BBCC Launched

Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck launched the Bhutan Board for Certified Counselors (BBCC) aimed to develop the counseling profession and help address escalating metal health issues in Bhutan on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Her Majesty shared her concerns on the need of counseling services with increasing urban population which adds to an increase in the cases of the mental health disorders, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape, drugs and substance abuse.

Her Majesty assured the BBCC will advance the development, promotion and credentialing of counselors and would meet the people needs when dealing with mental health issues, addiction, and trauma of abuse and violence in the age growing social complexities.

Executive director of Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women (RENEW) Chimi Wangmo also shared her concerns with the changing society of Bhutanese across the social, economic, political and technological structures which creates substantial challenges for the society. She cited a few challenges currently faced by the society such as competition for jobs, maintaining traditions and culture, domestic violence, divorce, suicide, substance abuse, unintended teenage pregnancy, conflicts in values and attitudes and increase in numbers of unprepared youth and their problems.

“These challenges are real and they have a significant impact on the individual’s social, economic, spiritual and career aspirations of our people across all ages,” she said.

“The launching of BBCC is a timely intervention to cater to the needs of the changing times. Having the specific prevention and intervention strategies can empower people to make meaningful choices in their lives,”Chimi Wangmo added.

RENEW’s director of the counseling department, Tshering Dolkar said the BBCC will enhance the empowerment of mental health professionals like counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers in their commitment and development of professionalism while delivering services.

The BBCC will help in providing opportunities to validate and orient all the counselors and para-professionals in Bhutan into the national standards of counseling and mental health and help in standardizing the profession up to international standards, monitor and supervise, facilitate to continuing education, award certificate and license to practice and maintain network of counselors across all sectors nationwide.

Coinciding with the launch, a two Bhutan National Counseling conference was also held with the main objective of creating a platform for counselors to discuss and exchange ideas, upgrade their professional knowledge and develop ethical standards for counseling.

The conference had sessions on counseling and globalization, theories and techniques of family counseling, treating trauma: steps from symptom management to resolution, using a strength-based approach with children and adolescents, the power of listening deeply-the mindful counselor, science of addiction, contemplative Buddhist psychology, child and adolescent counseling, child protection in emergencies, and a counselor education master’s degree experience in United States: East meets West in clinical training.

The workshop was conducted to as counseling an emergent and evolving profession which requires constant and continuous update of education, skills and training.

The BBCC was established with the support and commitment of the NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors), USA and concerted support from the stakeholders like Royal Civil Service Commission, Gross National Happiness Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, the Bhutan Narcotics Control Agency, Royal Bhutan Police, National Commission for Women and Children, Youth Development Fund and UNICEF- Bhutan.

The working committee members were Naina Kala, MoE, Dr Damber Nirola,MoH, Karma Nidup, RUB, and Dorji Tshering.

Counselling services were first introduced in schools though the issuance of a Royal Decree in 1996.

Thukten Zangpo/ Thimphu (The Bhutanese) Sept 13,2013