PRATHYASA COUNSELING CENTRE

Prathyasa Counseling Centre is one of the programs of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. Despite the material prosperity in society there are wide spread emotional / psychological problems both in individuals and families. In order to deal with their issues counseling has been acknowledged as very important to people of all walks of life. It has already become an important subject in all theological seminaries. It has begun in 1996 under the guidance of Late Paulose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, the then principal of the seminary. It was formally inaugurated by H. H. Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I. Rev. Dr. K. M. George (Principal, Orthodox Theological seminary) is the Chairman and Fr. Dr. O. Thomas is the coordinator and all other faculty members join with the programs.

AIMS
(1) To give advanced training in counseling to priests who already had basic training as a part of their B. D course.

(2) To train a few priest who are professionally capable enough to teach and give counseling wherever it is needed

(3) To give basic skills and knowledge in counseling to those who are actively participating in our spiritual organizations

(4) To give pre-marital counseling to younger people who are preparing for family life.

(5) To give personal counseling to individuals and families who are in need of professional help.

Altogether eight batches with an average of 10 members and five pre-marital counseling sessions were conducted under the auspice of Prathyasa Counseling Centre. A basic text book for pre-marital counseling has been published under these forces. Prathyasa Counseling Centre is giving direction and guidance to all other counseling programmes started in Diocesan levels. Several Dioceses have made pre-marital counseling as compulsory before marriage. Those who have been trained in Prathyasa Counseling Center gives leadership to those programs.The centre is planning to start advanced courses as well as pre – marital counseling courses very soon.

Chairman          
Fr .Dr. K .M .George      Fr. Dr. O Thomas