Empowering Child Counsellors: UTCPS Hosts Training on Counselling Strategies in Chandigarh

The Voice of Chandigarh News – In a significant step toward strengthening child welfare initiatives, the Union Territory Child Protection Society (UTCPS), under the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration, organized a One-Day Training and Capacity Building Program on “Counselling Strategies for Counsellors Working with Children.” The event took place at the U.T. Guest House, Sector-6, Chandigarh.

The training was inaugurated by Ms. Anuradha S. Chagti, Chairperson, UTCPS-cum-Secretary, Social Welfare, in the presence of Ms. Palika Arora, Director Social Welfare, and Ms. Bisman Ahuja, Program Manager, UTCPS.

In her welcome address, Ms. Palika Arora underscored the importance of equipping counsellors with contemporary skills and empathetic understanding to provide timely and effective support for vulnerable children. Ms. Anuradha S. Chagti, delivering the keynote address, highlighted the indispensable role of counselling in a child’s development. She stressed the need for early psychosocial interventions, especially in response to rising cases of childhood trauma and substance abuse.

The training featured insightful expert sessions on Childhood & Adolescent Disorders, Counselling Techniques, Play Therapy, and Practical Skill Building, conducted by Dr. Karuna Singh, Play Therapist, and Ms. Ritika Goel, Counsellor, GMCH-32. Additionally, UTCPS officials led discussions on Social Investigation Reports (SIRs), Individual Care Plans (ICPs), and Rehabilitation Cards for children residing in Child Care Institutions.

With an enthusiastic participation of over 62 counsellors and officials from Child Care Institutes, the Department of Education, and Childline-1098, the program marked a significant effort toward enhancing child protection mechanisms. The initiative reflects the Chandigarh Administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring a safer and more supportive environment for children in need.