'Psychologists must help people to know their true self'

Mangaluru Diocese Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that a healthy mind is in the healthy body. Maintaining the health of mind and body is important for the well-being of an individual.

He was speaking at the inauguration of 18th National Conference of Catholic Psychologists of India organised by Conference of Catholic Psychologists of India (CCPI) and Psychologists of Karnataka – Mangaluru region, here on Friday.

“Studies have shown that people give more importance to the health of a body rather than the mental health. Mastering oneself through the willpower helps the person to grow mentally. Some people appear to be good and normal but inside they are broken. It’s the duty of Catholic Psychologists to build the positive image of the broken selves by following the example of Jesus himself. Psychologists have a role to play in the positive well-being of the individuals,” he said.

Dr Fr C M Joseph Cherukunel SDB, the president of CCPI, said understanding of positive emotions is very important to the well-being of the person. Positive subjective experiences, enhancing human potentials and creating positive institutions enable the well-being of the person.

The website of CCPI was launched by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza.

Dr Fr Lawrence Soosai Nathan OFM (Cap), director of Anugraha Counselling Centre, Dindigal, delivered the keynote address. The themes of the lecture are 'Strategies to improve well-being,' 'Positive psychology perspective' by Dr(MS) Kamalesh Singh, department of HUSS ITT, New Delhi, 'Enhancing human potentials through 24 characteristics, strengths' by Dr Sr Jenis Mary DHM, vice principal, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru, 'Enhancing Human Potentials through Resilience' by Fr A R John, director of Family Apostolate, Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, 'Creating positive institutions' by Aswini N V, director MUKTHA Foundation, Bengaluru, 'Creating positive institutions through educational institutions by Fr Wilson Chakkyath CMI, professor, Dharmaram College, Bengaluru.