The program, Karuna Life Skills, is being pitched to private schools across the country as a way for adolescents to gain “introspection, awareness, insights, and compassion”.[break]
Based upon "mindfulness based cognitive therapy" (MBCT) spearheaded in the US, Kuruna has already been launched in a handful of local schools between grades one to 10.
Its backer, Ravi Pradhan, now has his sights set on private college students aged 15 to 18 at risk of developing anti-social problems, like drug use and criminal behavior.
“We don´t expect a backlash. It´s a totally secular program,” he told Republica, adding that he won´t be pitching the therapy to Nepal´s public school sector.
MBCT is designed to help adolescents control damaging impulses and gain self-insight through the use of journal writing, nutrition, reflective exercises, tai chi, and yoga.
While not new practices -- local schools already use journal writing, for instance, to build student´s self-confidence -- Karuna bases itself on a tailored program developed in 2008.
American practioner, Michelle Walsh, said MBCT is not designed to replace traditional therapy but is instead a “preventative” measure against mental illness and social ills.
Walsh said it´s particularly useful in the US helping reformed teens stay off drugs or channel their aggression.
Walsh, originally a yoga instructor, said her best moments practicing MBCT include teaching troubled adolescent boys relaxation exercises and body awareness.
“Youth at risk [of social problems] are often very resistant to therapy and they´re not interested in doing something new. They think they´ve done it all before,” she said.
“But after the group session they were so relaxed. Some even made jokes and references that it was better than drugs.”
Ravi Pradhan told Republica he will look at targeting community schools and NGOs, like UNICEF and Save The Children, if his private college roll-out is successful.
Karuna Life Skills charges teachers Rs 12,000 for a year´s training program and is co-funded by Pradhan and individual fundraising.
Pradhan was exposed to MBCT through his late wife -- an American cognitive therapy researcher -- who passed away two years ago. He now is determined to “spread this in Nepal” to schools like Blue Bird College.
“I think if we can launch and train the faculty in therapies like this it will be really effective in Nepal,” said Yuba Raj Kafle , coordinator of Blue Bird College.
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