The State of Kerala, also known as the “God’s own Country", holds a higher position in comparison to other states in India in literacy, education and health. The Kerala community is also highly oriented towards psychology, not only in relation to mental health services but also about its role in bringing up children, and its application in day today life.
In Kerala, psychological publications and clinical psychological services have been different from that of a medical model started many decades ago. The credit of this bench mark goes to many of our forerunners, who are hereby remembered with lot of respect and admiration. “Manashasthram" , a study of mind was a remarkable periodical published in Kerala, which made even villagers familiar with clinical psychological techniques, and major psychologists all over the world . Mr. E A Fernandez who had been managing that popular magazine was a prominent promoter of Psychology and related services through the centre he ran at Trivandrum for many decades. That was a time devoid of internet or TV channels, but in spite Kerala became psychologically sophisticated through this initiative along with many articles and psychological enlightenment provided through other magazines and books.
There were many personalities in this field of Clinical Psychology who were responsible for its rich tradition in Kerala. Dr.PM.Mathew Vellore, Dr.Krishnaprasad Sreedhar, Prof. Mohammed and our first Clinical Psychologist in Government health service Dr.Jagadambika, are few names among many who need to be listed and memorized with respect and honor. Our senior most Clinical Psychologists had been trained from prestigious institutions at national level like NIMHANS Bangalore and Central Institute of Psychiatry Ranchi which were the only centers offering Clinical Psychology courses in India for many years .Currently there are more than 20 centers offering MPhil in Clinical Psychology courses across India.
Kerala is the state which produced maximum qualified Clinical Psychologists, which account for about 500 in number currently. There are two centers in Kerala running MPhil Clinical Psychology namely; Amrutha Institute Kochi and IMHANS Kozhikode. Both started in recent times.
Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP) is the only association in India for Clinical Psychologists which has been keen in making the profession to maintain high standards and ethics with its national and international conferences workshops and interventions in the community.
Indian association of Clinical Psychologists Kerala Region (IACP KR) came into existence in 1990s with initiatives of the then Professional Clinical Psychologists in Kerala. Kerala IACP has been functioning successfully ever since its inception and hosted two national conferences of IACP in this land of Kerala. Both were in the district of Thrissur and credit goes to then CPs in Thrissur particularly Prof Mohammed who took high initiatives.
With its rich tradition, Kerala IACP is going to be a promising and powerful organization for Clinical Psychologists which is continuing its activities to maintain the quality, scientific approach and ethics in the field. At the same time it is also taking up challenges - legal, administrative and educative; to safe guard the profession from attempts to destabilize it, by those with egocentric interests.
IACP-KR is committed to hold high standards of clinical services, academics, training as well effective intervention in the Kerala community.
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