The programme began with an introductory speech by Chope Paljor Tsering, Kalon
for the Department of Health.

Ms Logan, executive director of the ICMHHR, gave an overview for the
curriculum of the Dukar Project and introduces the members of Dukar
training team, Dr Vagdevi Meunier, Dr Siddharth Ashvin Shah, filmmaker
Carey Russell and US based interns Betty Holmes, Chelsea De Kruyff and
Sam Ritter.

The programme ‘Exploring the Shared Wisdom of the Group’ was an
interactive process, building confidentiality, encouraging equal
participation and beginner’s mind and time boundaries were stated.

A didactic session by Dr Shah focused on the importance of cultural
collaboration, empowerment and resilience. The group discussed about the
hopes and fears related to the training and explore the concept of the
“parallel process” that occurs in counseling work.

Ms Gaea Logan prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the role of mindful
awareness in counseling and talked about mindfulness, self regulation,
reflection and resilience.

An experiential exercise designed to help strengthen the counselors’
capacity to listen deeply to the experience of another was also
organised in which they shared their experiences within the group.

On the ‘Basics in Mindful Group Counseling’, Ms Gaea Logan and Dr Shah
co-lead the large group in exploring the theme of ‘caring for the care
giver’ while teaching basic group skills. This programme includes 10
minutes of mindfulness practice and 75 minutes of group work.

The last programme for the day will be ‘Meta-Processing’ in which group
participants will share their thoughts, feelings, learning, discoveries,
frustrations, disappointments, observations and ask questions to the
organisers.