On December 15th and 16th, 2023, VTC embarked on a transformative journey with the Transactional Analysis (TA) Training Program led by Mr. Badarinath Cheruvu, renowned TA expert from Hyderabad. This program equipped our volunteers with vital call-handling skills. 

Skill Enhancement for Effective Call Handling:

The program’s heart lay in empowering volunteers with TA’s powerful tools and techniques for understanding human communication and behavior. Through interactive sessions, participants delved into:

• Ego States: Recognizing different ego states (Parent, Adult, Child) in themselves and callers, fostering empathetic and effective communication.
• Transactions: Identifying and analyzing communication patterns to navigate complex conversations and build rapport with callers.
• Life Positions: Understanding how callers’ underlying beliefs about themselves and the world can impact their interactions, allowing volunteers to tailor their responses accordingly.
• Active Listening: Honing active listening skills to fully grasp callers’ concerns and provide targeted support.

Benefits of TA for Enhanced Call Handling:

By applying these TA principles, VTC volunteers will be better equipped to:

• Build stronger rapport: Establishing trust and understanding with callers through empathetic and non-judgmental communication.
• De-escalate difficult situations: Applying effective communication techniques to navigate challenging conversations and manage caller distress.
• Identify underlying needs: Understanding the deeper motivations and concerns behind callers’ words, enabling more tailored support and intervention.
• Provide more effective support: Utilizing TA-based interventions to address callers’ specific needs and empower them towards positive change.

Investing in Volunteer Development:

Recognizing its volunteers as the bedrock of its success, VTC prioritizes and organizes ongoing training and development programs. VTC’s sponsoring this TA training program exemplifies its commitment to ensuring that volunteers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide the highest quality of support to those callers.

Core Team Meeting

Strategic Analysis and Planning for Impact:

The VTC core team used this opportunity to meet with volunteers and to engage in crucial discussions regarding the organization’s future. This included:

• Analyzing the effectiveness of existing strategies: By critically assessing current practices, the team identified areas for improvement and potential roadblocks to overcome.
• Brainstorming new strategies: The team collaboratively generated innovative approaches to enhance support and outreach.
• Addressing practical and technical challenges: Open dialogue allowed for identifying and actively addressing practical and technical difficulties faced by volunteers during calls, paving the way for improved efficiency and effectiveness.

Insights from Dr. Preethi Shanbhag (Consultant Psychiatrist, Manasa Nursing Home. Co-founder, KAPMI. Academic Head, MEFFMH) and Dr. Rajani (Director, Manasa Trust).

Further enriching the gathering was the guest talks given by Dr. Preethi Shanbhag, a renowned expert in the field of psychiatry and by Dr Rajani who is the director of Manasa Trust. Their unique perspective on mental health counseling provided valuable takeaways for both volunteers and core team members, including:

• Emphasizing the importance of self-care for volunteers to sustain their emotional well-being while managing challenging calls.
• Sharing effective techniques for managing stress and preventing burnout in the helping profession.
• Offering valuable insights into emerging trends and best practices in mental health support, ensuring VTC remains at the forefront of providing quality care.