“An Unfiltered Session to Filter Young Minds”

On January 16, 2025, the Department of Psychology organized ‘Beyond the Counsellor’s Chair’, an Inspiring session by Mr. Arpit Sharma at Ojas Hall, IIS (Deemed to be) University.

Mr. Arpit Sharma is a Counselling Psychologist and founder and director of Mano Matrix Counselling Services & Mind Wellness Centre (MMCS-MWC), Jaipur. He is not only a renowned counsellor but a multifaceted professional whose contributions span various domains of psychology including prison and Juvenile care, de-addiction, forensic counselling and developmental psychology. As a psychologist, he has made a profound impact on the lives of Individuals and has trained more than 2500 Psychology Interns.

Mr. Sharma began his insightful session by explaining why he titled it "Beyond the Counsellor’s Chair." He emphasized that contrary to the common perception, counselling is not just about fancy rooms, designer chairs, and a crowd of clients. Instead, one has to start by “ringing the bells until someone answers,” i.e. to maintain consistency in their work until they get successful and to begin from ground-level fieldwork.

To help the audience connect with his message, Mr. Sharma shared his journey into the field of counselling. He discussed the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them, and provided insight into the initial phases of his organization compared to its current state.

Focusing on counselling psychology, he pointed out that it is a vast yet often misjudged field. He addressed the misconception regarding the bifurcation between clinical and counselling psychology, asserting that both fields have their methods but ultimately share the common goal of counselling individuals who seek assistance.

When discussing career paths, Mr. Sharma highlighted the importance of obtaining a Master’s degree and a postgraduate diploma to start a private venture. However, he also noted that individuals can begin gaining experience under supervision during their Master’s or even Bachelor's programs if they acquire the appropriate knowledge from internships and workshops, allowing them to turn theoretical knowledge into practical skills. In the current landscape, he emphasized that credibility is of utmost importance; one may be a high earner with a successful business, but without adequate knowledge of their field, it is all worthless.

Regarding private ventures, Mr Sharma explained that they are essential since there are currently 30 psychologists available for every one lakh individuals seeking help. There is a genuine need for authentic private practitioners. Although starting may seem challenging, he encouraged practitioners to begin small by utilizing social media promotions, paid advertisements, offering free counselling sessions, conducting pro bono work, maintaining consistency, collecting referrals, and networking.

He concluded the session by stressing that practical knowledge is paramount in psychology and should never be neglected. 

Outcome:The session ended with a brief question-and-answer round, during which the audience expressed their queries and gratitude to the speaker. The session was indeed beyond the perceived realities of the field and helped the students get a very honest insight from a remarkable individual.