Jalandhar October 28 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- The Psychology Forum and The Listening Room of Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar organized the culminating event of World Mental Health Month by hosting an insightful workshop titled “Mental Health Café.” The session was led by Ms. Prachika Chopra, a Counselling Psychologist and Play Therapist, who explored the theme through an engaging and interactive approach.
Ms. Chopra elaborated on the foundational theoretical models and therapeutic techniques that shape this domain, offering a nuanced understanding of Play Therapy. The discussion emphasized the effectiveness of Play Therapy for children aged 3 to 12, especially those struggling to express their emotions verbally while dealing with trauma, anxiety, grief, behavioural challenges, or developmental delays.
The session also included a critical analysis of the advantages and limitations of Play Therapy. While its proven success in enhancing emotional regulation, communication, and self-esteem was highlighted, the challenges—such as the need for specialized training, possible misconceptions, and context-specific implementation—were also thoughtfully examined.
Ms. Chopra underscored the importance of dialogue in Play Therapy
Ms. Chopra underscored the importance of dialogue in Play Therapy, managing dependence on therapy among children, addressing non-verbal communication issues, and understanding the three A’s—Acknowledge, Address, and Aware—as the pillars of effective therapeutic practice.
The activity-based and interactive workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from students of the Department of Psychology, who engaged keenly throughout the session.
On this occasion, Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra shared her thoughts, stating that in today’s fast-paced life, mental health is often overlooked despite being a universal concern. She emphasized that awareness initiatives like these play a vital role in fostering mental well-being. Dr. Dhingra lauded the dedicated efforts of Ms. Niharika Mazumdar and Ms. Harpreet from the Department of Psychology and encouraged them to continue organizing such meaningful endeavours in the future.
The event was skillfully conducted by Kritagya Gaba, President of the Psychology Forum, while Vanshika Sharma, Event Coordinator of the Forum, proposed a heartfelt vote of thanks.