. As a science it is systematic approach to the understanding of people and their behaviour. Psychology can be broadly defined as the study of the mind (normal or abnormal). As a profession it is the application of the understanding of human behaviour to help solve human problems.


PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public relations is an image building exercise that can apply to anything, from companies and products to people, projects or ideas. Its main components are social contact and communication. The main objective is to put across an image or message to which people can respond favorably. It is a combination of public affairs, media relations and research and analysis. Public relations are practiced in different areas such as corporate sector, public sector, government, hospitality industry, and public figures to achieve a variety of objectives.


SHIPPING

Shipping is the means by which goods, and sometimes passengers, are transported by sea from one place to another. Shipping is an important commercial activity as the high costs and other limitations of air transport make it economically viable. Shipping professionals are therefore primarily involved in the countries export and import transactions.

Shipping can be categorized into three work segments each related to the various jobs in the industry. Shipping companies the first segment, deals with logistics and the general documentation required in the industry. Then there are vessels, which move passengers and cargo and have on board the ships crew who are responsible for its running, overseeing and liaison the loading and unloading operations. The third area of work is at the docks and ports where the ships are loaded and unloaded and all documentation and other formalities are completed


SOCIAL WORK

Social and welfare work implies helping people tackle the problems they face in their daily lives. Social workers attempt to alleviate and prevent social problems caused by factors such as poverty, unemployment, illness, broken homes, family maladjustments, physical, mental and emotional handicaps, anti social behavior and limited recreation and housing. As new problems are generated in the complex urban lifestyles the need for social and welfare workers has increased. The study of social work is a broad based one. It encompasses subjects such as sociology, psychology, human growth and development, marriage and family, economics, education, biology, criminology etc. Social work then is the practical application of this knowledge to such problems as mentioned earlier.

SECRETARIAL AND OFFICE JOBS


Secretarial work is the backbone of efficient office functioning. Office work is handled by the office secretary who works either for a senior manager, for a department, or institution. The job is of handling information - receiving, storing, retrieving, passing on, mailing, sending out etc.

TEACHING

Teachers have a crucial responsibility in shaping the lives of students. They are an indispensable source of promoting education to individuals who constitute the future. There are different types of schools catering to the needs of children, such as Nursery Schools, Primary Schools , Secondary Schools, Senior Secondary School (STD XI & XII) and Special Schools.

TRAVEL & TOURISM


The tourism sector offers entry into travel agencies, tour operations, guides training, and publicity and travel promotion. The two most important activities related to travel and tourism are accommodation & hospitality and travel trade. These will be discussed under the different organizations involved in this industry.

Professional Courses after Xth and XIIth Std

PROFESSIONAL COURSES IN HUMANITIES


• LAW
• MANAGEMENT
• MASS COMMUNICATION
• DESIGNING (FASHION/INTERIORS/JEWELRY/ANIMATION/WEB/MULTIMEDIA)
• SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• INDIAN ARMY
• HOTEL MANAGEMENT
• TRAVEL AND TOURISM
• CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY
• COST AND WORK ACCOUNTANCY
• COMPANY SECRETARYSHIP
• FINE ARTS
• TEACHING
• FOREIGN LANGUAGES
• ANTHROPOLOGY
• PERFORMING ARTS (DANCE/ MUSIC/ACTING)
• FILM MAKING
• SOCIAL WORK


(Please note that this is only an indicative list)


PROFESSIONAL COURSES IN COMMERCE


• CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY
• COST AND WORK ACCOUNTANCY
• COMPANY SECRETARYSHIP
• LAW
• ARCHITECTURE (WITH MATH AT 10+2)
• MANAGEMENT
• MASS COMMUNICATION
• DESIGNING (FASHION/INTERIORS/JEWELRY/ANIMATION/WEB/MULTIMEDIA)
• COMPUTERS/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WITH MATH AT 10+2)
• TEACHING
• FINE ARTS
• FOREIGN LANGUAGES
• PERFORMING ARTS (MUSIC/ DRAMA/ ACTING)
• FILM MAKING
• SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• INDIAN ARMY
• HOTEL MANAGEMENT
• TRAVEL AND TOURISM
• BACHELOR IN ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE
• BACHELOR IN BANKING AND INSURANCE


(Please note that this is only an indicative list)

PROFESSIONAL COURSES IN SCIENCE


• MEDICINE
• PARAMEDICINE (PHYSIOTHERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPYAND AUDIOLOGY/ HOMEOPATHY/ AYURVEDA/ DENTISTRY/ PHARMACY/MEDICAL LAB TECHNOLOGY)
• VETERINARY SCIENCE
• NURSING
• COMMERCIAL PILOT
• ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
• ARCHITECTURE
• HORTICULTURE
• MERCHANT NAVY
• AGRICULTURE
• HOME SCIENCE
• COMPUTERS/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• GEOLOGY
• FOOD TECHNOLOGY
• NUTRITION AND DIET
• FISHERY SCIENCE
• DAIRY TECHNOLOGY
• DESIGNING
• MANAGEMENT
• MASS COMMUNICATION
• HOTEL MANAGEMENT
• TRAVEL AND TOURISM
• LAW
• FOREIGN LANGUAGES
• PERFORMING ARTS (MUSIC/ DRAMA/ ACTING)
• FILM MAKING
• TEACHING
• ANTHROPOLOGY
• NUTRITION AND DIETITICS
• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• INDIAN ARMY
• INDIAN NAVY
• INDIAN AIR-FORCE

(Please note that this is only an indicative list)

Our Team



Our professional team includes:
Psychiatrists , Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Career Guidance counselors, Special Education consultants, Special Educators and Occupational Therapists

Our Team members are listed below:

Fr Godfrey D’Sa - Director, Counsellor
Dr. Kersi Chavda - Psychiatrist
Mimansa Popat - Special Education Consultant, Counsellor
Amitabh Seth - Counsellor/Clinical Psychologist
 Shalu Mehrotra - Counsellor
Srilatha Srikant - Counsellor
Kay A. Lobo - Career Guidance Counsellor
Rehmat Sutar - Career Guidance Counsellor
Rochelle Gomes - Counsellor
Ida Andrea Braganza - Counsellor
Alpa Chag - Special Educator
Jayshree Rao - Special Educator
Kala D’Mello - Special Educator
Ulka S. Patnaik - Special Educator
Ritu Bhansali S - pecial Educator
Payal Chittawar - Occupational Therapist
Donna Rajan - Occupational Therapist
Reema Valia - Occupational Therapist
Vinky Makwana - Occupational Therapist
Mitali Shinde - Occupational Therapist
Sharuja P. Sarap - Occupational Therapist
Dr. Deepti Doshi - Occupational Therapist
Dr. Asha Shethia - Occupational Therapist
Leonie D’Mello - Trainer (Corporate Programmers)
Serah Mathew Secretary - Coordinator
Gratia D’Souza Secretary – Coordinator
Gloria Pereira Secretary – Coordinator
Ancy Danthi Typing of Psycho- Educational Report
Suman Vishwakaram - Typing of V.G. Reports/ Secretary - Coordinator

Contact Us


Prafulta Psychological Services
St. Domnic Savio School Campus,
Mahakali Caves Road,
Andheri ( E ) , Mumbai 400 093 INDIA
Phone : (91-22) 28200248,28302323/28373739
Email : prafultaandheri@gmail.com

Workshops: Teachers, Parents, Students




'WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS'
1. DEALING WITH STRESS AND ACADEMIC BURNOUT
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience - All Teachers

Teachers often battle stress due to factors like a heavy workload, student indiscipline and managing complex relationships with parents and students. The workshop will help identify major stressors and specific techniques to manage them effectively.

2. EQ IN THE CLASSROOM
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience - All Teachers

Teachers play an important role in creating a positive school environment conducive to learning. The workshop will focus on aspects like listening with empathy, responding helpfully, and confronting effectively. The workshop will assist teachers in being more aware of self and responding sensitively to students.

3. MANAGING DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience - All Teachers

Teachers will be able to understand the nature of positive and negative emotions. The workshop will deal with issues like owning responsibility for your emotions as well as specific strategies to deal with some emotions like anger, resentment, jealousy and hostility

4. UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
Duration - 1½ Hour Each
Target Audience – Pre-Primary, Primary & Secondary Teachers in separate sessions

This workshop will help teachers gain an understanding about the psychological and emotional development of students at different ages, as well as the tasks and issues related to these stages. It will assist teachers in being sensitive and effective in their approach to students, thereby bringing out the best in students.

5. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WITH CHILDREN
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience - All Teachers

The workshop will discuss the entire gamut of psychological problems in children including anxiety, stress, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, (OCD) as well as problems in the area of learning, e.g., the slow learner, the learning disabled child. Specific methods to deal with the problems will also be discussed.

6. MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE (MI)
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers
Howard Gardner stated that individuals are endowed with multiple intelligences. It is centered in many areas of the brain which are interconnected, interdependent yet independent. It may not reflect in the child’s academic scores. The aim of this workshop is to make teachers aware of their own MI, help identify that of the child and make the teaching - learning process effective and interesting to both teacher and child.

7. CHANGING ROLE OF THE TEACHER TODAY
Duration – 3 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers

Education needs to move from ‘making a mere living’ to ‘making a life’. The focus of this workshop is to understand the challenges and demands made by the physical and socio-cultural environment on the teacher, as well as manage the influence of both mass media and technology to enhance the teaching - learning process.

8. PATHOGENIC FAMILY PATTERNS/ DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES
Duration – 3 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers
Most of the worst crimes in the world are being committed in the safest place we call ‘FAMILY'. Considering this, teachers need to be equipped with knowledge of what is pathogenic- and how children are moulded- depending on the parenting styles. This will help teachers identify, understand and deal effectively with those children often seen as ‘difficult/different.’

9. UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY
Duration – 3 Hours
Target Audience – Secondary Teachers

In this workshop, teachers will develop an awareness of their personal sexual values, and increase their level of comfort and sensitivity while intervening with sexual concerns of students. Topics addressed will include communicating about sexuality, sexual diversity and gender-based issues.

10. DEALING WITH MIDLIFE ISSUES
Duration - 3 Hours
Target Audience – Teachers in the age group 40-55 years

This workshop will help teachers explore challenges and opportunities that surface at midlife,
both on the personal and professional fronts. It will address some of the psychological and
emotional changes that occur at midlife and effective ways to cope with them.

11. UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
Duration - 2½ Hours
Target Audience - All Teachers

This workshop will cover aspects of dealing with the child with learning difficulties in the
classroom, impact on different areas of learning and ways in which the school can help.

12. DEALING WITH CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL

Duration – 5 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers

This workshop will address effects and impact of underachievement in school, as well as some
remedial tips and study skills to enhance learning.

13. INNOVATIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES
Duration – 5 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers

This workshop will highlight a multi-sensory modality of teaching and non-formal methods of
education. A brief outline of interpreting children’s drawings will also be given.

14. ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES OF CHILDREN
Duration – 3 Hours
Target Audience – All Teachers

This workshop will highlight issues relating to the child with learning difficulties, the slow learner and the child with ADD/ADHD. Specific methods to manage such children will be discussed.

'WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS'

Parenting is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. There is hardly any training available for it and one is supposed to be perfect at it without any prior experience. In today’s age, parents being at sea about what are the ‘right’ ways to raise a child seem to be most true.


Some of the workshops we offer :

1. MY CHILD IS IN THE PREPRIMARY (1 ½ hours)

This is the time for foundation and the concerns addressed at this stage would be:

Making the transition from home to school and the world a smooth passage
Developing the self concept and esteem of the child
Beginnings of discipline and how to do it

A more detailed workshop could be taken which could include issues:
(Separate modules on such issues could also be taken):

3 – 6 years is an age when most children get their siblings, preparing them for better sibling bonding can also be taken an area to focus upon at this stage.

It’s the time when children start developing their imagination. How to encourage this initiative can be explored in the session.

2. MY CHILD IS IN THE PRIMARY (1 ½ hours)

The child has grown from early childhood to middle childhood which has its own peculiar concerns. This session will focus on:

How to Deal with Feelings That Interfere with Learning
Skills that help children to cooperate
Disciplining – the healthy way

Children have a lot of conflicts with their friends at this age. How parents can help can be looked upon in more detail.

Confidence building of a child is a relevant topic which could need a more in depth understanding

Life skills as study skills, time management can be absorbed very well at this stage. How a parent can help the child acquire them and make it an asset.

3. MY TEENAGER AND ME (1 ½ hours)

Adolescence is the time of transition wherein a child matures into an adult.
It can be a delicate balance for the parents to strike the right chord with their teenagers. The ‘child – adult’ needs support and guidance during this stage to be able to find his place in the world.
This session will facilitate parents to understand and interact with their growing teens in a meaningful way.

Help the teen with educational / career decisions – It will help parents become aware of the direct and indirect ways in which parents play an influential role in the subject and career choices of their children. The idea would be to support parents in making a positive influence so that the student makes a choice suitable for him / her rather than base decisions on parental demands or other myths prevailing about subjects of study and employment.

With maturity setting in faster than earlier times, parents tend to worry a lot about the issue of sexuality and interaction with the opposite sex. A module on this aspect can facilitate parents to communicate with their teens on this issue, give them knowledge and help teenagers set limits internally and not as a force.

'WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS'

The professionals at Prafulta Psychological Services deal with issues and common concerns of school and college students as well as young adults. Our team of counselors and special educators helps students deal with stress and emotional issues related to personal and academic problems.

1. Handling Peer Pressure
Duration - 2 ½ hours
Target Audience - Std. VIII – X

Adolescence is a period of exploration and risk taking. This workshop will focus on evaluating one’s risk-taking patterns, recognizing negative peer pressure and handling it effectively. Various skills like assertiveness, decision-making and refusal skills will be focused upon, enabling the youngster to make more responsible, constructive choices.


2. Understanding Adolescence
Duration - 2 ½ hours
Target Audience - Std. VIII & IX

Adolescence is a period of numerous physical, psycho-social, cognitive changes. This informative workshop will discuss these changes, address issues like identity formation, sexuality and intimacy, and how they affect the psychological development of youngsters.


3. Handling Difficult Emotions / Anger Control
Duration - 2 ½ hours
Target Audience - Std. VIII – X

Adolescence is a period of stress and turmoil for many youngsters. Handling emotions like anger and aggression in a constructive manner is crucial to forming close relationships with family and friends. This workshop will focus on issues like owning responsibility for your anger; using strategies like coping, self-talk, relaxation and visualization, and handling aggressive criticism.

4. ‘Zenith’ – Motivation & Careers Ahead
Duration - 5 hours
Target Audience - Std. X

This 5 hour programme called “ZENITH’ helps Std. X students with:
i. Goal Setting and coping with road blocks in achieving them.
ii. Making educational and career choices and informing them about the streams of education and career options available.
This is a very interactive session with a power point presentation, movie clips and several activities.

Courses and Training Programmes


To enhance the Emotional Quotient in society, Prafulta regularly conducts and facilitates several programmes.

Professional Courses:

Basic Skills in Counselling for Teachers - A 100 hour programme where teachers get trained to handle basic emotional issues of students at the individual level and conduct sessions to help students cope with issues like exam stress, peer pressure, time management and the like. We have trained 300 teachers till now from over 85 schools in Mumbai.

Career Marg
- 3 days Training for teachers to conduct career development workshops for students of Class VIII & IX to help them in areas of self awareness and exploring the world of work/education. Teachers are then able to help students make realistic educational/career choices at the end of Class X.

The Don Bosco Advanced Diploma in Counselling Psychology - This nine month course stresses hands on training and enables participants to work as counsellors in various settings (mental health centres, hospitals, schools, colleges, private practice).

“Getting it Write-Advanced” - This training module enables the developing of writing skills in young children without tears! Systematic input is given on the theoretical aspects of the difficulties in writing.

Certificate Course in Educational Counseling - This training module enables a practitioner to understand children's difficulties in both educational and emotional areas. Strategies are imparted in Developing Perception, Graphic Organization, Basic Skills in Counseling and using Group Work towards developing a Model of intervention in Mental Health with a Whole School Approach.

An Orientation in Art Therapy
- This workshop shows how to use Art as a medium of understanding emotional issues and express emotions through drawing and colour.

Parent Learning Program
- This program enables parents to understand and manage their child with Learning Disability/ADHD at home. Strategies in Behavior Modification and Skills for Learning are imparted.

“Getting it Write” - This basic training module deals in developing writing skills in young children without tears!

Dealing with Mid Life Crises - This program offers group therapy for women to deal with the particularly challenging phase of mid-life. It aims to prepare women to deal with unexpected events and changes, provides opportunities for greater self awareness and create new personal goals and choices.

Alternative Meditative Relaxation (AMR) - This residential workshop is a quick and easy method that brings profound therapeutic changes by enabling a person to observe the body sensations and through meditative relaxation release the toxins from the body.

“Study Skills for Learning” - This workshop teaches Study Strategies for creative writing and Mind Mapping Skills for learning large textual content especially in secondary school.

Body Work - This workshop explores body-oriented approaches to doing psychotherapy. A general overview of somatic psychotherapy is given. Experiential exercises are conducted and through dyad work certain basic aspects of initial therapeutic work is undertaken.

Student Workshops:

Zenith Motivation & Careers Ahead - A 5 hour highly interactive audio visual programme for students of Class X which helps students with Goal Setting and making educational and career choices.

Strides - A 5 hour interactive programme for Class VIII and above to help students manage their time/stress and sharpen their study skills to help them take right 'Strides' to reach their goal.

Sensory Integration - This workshop develops body awareness, enhances automatic balance, reduces hyperactivity and improves attention.

Psychiatry and Clinical Assessment



People in distress who do not benefit solely with psychotherapeutic intervention are referred to the Psychiatrist for possible medical intervention. An attempt is made to evaluate the necessity of providing pharmacological treatment after making appropriate diagnosis based on signs and symptoms of the individual cases referred. Further references may be made for radiological and laboratory evaluation as well. Supervision of medication to ensure least side effects with maximum efficacy is attempted in our Psychiatric Services at Prafulta.

The clinical wing reaches to individuals in distress by identifying pathology using authentic clinical diagnostic tools.

1. Intelligence Measures:
Individual tests are administered keeping in mind the education, socio-cultural background and the purpose of assessment.

Some of the Intelligence tests we use are :

Weschler's Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and Weschler's Adult Intelligence Scales(WAIS) are effective indicators of intelligence. A cluster of scores indicates the presence of learning difficulty, emotional issues, pathological and perceptual factors which could be affecting academic work and daily functioning.

The Kamat Binet Intelligence Scale (KB) is most effective when the WISC/WAIS cannot be used for various reasons like language unfamiliarity and with a non-urban population.

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale: (VSMS) is a measure of the “development quotient” (DQ). It provides a fairly good estimate of development intelligence when the person (child) is unable to communicate for e.g. with autistic, physically and mentally challenged children and adults with profound mental deficits.

2. Clinical Measures of Pathology

CAT/ TAT: (Thematic Apperception Test - Children and Adults) provides valuable insight into psychodynamic conflicts and interpersonal relationships. A valuable tool for psychotherapy. Especially useful with children in identifying behavioral and parent-child relationship problems.

Bender-Gestalt Visual Motor Test: (BG) identifies visual-spatial deficits, organic pathology, autism and substance disorder.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: (MMPI) identifies psychopathology symptoms like depression, manic symptoms, somatic complaints, generalized anxiety patterns and thought disturbances. The test is a valuable tool for identifying clinical and sub-clinical conditions.

Rorschach Ink Blot Test: Through a series of asymmetric ink-blots, the ROR reveals variances about a person's psychodynamic state. It is an effective and intriguing projective tool to uncover unconscious conflicts and provides a clear indication of psychopathology.

Other tests used at the Centre are HTP/ DAP/ MIPS/ MCMI.

3. Scales
A number of scales are used to make a quick professional diagonosis -
Hamilton's Trait Anxiety Scale.
Hamilton’s Depressive Inventory.
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BILS)
ADHD Screening (Brown's)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Checklist (OCL)
Weschler Memory Scale (WMS) Alzheimer / Substance Disorder

Corporate Training



Prafulta has introduced the following initiatives for Corporates:
I. Assessments
II. Training

I. Assessments:

Psychometric tools are administered to business and
organizational settings for purposes of selection and promotion.
These include:
1. Tests of aptitude- DAT5 (Differential Aptitude Tests)
2 Interest test- Career Interest Inventory
3. Personality test- 16PF5 (Sixteen Personality Factor)

II. Training:
Our team has qualified and experienced psychologists and trainers who have contributed to make a difference in people’s lives and in the functioning of several organizations. We provide assessment based training programmes using standardized personality tools like MBTI, FIRO-B and MIPS which provide participants with valuable insights about themselves. We conduct workshops in organizations for staff at different levels and tailor our programmes to suit their needs.

Our list of training programmes includes:

1. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
2. Assertiveness training
3. Enhancing Emotional Intelligence
4. Attitude Development
5. Managing Conflicts
6. Stress Management
7. Basic Skills in Counselling
8. Dealing with Addictions (tobacco, alcohol)
9. Leadership Development
10. Team Development
11. Unleashing your Creative Potential
12. Anger Management

Integrated Education : Special Needs



Our Integrated Education Section comprises Special Needs Section and Occupational Therapy

In the Special Needs section, Prafulta offers Assessment and Remedial Intervention / Education for children with Learning Disabilities. Guidance is also given to parents of Children with Special Needs to set realistic goals for the education and management of their child.

Assessment :

Psychoeducational assessment is undertaken for diagnoses of Learning Disabilities -Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia.

The areas of impaired functioning are assessed
An Individual Educational Plan (IEP) is drawn for
Remedial Intervention and parents are
counselled on what they can do help their ward.
Recommendations to the schools are also included in the report.

Remedial Education:

Remedial Education is given to children to help them cope with their Learning Difficulties. The remediation focuses on:

Developing on the child's strengths
Filling in the gaps in learning
Enabling the child to achieve mastery through perceptual skill training, organizational skills and study skills.

Training :

Periodic on-going Parent Learning Programmes are conducted to help parents understand their children with Special Needs and accompany them towards becoming independent.

Our professional staff are qualified and licensed by the Rehabilitation Council of India.

Integrated Education: Occupational Therapy



Our Integrated Education Section comprises Occupational Therapy and Special Needs Section.

Occupational Therapy is given to individuals with motor dysfunction, difficulty with muscle tone, balance and perceptual deficits.

In the Occupational Therapy section Prafulta offers Pediatric Occupational Therapy services at the centre as also outreach services at schools.

We undertake :
Assessment
Assessment is carried out to gauge the motor development and perceptual integration required for writing, reading and activities of daily living.

Occupational Therapy
Therapy is undertaken to develop age appropriate self care skills, refinement of sensory discrimination and processing, development of muscle tone, balance and motor skills.

Treatment includes:
Play-based Sensory Integrative and Neuro-development Therapy
Perceptual Enrichment Program (PEP)
Handwriting Without Tears

Our qualified and experienced therapists are committed to helping children grow and fully develop their perceptual learning path and normal functioning.

Counselling and Psychotherapy


Prafulta offers INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND FAMILY COUNSELLING to facilitate those who require assistance to cope with and successfully resolve the problems they face in everyday life. We help people to manage anger, deal with stress at work, handle relationships and lead meaningful lives.

We also address a wide range of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, traumas, sexual problems & boundary violations, inability to function in life and other difficulties.

Our Counsellors also deal with issues of PARENTING and PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS like a teenagers' conflict with parents, acceptance and handling the emotional issues related to hyperactivity and academic difficulties.

Along with individual Counselling, we also have SPECIAL GROUPS catering to needs of women facing mid life crisis issues; adolescents having issues with authority and groups interested in personal growth.

Our centre also offers WORK DISCUSSION and SUPERVISION facilities for counsellors practicing in the field.

We have experienced psychotherapists who have training in varied systems like Somatic Therapy, Person Centred Therapy, Psychoanalysis, AMR, Cognitive Behaviourial Therapy and Marital Counselling.

Career Guidance



The mushrooming of several new careers has made it difficult for youngsters to make an informed choice and for parents to guide their children. Prafulta Career Guidance Department offers a variety of services to enable youngsters make proper choices and find their place in life.

Career Guidance Services at Prafulta:

Career Guidance Testing:
A detailed assessment of Aptitude, Interest and Personality. For students of class VIII and above and adults.
At Prafulta we use the latest assessment tools for Career Guidance.

Information Kiosk:
Updated information on careers, educational and vocational courses. Consultations on information regarding educational and career options.
A-Z of Careers
Professional Courses after Xth & XII Std
Career Guidance Counselling:
Consultations with Career Guidance Counsellors for students and adults.

Workshop for Students:
Basics of Career Mapping:
Helps students understand the importance of making a career choice and gives knowledge of the educational and career options.

Basic Assessment for Career Choices:
Helps students through exercises understand personal combination of individual traits and interest that enables them to identify career alternatives.

Zenith:
An interactive audio visual programme for class X students that deals with Goal Setting and making Educational and Career Choices.

Workshop for Parents: To help parents make a positive influence in their child's career choice.

Workshop for Teachers: Training teachers to conduct career development workshops for students of Std VIII and IX.