Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Men's Straight-Fit Pant Buy Now
Genuine Leather Dress Designer Belts for men Buy Now
10.1" Octa-Core Tablet with Keyboard & Mouse Buy Now
Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
Women's Plaid Shacket Buy Now
Calvin Klein Hadley Crossbody Buy Now
One Shoulder Ruched Bodycon Dress Buy Now
Apple Watch Series 4 Buy Now
Men’s Premium Skin Care Kit Buy Now
Wedge Sandals Buy Now
2024 Ultrasonic Pest & Insect Repeller (6-Pack) Buy Now
Phoenix Bracelet Buy Now
Workout Running Shorts Buy Now
KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses Buy Now
Nate Chrono Watch Buy Now
Real Essentials: UV Sun Shirt Buy Now
Women's Joggers Pants Buy Now
Workout Set: 5-Piece Exercise Outfits Buy Now
Jileen Straw Bag Buy Now
Smartwatch Fitness Tracker for Men Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Pant Buy Now
Genuine Leather Dress Designer Belts for men Buy Now
10.1" Octa-Core Tablet with Keyboard & Mouse Buy Now
Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
Women's Plaid Shacket Buy Now
Calvin Klein Hadley Crossbody Buy Now
One Shoulder Ruched Bodycon Dress Buy Now
Apple Watch Series 4 Buy Now
Men’s Premium Skin Care Kit Buy Now
Wedge Sandals Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
How storytelling is emerging as a powerful medium for healing in India

How storytelling is emerging as a powerful medium for healing in India

The Hindu
Saturday, March 23, 2024 5:31 AM GMT

Experience transformative storytelling sessions for healing, empowerment, and self-discovery, fostering connection, empathy, and personal growth in a safe space.

It’s a calm, breezy evening and participants gather in a welcoming environment with soft lighting and comfortable seating. The storyteller invites everyone to take a few deep breaths and settle into the space, emphasising the importance of relaxation. As the storytelling unfolds, there is a palpable sense of connection and empathy among the group. Participants listen attentively, offering nods of understanding, gentle smiles and supportive gestures to affirm the storyteller’s journey. Soon, the story becomes a thread in the tapestry of shared experiences and the participants reflect on the stories shared, highlighting moments of inspiration, courage and resilience.

Geetanjali Shetty Kaul’s storytelling sessions, Secret Passages held in Mumbai every month, follow this gentle rhythm. “The main purpose is to empower individuals to discover their true potential, navigate life’s challenges and create meaningful narratives through the transformative power of storytelling,” says Geetanjali, who started Secret Passages seven years ago. The sessions are held offline as well as online.

In recent years, storytelling has emerged as a powerful tool for healing and therapy, gaining popularity as a medium for addressing mental health issues, trauma and personal growth.

During the pandemic, storyteller Sarita Nair conducted a series of sessions for the employees of a corporate firm, which saw rounds of lay-offs. The stories narrated the theme of hope and an underlying message of ‘this too shall pass’. “Many times, we tie our self worth and identity to our careers. We fail to recognise that work is just one aspect of our personality and our position is a label we carry in that specific role. These stories help shed the labels we carry and reflect on who we truly are as individuals,” says Sarita and adds: “This further enables us to face any situation where our careers are compromised, either due to personal reasons or a collective problem that has affected the times we live in and our world in general.”

Sarita has been conducting storytelling sessions, integrating performing arts, for adults and children under her organisation Heritage Stories and Performing Arts (HSPA). She organises performance-based storytelling sessions called Pratibimb for those in the age group of 16 years and above. “At the end of the sessions, we ask the listeners what part of the story resonated with them. Sometimes, these stories act as emotional triggers; the participants are given a way to express themselves through words or art to experience closure,” adds Sarita. Interestingly, many of these storytelling sessions, when done with teenagers or a younger age group, lead to conflicts happening within the child, which could result from any disturbances in the family or peer group. “As a facilitator, I try to act as a bridge between the child and the parent and help them understand how to address the issue,” says Sarita, who conducts offline and online sessions.

According to Sowmya Srinivasan, a professional storyteller, psychologist and an educator, storytelling as a medium of healing is backed by science. “This process leans heavily on Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung and his work on the unconscious mind. “Storytelling is also highly person-centred and takes a humanistic approach to counselling and therapy as explained by Natalie Rogers. My sessions are deeply influenced by American psychologist Martin Seligman’s research on positive psychology,” she says. Sowmya’s group called Soul Story Mandala is a “safe space” where participants share their connections, challenges and their insights from the story or picture book. “The idea is to offer a story, children’s picture book or magical thinking to reflect, reimagine and re-story,” says the Coimbatore-based narrative practitioner. “Though I bring the story and the process into the circle, the participants bring their knowledge and history into it, and thus we all become co-creators,” she adds. Her sessions, designed for 16 years and above age group, are of one hour and 15 minutes in duration and engage the participants through music and art.

Every full moon night, Sree Karuna, founder of Chandamama Kathaa, hosts her online storytelling sessions for adults called In The Moonlight Of Stories where she along with a group of professional storytellers across different geographies come together to narrate stories, sometimes a folk or mythological tale or personal story. Some sessions revolve around a theme. The Visakhapatnam-based storyteller is hosting a special session on March 25 with the theme, Colours of Women, which will highlight stories that celebrate womanhood and will be narrated by a team of storytellers such as Deepa Kiran, Usha Venkatraman, Pankhuri Agarwal, Ameen Haque and Maia Ganatra. “The idea is to give participants a platform to explore moments of struggle, transformation and strength within the narratives. And sometimes, stories don’t offer a solution; but encourage one to reflect on it and promotes healing and well-being in diverse ways,” she adds.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Sheva Koliwada women’s group to launch indefinite JNPA channel blockade from August 15 over long-standing rehabilitation issues  

Sheva Koliwada Displaced Women's Organisation protests JNPA negligence and broken promises, announcing indefinite agitation from August 15, 2025.

T.N. Language Atlas: 96 languages spoken in State as per 2011 Census Premium

Explore the rich linguistic diversity of Tamil Nadu through the Language Atlas, showcasing a variety of languages spoken in the state.

War room set up to monitor dengue cases in Yadgir in Karnataka

In 2023, 93 cases of dengue were reported after testing of 2,856 samples. In 2024, 137 cases were positive after testing of 4,746 samples. In 2025 (till date), 27 cases reported positive after testing of 1,290 samples.

Mortal remains of Kerala trainee pilot killed in Canada to be flown to Kochi July 26

Trainee pilot Sreehari Sukesh's mortal remains to be flown from Canada to Kochi after fatal flying accident.

Former OU professor and Telangana intellectual Madhusudhan Reddy passes away at 90

Former OU Principal and Telangana Statehood supporter Kumbham Madhusudhan Reddy, remembered for academic excellence and leadership, passes away at 90.

Alphabet will seek to reassure investors as AI rivals step up competition

Alphabet will be keen to assure investors this week about their AI investments as rivals race ahead.

Thiruvananthapuram witnesses an outpouring of emotions as a dear leader departs

Former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's final journey evokes emotional tributes and solidarity among Communist Party members and supporters.

When VS took up cudgels for greens in Kozhikode

V.S. Achuthanandan's impactful legacy in Kozhikode through environmental battles, legal fights, and peacemaking efforts left a lasting impression.

NUPPL achieves early synchronisation of Unit-2 of its supercritical thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh

NUPPL successfully synchronizes Unit-2 of 1980 mW thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh, nearing Commercial Operation Declaration.

We want to stay No. 1 in Asia and get back to winning ways: Fulton | Interview

Indian men's hockey team faces challenges, coach Fulton focuses on learning, improving, and preparing for upcoming tournaments with depth-building strategies.

Puducherry rolls out one-time regularisation scheme for unauthorised constructions

Puducherry launches one-time regularisation scheme for unauthorized constructions, with specific criteria and online application process.

Gujarat’s mango exports cross 3,000 MT in five years; U.S., South Africa top importers 

Gujarat mango exports increase with 3,000 metric tonnes over 5 years, Kesar mango in demand, new irradiation facility boosts exports.

190 out of 410 DGCA vacancies to be filled this year, says Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu

DGCA to fill 190 vacancies, strengthening aviation safety with new appointments, addressing 38% shortfall effectively.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan sworn in as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan sworn in as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, with extensive legal experience and international involvement.

Trump reaches silver jubilee of India-Pakistan ceasefire claim, PM totally quiet: Congress

Trump claims to have stopped wars between India and Pakistan, Iran, Kosovo, and Serbia through trade agreements.

U.S. nuclear weapons agency breached in Microsoft SharePoint hack: Report

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration was among those breached by a hack of Microsoft’s SharePoint document management software, Bloomberg News reported.

Parliament Monsoon Session Day LIVE: Both houses to convene at 11 a.m.

Parliament Monsoon Session Day LIVE updates: Follow The Hindu’s live updates on the parliament proceedings on July 23, 2025.

Rain lashes parts of Delhi; IMD issues red, orange alerts

Heavy rains in Delhi cause waterlogging, traffic jams, and temperature drop, prompting red and orange weather alerts. Stay safe indoors.

Alibaba launches open-source AI coding model, touted as its most advanced to date

Alibaba Group announced on Wednesday the launch of Qwen3-Coder, an open-source artificial intelligence model for software development.

OpenAI, Oracle deepen AI data center push with 4.5 gigawatt Stargate expansion

OpenAI and Oracle will develop another 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity, expanding their partnership under the Stargate project.

‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’ not a politically-motivated film, says Pawan Kalyan

‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’ set in a historical context is not a politically-motivated film, but an action thriller and a wholesome family entertainer, said Deputy Chief Minister and actor K. Pawan Kalyan.

The tale of Doveton Clock Tower in Chennai Premium

Discover the intriguing history of the Doveton Clock Tower in Chennai, from its origins to its current state.

Webinar on ‘Understanding IVF and Fertility’ to be held on July 24

Join Kauvery Hospital and The Hindu for a wellness webinar on IVF and Fertility on July 24. Register now!

Quality concerns continue to haunt Polavaram project, despite foreign experts’ recommendations

Despite delays, Polavaram irrigation project struggles with quality control; third-party agency finally selected to ensure transparency and neutrality.

Hyderabad Collector pushes for better medicare amid fears of seasonal diseases

Hyderabad district collector inspects UPHC in Aghapura, directs officials to enhance medical services amid seasonal disease spike.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us