Counselling- a commendable initiative by Corporate India

Further to yesterday’s post http://deepali-enlightenment.blogspot.com/2011/07/stressed-workforce.html, let’s understand the meaning, importance & role of Counselling/ Counsellor; and initiatives taken by Corporate India in this direction to help their employees cope up with stress.

Meaning , Importance & Role
Why do we go an income tax consultant or a Chartered Accountant for tax related and financial matters; to a lawyer for property related or other legal issues? Why can’t we handle these matters, after all we are such intelligent and well read people?
Because, the nitty grities of income tax or legal issues are slightly beyond our purview and there are times when we need an expert’s help and guidance. Simple, is’nt it? Yes it is indeed. Life by itself is quite simple, but there are times when it gets complicated and one is not able to look beyond the complexity of a situation. All one needs is an expert’s help and guidance to overcome that situation or problem and move on.

An expert who helps us overcome our behavioural problems by just talking to us is called a psychologist/ counsellor/therapist, and this process of talking and getting guidance is called Counselling. When we are in a grave problem, we talk to a close one- a friend, philosopher or guide who gives us a patient ear and tries to offer a solution. The role of a psychologist is almost the same, the only difference being that we get absolutely unbiased and appropriate guidance from a professional, and of course we shall have to pay the professional charges:). Life shall become simple and happy again by just talking to someone who is an expert who keeps our good, bad and ugly in strict confidence and stays non-judgemental. Amazing!

Difference between psychiatrist and psychologist:
A psychiatrist is not the same as a psychologist. Though both are in the field of mental wellness, yet their scope of work is different. A psychiatrist is a medical practitioner, a doctor who specialises in psychiatry and prescribes medicines if required in cases of acute depression, anxiety etc.( quite common these days) While, a psychologist is usually someone who has completed Masters degree in Psychology and is a practicing therapist, usually a Clinical Psychologist (since the specialization is wide like in every other field). However, it is not incorrect or stigmatic to see a psychiatrist also. If he feels that no medication is required, he will direct you to a psychologist.
Going to a counsellor does in no manner signify insanity or mental illness. Counselling is quite common in West, especially the US, not because they are ultra modern and open; in this case, because they are open to seeking help. Good schools appoint counsellors so that young students have uninterrupted growth and are able to make right choices in face of competition. Good hospitals have counsellors to help their patients overcome the agony and pressure that comes as an aftermath of physical illness.

Initiative taken by Corporate India:
I was very happy to read that corporate India has taken this initiative of using services of counsellors. Companies like BPCL, IBM India, Tata Power, HCL, Glaxo SmithKline have tied up with Employee Assistance Provider companies that even provide personal counselling to employees of these companies. I checked the website of one such Employee Assistance Provided called 1to1help.net and was quite impressed with their services as mentioned on the site(something that I always aspired and still aspire to do). Talking of counselling, they provide personal, telephonic and online counselling, maintaining 100% confidentiality.
I sincerely urge the rest, to make use of such services for employee well being; it will definitely effect and reflect in your company’s well being.

Life is just too beautiful to be spent in agony or stress. Let’s stay happy and make the best of life!

Stressed Workforce

The Economic Times presented a wonderful report on Stressed Workforce on 7th July 2011. Here is a snapshot of the same, with a few additions.

Causes:

Work related:
1. Excessive workload
2. Inadequate planning
3. High expectations & inhuman demands (happens to be a personal cause too)
4. Quick growth & money
5. Negative work environment
6. Un co-operative boss
7. Non-challenging work

Personal:
8. Loss of spouse/ loved one
9. Chronic health problem
10. Strain in close relationship
11. Lack of understanding
12. Lack of communication (can be work related too)

The report has made an eye opening revelation, that Indian women are the most stressed in the world. The main reason being- overstretching themselves to meet the expectations both at work and home, and still carrying guilt of not being able to keep people around happy (I see this struggle happening at list till my generation). However, keeping the article gender neutral, let’s move on.

Effects:
1. Problems in inter-personal relationships
2. Difficulty in communicating
3. Inadequacy to cope up with problems
4. Irritable behaviour
5. Anxiety, nervousness
6. Depression
7. Weight loss or gain without any reason
8. Problems in digestion
9. Hypertension
10. Sluggish auto immune system

Corporate initiatives:
1. Gymnasium, yoga centre etc at workplace
2. Counselling - An appreciable initiative taken by a few companies- shall be presented at length in the forthcoming post.

Link to the newspaper report: A must read:)
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/india-inc-executives-both-physically-mentally-stressed-out/articleshow/9132595.cms?curpg=1

Have a nice week ahead!

Be a part of the solution

I heard a very simple and sweet story in a spiritual camp the other day and wish to share the message I inferred from the same. The story goes like this:
There’s a small bird sitting on a tree in a jungle. All of a sudden the jungle gets ablaze. The little bird finds a river close to the tree on which she was seated and rushes to the river to get water in her peak and throws the water on fire. The bird repeats this act n number of times, when a crow sitting on the nearby tree laughs and says’- hey little birdie, do you think the water you are carrying in your tiny peak will put the jungle fire on rest? Even if you do this exercise for the rest of your life, you will not be able to put off the fire. So just relax, and have fun the way I am doing (watching the scene).
The little birdie replies-you could be right older brother, that the water in my peak might not suffice to put the enormous jungle fire on rest, but I am not so meek that I will sit back and enjoy other’s trouble; whenever the history of this fire will be written, my name will come in the names of trouble solvers and not onlookers.
Words of wisdom indeed, by a miniature bird, is’nt it? Here are a few inferences that can be drawn as morale of the story:
1. Be a part of the solution and not the problem.
2. Don’t sit back and make merry at other’s problems.
3. Genuine efforts, no matter how meagre, do have synergetic effect.
4. Don’t underestimate your potential even in the face adversities .
5. Don’t demean others’ endeavour.
6. Don’t be passive thinking that others will mock at you.
7. Always extend a helping hand, it surely has a boomerang effect.

Please share your views and comments.