“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to gather wood, divide the work​, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Soaked in the same spirit, the shared dream at UNREAD is to build a sustainable community mental health system, by shifting the focus from learning therapeutic techniques and becoming the expert in ‘curing illnesses’, towards developing a yearning for a dignified, inclusive, conscious and humane society.

At Hank Nunn Institute (HNI), we focus on distress over diagnosis in all our interactions – be it with those coming in for therapy or among ourselves as those unwittingly placed in their paths as fellow travellers. A shift from the conventional biomedical and clinical models, we challenge  top-down, expert-driven narratives and the resulting power dynamic between those offering and seeking mental health care.

UNREAD is an attempt to journey towards more anthropological views on mental health: to look at the world we are born into, and develop an understanding of the complexities of existence as they impact mental health. It aims to facilitate a critical examination of the role of the mental health professional in the Indian context, and draw attention to experiences and stories that are overlooked and unspoken in psychology classrooms.

Framework

UNREAD is designed to offer you a minimum of 550+ learning hours with the aim to cover basics of psychotherapy along with encouraging the development of an eco-bio-psycho-social perspective on mental health. Our robust and culturally congruent ‘distress over diagnosis’ framework primarily draws from principles of relational psychodynamic practice, group analysis, and therapeutic community methodology. We have structured UNREAD to function as a Learning Therapeutic Community over 6 months. This will offer participants the experience of being a community member and complement the knowledge and understanding gained in other learning spaces throughout.

The (un)learning components at UNREAD, curated as knowledge sharing and experiential spaces, provide a basis for beginning the conversation and peel back the layers to explore what lies at the heart of building ecosystems of care.

Program Duration

October 2023 to March 2024

Timelines

Applications open: Tuesday 19th July 2023

Intake conversations: 24th July- 7th August 2023

Last Date for Applications: 4th August 2023
Extended deadline for applications: Monday, 7th August, 2023

Announcement of finalised list of participants: First week of September 2023

Eligibility

Attitude:

We are inviting applications from those interested in

– learning to engage with people as people

– exploring mental health care beyond the conventions

– developing a community based systemic approach to mental health

– reflecting on the impact of their own power, position, and privilege within a system

– engaging in their own personal therapy

Educational Qualification: Masters in Psychology (Applied, Clinical, Social, Counseling, Forensic, Organisational Behaviour), Sociology, Psychiatric Social Work, Nursing, Psychiatry, Public Policy, Developmental Studies, Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Business Communications.

Financial Investment

Sliding Scale: ₹10,000 – 16,000 + experiential group fee / month

FAQs

1. What is the duration of the program?

6 months – October 2023 to March 2024.

2. What is the application and selection process?

Once you fill out the application form, you will receive the date and time to meet us for an intake conversation. This conversation with the HNI staff team will be focused on getting to know you better, discussing your responses on the application form, and understanding your journey so far. It is also a space to respond to your concerns and anxieties about the program, and help you assess whether UNREAD is the right step for you. We will announce the final list of participants by the first week of September 2023.

3. Who can join UNREAD?

It is open to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, who is willing to commit to the community for 6 months, and is not a patient at HNI or does not have a boundary conflict with an existing patient or therapist at HNI. While UNREAD helps to develop perspectives and skills for therapeutic settings, it also aims to complement work in other fields that are intersections of mental health & society, by encouraging the development of a holistic view of community and mental health.

4. What are the topics covered during the program?

UNREAD aims to cover the basics of psychotherapy along with encouraging the development of a holistic perspective on mental health. Our robust and culturally congruent ‘distress over diagnosis’ framework primarily draws from principles of relational psychodynamic practice, group analysis, and therapeutic community methodology. Each month is designed to focus on one of the following themes, inspired by the therapeutic community principles: Attachment, Containment, Communication, Involvement & Inclusion, Agency, Separation and Loss

5. Does participating in UNREAD ensure employment at HNI post-completion?

While being a part of UNREAD does not confirm your employment, it is a requirement for being hired at HNI. Depending on the hiring needs of the organisation in the coming year, the selection is based on mutual feedback and assessment of the team’s and applicant’s experiences with each other during the training.

6. Do I have to pay for the program?

Yes. We are offering a sliding scale with the intent to make this affordable for people from varied financial backgrounds.The fee ranges from  ₹10,000 to  ₹16,000 per month. Each participant will also be required to engage in the experiential group as part of their learning experiences and will need to bear the cost for the same independently. 

We have done our best to keep the fee at the lowest end possible. As there are no external sources of funding to support this program as yet, we are unable to offer any scholarships.

7. Do I have to relocate for the program?

No. UNREAD is being held online for 2023-24. All you need is a room of your own and good internet connection.

8. Does UNREAD qualify me as a psychotherapist?

Psychotherapy, unlike clinical psychology, is not yet a recognised licensed profession in the Indian mental healthcare system. Thus, UNREAD, while robust and application based, is not a qualifying course. However, it does equip one with necessary therapeutic skills and builds capacity to work in high stress settings. Certificates provided at the end of the experience are endorsed by our international partners (logos on the poster above).

9. What are the timings of the program?

Your time at UNREAD will be structured across 5 days a week. Most of the learning spaces will be accommodated between Mon-Fri from 08:30 AM – 08:30 PM with breaks through the day. Since HNI works 7 days a week between 8:30 AM-8:30 PM, certain spaces such as assessments and other ongoing programs like the community awareness events, alternative large group, webinars, and occasional informal meetings happen over the weekend as well. There is enough space for each participant to design their own week outside of the regular weekly spaces.

10. Can I participate in UNREAD in parts?

Participants will be required to complete all 6 months at the community in order to receive the certificate of completion. Since the program is revised each year, and components often overlap or follow through in continuation, it is not possible to attend it in parts.

11. Can I participate in UNREAD while pursuing my job or college?

We would advise against joining UNREAD if you have already committed to engaging in another program. UNREAD is designed to be a full time intensive program. Along with intellectual stimulation, it also places emotional and psychological demands on participants. Learning to work with others requires us to develop consistent awareness of our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in a community set up. This means the time that is available for rest and leisure is also important for you to be able to absorb and digest all that has been churned up during the week.

12. I am in therapy at HNI/in private practice with a therapist from HNI. Can I still participate in UNREAD?

We do not encourage individuals who are currently in therapy at HNI or those who share other sensitive boundaries with existing therapy seekers/therapists at HNI to join UNREAD in order to maintain the safety that comes with keeping these boundaries intact. However, if you have terminated therapy 2 years ago with no contact with your therapist, you could apply for UNREAD with the awareness that this will take away the opportunity to resume therapy with the same therapist in the future, if needed. Like other nuanced aspects, this can be a longer conversation that we have during the intake conversation.

Contact

Teetash Singhal 

teetash@hanknunninstitute.org

Please read everything above including the FAQs before making an informed choice to apply.

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