The Department of Psychology offers professional mental health services to children and adolescents with Autism, Intellectual Disability (ID), Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy, Speech difficulties, Hearing difficulties and other multiple disabilities. The department also provides services to adults with disorders related to Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Mood disorders, Personality disorders, interpersonal relationship issues and neuropsychological issues related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy etc. Psychological assessment involves detailed case history, mental status examination, clinical observation and the application of standardized tools. The management plan consists of interventional programs that are tailor made to suit the needs of clients and their families.

The department pursues an eclectic approach and provides services in a range of areas which are:

1. Diagnostic Services
2. Management & Therapeutic Services
3. Academics
4. Research
5. Collaborative Projects with national and international institutions
6. Online mental health services

 

The Department of Psychology works in a multidisciplinary approach accepting client referrals from other departments within and outside NISH.

Diagnostic Services:
Identification and diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders based on objective assessment using standardized psychological tests.

 

The tests that are being utilized are listed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management & Therapeutic Services
Once the problem is identified, depending on the nature, magnitude and the need of the hour, tailor made therapeutic services are rendered.

Psychoeducation 

This consists of educating the parents and caregivers regarding the diagnosis, intensity, severity, need, importance of therapy and follow up. Role of parenting, caregiver support in the treatment, management of the symptoms, addressing the emotional problems of caregiver and caregiver burden are the other areas of focus. 

Counselling

Counselling consists of helping people with physical, emotional and mental health issues improve their sense of well‐being, alleviate feelings of distress and resolve crises.  Counselling focuses on typical life stresses which people may struggle as individuals or as a part of families, groups and organizations.

Various kinds of counselling include individual counselling, pre and post marital counselling, family counselling, parental counselling, group counseling etc.

Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy includes  helping people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing. Therapy may be conducted in an individual, family, couple, or group setting, which can help both children and adults. The choice of therapy type depends on the client’s particular illness, circumstances and preference. Therapists may combine elements from different approaches to best meet the needs of the person receiving treatment.

Various types of psychotherapies include behaviour therapies, cognitive behaviour therapy, psychodynamic therapy, supportive therapy etc.

 

 

 

The psychologists act as resource persons for conducting program for personnel from related fields and parents:

 

 

 

Academics

The department staff are also faculty members of MSc Audiology, MSc Speech, BASLP and DECSE (HI). They also provide life skills training for students in the DHI programmes.

 

Research

The psychology department also conducts research on topics such as psychological test standardization, and improvement of cognitive skills of students with hearing impairments and of clients with other disabilities.

 

Collaborative Projects with national and international institutions

Our department has collaborated with institutions such as the Central Institute on Mental Retardation (funded by the State Initiative on Disability), Center for Child Development, and the University of Michigan, U.S.

Access Hub is a website created in collaboration with the University of Michigan supported by the Center for Internet and Society in Bangalore, and Inclusive Planet in Chennai. It includes descriptions of disability-related service providers, state policies, experiential anecdotes, and a discussion forum. The website can be accessed at: http://www.accesshub.org