On 12th March, 2018, Ashwini N.V, Director ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited to deliver a lecture on ' Enhancing Emotional Intelligence among Teachers' for the faculty of Education at UGC- Human Resource Development centre, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

Ashwini N.V, Director ::MUKTHA:: Foundation addressing the Faculty of  Education at UGC

Dear all, ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) in collaboration with Montfort College, Premier institute for Counselling and Psychology affilated to Bangalore University is offering a 50- hours certificate course on 'Lifeskills Education - Training the Trainers Approach' starting from March 24th, 2018..

The course is excellent especially for those who intend to be trainers, wellness coaches, mentors.

The classes will span across 12 working Saturdays from 2pm-6pm at Montfort College, Old Madras Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore.

For more details, refer to the poster or call 8861431673.. Let us know if this course interests you and kindly help us spread the word.. thank you ☺

#mukthafoundation #lifeskills

Goa, 9th March, 2018 - ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) conducted training programme for children of Dr.K.B Hedgewar School, Bamboli, Goa on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse'. Ashwini N.V, Director of MUKTHA foundation facilitated the sessions in two batches. We thank the faculty members of department of Psychology, Dhempe College of Arts and Science for coordinating the programme.

Ashwini N.V, Director of MUKTHA foundation addressing students of Dr.K.B Hedgewar School, Bamboli, Goa on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse'

Panaji, Goa - ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) collaborated with Department of Psychology, Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar, Goa to organize a state level workshop on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: Breaking the Silence and Promoting Healing' on 10th March, 2018. Ashwini N.V, Director of MUKTHA Foundation facilitated a day-long workshop. It was attended by over 90 students pursuing UG/PG Psychology, Mental Health Professionals, and Journalists from Goa.

A special thanks to Dr. Mukta Karamadi, Vice Principal, Dhempe College of Arts and Science for coordinating the programme and all the faculty members of the department of Psychology for your support.

Ashwini N.V, Director of MUKTHA Foundation and Staff of Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar, Goa

The students of Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar, Goa being addressed on the topic of 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: Breaking the Silence and Promoting Healing'

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited to deliver a lecture on the topic of 'Therapeutic Techniques in Gestalt Therapy' for students of Psychology (Honours) at Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore on 5th March, 2018. We immensely appreciate the student community's willingness to learn. It has always been a pleasure to associate with the department of Psychology, Christ University.

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation, at Christ (Deemed to be University)

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) is happy to share that the workshop on 'Creative Movement Therapy' with a focus on prevention of abuse and working with survivors of abuse was organized on 3rd and 4th March, 2018 at Montfort College Auditorium, Indiranagar, Bangalore. This programme was part of a workshop series on 9 forms of expressive therapies. With this workshop series, we are also launching our project : MUKTHA ABHIVYAKTHA. Abhivyaktha means 'Expression'. Project- Muktha Abhivyaktha will aim towards promoting expressive therapies im the country and its application in the domain of abuse prevention and mental health promotion.

The workshop was facilitated by Tripura Kashyap, Pioneer of dance/movement therapy, Ashok fellow. We thank Tripura Kashyap for collaborating with us for this event.

Tripura Kashyap, Pioneer of dance/movement therapy and Ashwini N.V, Director ::Muktha Foundation with participants of the 'Creative Movement Therapy' workshop

Participants taking part in the activities conducted as a part of the workshop

Participants taking part in the activities conducted as a part of the workshop 

Participants giving each other a shoulder massage as one of the final activities conducted at the end of the workshop

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited by UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Karnataka University, Dharwad to deliver a lecture during the refresher course in Social Sciences on the topic of 'Challenges of survival for Social Sciences and Strategies' on 23rd February, 2018. The participants consisted of college and university faculty members from all the faculty of Social Sciences.

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited by the Department of Psychology, Madras School of Social Work, Chennai to deliver an interactive session on 'Family and Couples Therapy' with a special focus on Intimate Partner Violence, and Domestic Violence on 26th February, 2018. The session was attended by MSc students of Counselling Psychology. We thank the entire department for their support.

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation conducting the session on 'Family and Couples Therapy'

Participants of the session on 'Family and Couples Therapy' at Madras School of Social Work, Chennai

Greetings from ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health). We have launched a new project called 'MUKTHA Vruttha'. Vruttha means 'Circle'. It is our aspiration to create safe and supportive circles where we can listen, dialogue, and develop skills to deal with certain challenges. Each Vruttha(Circle)will deal with a concern. Our first listening circle is on the theme 'Break-free from the Break-up blues'. It starts from March 11th, 2018 onwards. It is for those who require support to deal with break-up they have had. Find more details on the poster. Help us spread the word. Thank you.

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health)and VIMOCHANA (Women's Rights Forum) co-organized MARMARA (Discussion under a tree) on the theme of MEN & INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (Discussion on Men as witnesses, perpetrators, and victims of Intimate Partner violence)on 28th February, 2018 at Montfort College, Old Madras Road, Indiranagar between 4:15 pm to 6pm. The originally planned discussion under the chickoo trees had to be moved to the lawns due to mosquitoes:) It was interesting to have Marmara under the sky 'AMBARA'. This programme was part of 'One Billion Rising' Movement to curb violence against vulnerable groups.

Participants of the MARMARA held on the on the theme of Men and Intimate Partner Violence

Ashwini N.V, Founder-Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) facilitated a workshop on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' to what has now been considered the largest gathering of non-teaching staff members in the country. This workshop was organized by Education Committee of CSI Karnataka Central Diocese on 17th February, 2018 at Bishop Cotton's Boys High School. There were over 520+ non-teaching staff inclusive of security guards, drivers, conductors, house keeping and maintenance staff members. It was overwhelming to note the solemnity and solidarity with which the non-teaching staff pledged to do their best to safe guard children within and near the school premises. Ashwini N.V shared guidelines to be followed by each non-teaching staff member and POCSO act was also discussed among several other topics.

::MUKTHA:: Foundation wishes to engage non-teaching staff in the dialogue to curb child sexual abuse. Do connect us with schools and agencies where we could address non-teaching staff on this pertinent issue of child sexual abuse.

Ashwini N.V, Founder-Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation, Education Committee of CSI Karnataka Central Diocese and 520+ non-teaching staff after the workshop on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' 

Prithvi Krishnamurthy, trainer at ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) facilitated a workshop on 'Prevention of abuse in relationships and enhancement of quality of relationships' for Under graduate students at Sacred Heart College, Jeevanbheema Nagar, Bangalore on 5th February, 2018.

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) is happy to share that the workshop on 'Therapeutic Clowning' as part of the workshop series on 9 forms of expressive therapies was organized on 4th February, 2018 at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore. The workshop was facilitated by Harish Bhuvan, Medical Clown, Founder of Compassionate Clowns. It is one of the aims of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation to pitch clowning as an expressive forms of therapy that require mainstream attention to provide emotional support for children suffering from terminal and chronic ailments. The workshop was attended by 35 participants. Photo Courtesy: Compassionate Clowns.

Ashwini N.V, Director ::Muktha:: Foundation distributing certificates to the participants of the workshop on Therapeutic Clowning

Harish Bhuvan, Medical Clown and Founder of Compassionate Clowns

The Compassionate Clowns team who helped facilitate the workshop on Therapeutic Clowning

Participants of the workshop and members of the compassionate clown conducting an entertaining activity for the kids at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) is happy to share that the workshop on 'The Power of Storytelling' as part of the workshop series on 9 forms of expressive therapies was organized on 3rd February, 2018 at Montfort College, Indiranagar, Bangalore. The workshop was facilitated by Sowmya Srinivasan, Psychologist/Storyteller, Founder Member of Bangalore Storytelling Society. The workshop was attended by 30 participants, mostly clinical and counselling psychologists, counsellors, trainee psychologists and teachers.

We look forward to develop a repository of stories that can be used by mental health professionals, Teachers, parents etc all across the globe to help address issue of abuse with children. That's the next project ::MUKTHA:: Foundation has planned to initiate with Sowmya Srinivasan.

Sowmya Srinivasan, Psychologist/Storyteller, Founder Member of Bangalore Storytelling Society and participants of the workshop 

Participants of the workshop held on the Power of Storytelling, at Montfort College, Bangalore

::MUKTHA:: Foundation facilitated a day-long workshop on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' for psychologists and trainers on 2nd February, 2018 in association with team Jagruth. The session was facilitated by Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation

On 9th February, 2018 - As part of Project Masoom (A nation wide initiative to prevent child sexual abuse) launched by Young Indians ( An Initiative of Conferderation of Indian Industries- CII) that ::MUKTHA:: Foundation is part of, Prithvi Krishnamurthy , trainer at ::MUKTHA:: Foundation facilitated workshops on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' at Government Schools of Varthur, Karnataka. Over 500 children were trained on the topic of prevention of child sexual abuse during this programme.

On 2nd February 2018- As part of Project Masoom (A nation wide initiative to prevent child sexual abuse) launched by Young Indians ( An Initiative of Conferderation of Indian Industries- CII) that ::MUKTHA:: Foundation is part of, Shruthi BP, Clinical Psychologist, and faculty at St.Anne's College, Ulsoor, Bangalore represented ::MUKTHA:: Foundation and facilitated workshop on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' at Government School of Hegganahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka. Over 500 children were trained on the topic of prevention of child sexual abuse during this programme.

Shruthi B.P, Clinical Psychologist conducting the training session on Prevention of CSA at Hegganahalli

Students at the Government School of Hegganahalli

On 1st February, 2018 - As part of Project Masoom (A nation wide initiative to prevent child sexual abuse) launched by Young Indians ( An Initiative of Conferderation of Indian Industries- CII) that ::MUKTHA:: Foundation is part of, Amiti and Annette , interns at ::MUKTHA:: Foundation and trainee psychologists from Montfort College facilitated workshops on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' at Fatima School, Bangalore. Over 700 children were trained on the topic of prevention of child sexual abuse during this programme.

::Muktha:: Foundation interns Annette and Amiti conducting the workshop

Students at Fatima School, Bangalore, attending the workshop on Prevention of CSA

On 7th January, 2018- As part of Project Masoom (A nation wide initiative to prevent child sexual abuse) launched by Young Indians ( An Initiative of Confederation of Indian Industries- CII) that ::MUKTHA:: Foundation is part of, Prithvi Krishnamurthy , trainer at ::MUKTHA:: Foundation facilitated workshops on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' at Government Schools of Rayalpadu and Mudhimadugu of Srinivasapura, Kolar district, Karnataka. Over 500 children were trained on the topic of prevention of child sexual abuse during this programme.

Prithvi Krishnamurthy, trainer at ::Muktha:: Foundation facilitating the workshop on Prevention on CSA

 

Students from the government school in Kolar, taking part in the activity conducted as part of the workshop

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) conducted a workshop for 3rd, 4th and 5th standard students of Icon School of Excellence, Electronic City, Bangalore on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' on 7th December, 2017. Annette Shaju, an intern at ::MUKTHA:: Foundation and a trainee psychologist from Montfort College, Bangalore, helped facilitate the session. We thank the Secretary of the school Nishanth N for his support and all the other management members of the school.

Ashwini N.V, Director ::Muktha:: Foundation conducting the workshop on Prevention of CSA

Trainee Psychologist and Intern at Muktha, Annette Shaju conducting activities as part of the workshop

 

Students participating in activities conducted as part of the workshop on Prevention of CSA

We are happy to share that ::MUKTHA:: Foundation's second batch of certification course on 'Microskills of Counselling' started on 6th January, 2018 at Bluenile counselling, MG Road, Bangalore. It is our aim to equip communities on microskills of therapeutic interaction so that they are able to emotionally support individuals in distress within their personal and professional arena. There are 17 registered participants.

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited to conduct a workshop during the state-level symposium that was organized by Department of Psychology, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore on 'Decoding the Construct of Healthy Relationships' on 30th January, 2018. Ashwini N.V addressed students of the college and participants of the workshop on 'Enhancing the Quality of Intimate Partner Relationships'.

Ashwini N.V, Director ::Muktha:: Foundation facilitating the one day workshop on" Enhancing the Quality of Intimate Partner Relationships"

Ashwini N.V, Director ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited as the resource person for the 67th Orientation Programme for the college and university teachers of Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka on 24th January, 2018. The programme is organized through University Grants Commission- Human Resource Development Centre situated at the university. Ashwini N.V delivered three lectures that day on the following topics:
1. Addressing the issue of teacher Burn out
2. Equipping teachers to provide 'Psychological First Aid' to students in distress
3. Teachers as catalysts for progressive changes in society

Ashwini N.V Director ::Muktha:: Foundation conducting the session at Dharwad, Karnataka

University Professors at the 67th Orientation Programme for University and College Professors

::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) had organized a two-day workshop on 'Clinical Hypnotherapy' with a focus on working with survivors of abuse and trauma on 20th and 21st January, 2018 at Montfort College, Indiranagar, Bangalore. The workshop was facilitated by Jini K.Gopinath, Renowned Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist. The workshop was attended by over 25 participants from mental health domain. It was an orientation programme, not a certification programme.

Jini K. Gopinath, Clinical Psychologist and Hypnotherapist conducting the workshop

Participants at the Clinical Hypnotherapy Workshop

Two of the participants taking part in activities conducted as a part of the workshop on Clinical Hypntherapy

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) was invited to be a panelist at National Seminar on 'Mainstreaming Life-skills Education in Educational Institutions: Challenges and Prospects' on 19th and 20th December, 2017. The National Seminar was organized by the School of Education, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod. Centre for life Skill Education was also launched under the School of Education at University of Kerala during the seminar. In a panel discussion that aimed to discuss 'Life-skills transactions' from a practitioner's perspective, Ashwini N.V shared her experience of working with survivors of Intimate Partner violence and other forms of abuse and strategies used by ::MUKTHA:: Foundation to build life-skills among these survivors of abuse.

Ashwini N.V, Director of ::MUKTHA::Foundation (An Initiative to Prevent Abuse and Promote Mental Health) addressed students of B.Sc Psychology Honours on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' of Christ University, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore on 14th December, 2017. What was originally planned as a half a day programme turned out to be a day-long programme. Thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of these students to learn more regarding the nuances of prevention of child sexual abuse. We thank Akriti Srivastava, Faculty, Christ University, HOD and all the staff members for their support.

Ashwini N.V conducting addressing 3rd year Psychology Honours Students at Chirst University, Bannerghatta Road

Ashwini N.V (Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation) addressed over 200+ teachers from over 10 schools from Bangalore on 'Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse' on 25th November, 2017. The event was hosted by Bishop Cotton's Boys High School in their school Auditorium, Bangalore. Ashwini N.V focused on the role teachers can play in detecting warning signs that the child could be sexually abused, signs that somebody could be an abuser, tricks abusers use, and equipped them with ways to train children to prevent child sexual abuse. She requested the authorities to also include non-teaching staff in programmes on prevention of child sexual abuse.

Ashwini N.V, Director Muktha Foundation with the Principal and teachers of Bishop Cotton's Boy High School, Bengaluru

The valedictory session for the first batch of participants who had enrolled for 35-hours of 'Microskills of Counselling' was organized on 9th December, 2017 at BlueNile Counselling, MG Road, Bangalore. The participants were trained in microskills of therapeutic interaction so as to equip them to use these skills in their respective fields of work.

Ashwini N.V, Director Muktha Foundation with the first batch of the 'Micro-skills of Therapeutic Interaction' certificate course

Ashwini N.V (Founder-Director of ::MUKTHA:: Foundation) was invited to deliver a lecture on ‘Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse’ for over 200+ teachers from over 10 schools at Bishop Cottons Boys High School, Bangalore on 25th November, 2017. On that day, she emphasized on the need to include non-teaching staff in programmes pertaining to prevention of child sexual abuse. To that end, a programme on ‘Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse’ is being organized for over 500+ non-teaching staff members at Bishop Cottons Boys School on 17th February, 2018. Ashwini N.V shall be facilitating that session.