The year-long course on Consciousness-Based Counselling (Integral Psychotherapy), organised by NAMAH, The Journal of Integral Health, Sri Aurobindo Society, concluded successfully after twenty-five sessions conducted between 6 July 2025 and 5 July 2026. Facilitated by Dr. Soumitra Basu, the programme offered a systematic exploration of counselling and psychotherapy based on Sri Aurobindo’s teaching.
Designed as a vocational certificate course, the programme sought to broaden the understanding of counselling beyond symptom management by introducing participants to a consciousness-based framework of human growth and transformation. Throughout the year, participants were guided to study the multiple layers of the human being, understand the origins of psychological difficulties from a deeper perspective, and explore practical approaches to inner growth grounded in consciousness.
The initial sessions of the course introduced Sri Aurobindo’s consciousness-based psychology as an integral framework that bridges scientific and mystical approaches, presenting consciousness as the foundation of human growth and therapeutic transformation. It explored the vertical and horizontal structure of the human being, highlighting the roles of the superconscious, subconscious, inner and outer being, and the evolution of consciousness and highlighted the psychic being (projection of the Jivatman) as the true centre of individuality, capable of replacing the ego through the development of the inner being, and presented consciousness-based self-development as a multidimensional process
In the later sessions, Dr Basu explored Sri Aurobindo’s transformative approach to the chakras, emphasising the descent of the higher force and the psychic awakening as the basis of integral healing and inner transformation. He examined psychopathology from the perspective of consciousness, explaining how disharmonies arise at different levels of the being — from the ego, subconscious, intermediate zone and cosmic influences — and how these contribute to psychological suffering. Emphasis was placed on the integration of the mental, vital and physical around the psychic being as the basis of integral healing, with numerous clinical case studies and practical examples illustrating different forms of psychopathology and their therapeutic understanding in the light of Sri Aurobindo's psychology. The discussions reinforced the evolutionary view of the human being as a transitional being whose growth lies in the progressive transformation of consciousness.
Once Dr Basu explained the fundamental principles with the help of Illustrated case studies at each level, he delved deeper into Sri Aurobindo’s original contributions to consciousness studies, exploring the concepts of the Supermind, Real-Idea, involution and evolution, the occult dimensions of consciousness and connection with the Psychic Being as the foundation of consciousness-based counselling and integral transformation.
Overall, participants gained a deeper understanding that Psychic Being comes from the Jivatman, and Jivatman comes from the Overmind and the Overmind is projected by the Supermind and Sri Aurobindo’s contribution of the concepts of Supermind and Inconscience forms the foundation of the study of progressive human evolution. Dr Basu also explained in detail the relationship between the inner and outer being, the role of the descent of the Divine Force in transforming the different centres of consciousness and the significance of integrating psychological, spiritual and occult knowledge within therapeutic practice. Clinical case studies, experiential exercises, reflective discussions and meditative practices enriched the sessions, enabling participants to appreciate the practical application of these principles while emphasising that the ultimate aim of Integral Yoga is not occult attainment or personal liberation alone, but the progressive transformation of the whole being through the emergence of the psychic consciousness and the action of the higher Force.
Feedback
“This course is like a springboard that allows me to go deeper into Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and writings.”
“Dr. Basu had a consistent style of teaching, his presentations were both concise and elaborate for one to grasp the topic and reflect on it. Each and every session was insightful. This course has been the best learning of my life. Thankful to Dr. Basu and James for giving this learning experience.”
"As I reflect on everything I've learned through this course, I feel compelled to express my sincere gratitude.... Thank you, Dr. Basu, for sharing your immense knowledge, experience and insights with us so generously. The course has deepened my understanding of Consciousness-Based Counselling and Integral Yoga Psychology and helped me appreciate many concepts from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's teachings in a much more practical and integrated way. It has certainly inspired me to continue exploring these ideas further.
"A very special thank you to James. I am truly grateful for the opportunity you gave me to be a part of this course. Your support throughout the programme meant so much...not just in making this opportunity possible but also through the care you took in sharing the session notes so consistently. They were invaluable whenever I had to miss a class and helped me stay connected with the learning. Thank you for always thinking of everyone and for all the effort you put in behind the scenes. It made this journey all the more meaningful.
"It has been a privilege learning with everyone in this group. Wishing you all the very best as we continue to reflect, grow and carry these learnings into our work and daily lives."
"And a very special thank you to the person who wrote the summaries.... great material!"
“The entire year was a gradual unfolding of my inner self and I feel better informed on what is happening inside and outside of me.”
“Developing the Sakshi Bhav was accelerated over this year long journey.”
What did you benefit from most in the course?
“A comprehensive understanding of different aspects of Integral Yoga supplemented by Dr. Basu's own experiences working with different patients.”
“My experience at this course was very good. I have been attending other courses conducted by NAMAH and by Dr. Basu and so signing up for this was a no-brainer. It was lovely to connect with Dr. Basu twice a month to study the topics in greater detail.”
“Collective atmosphere was good though there wasn't much interaction between the “participants.”
“I was able to think through how I can use some of the concepts shared in the coaching work that i do.”
Please list any areas for improvement for this event or focus area for future event
“My personal learning style is more aligned with prior readings, reflection questions, post session reflection questions, and sessions with more engagement interspersed throughout. However, this topic is very unique, and the diversity of the audience was too wide so I am not sure such a structure would benefit the course. Perhaps I lack the discipline I needed to sit with the material deeply earlier. Or maybe it is a slow process for me based on my earlier preparation in lives. Perhaps, a specific direction of the pages to be read from the book, and specific reflection questions that are discussed even in the WhatsApp group will encourage engagement and learning.”
“I think it could be more helpful for learners if the lecture block each session was split and other activities - Q&A, reflections, experiential sharings, short quizzes etc - were included for a small part of the session.”
“The course content was extremely rich, insightful and comprehensive. For future perhaps it may be beneficial to incorporate a few more interactive elements throughout the sessions such as group discussions, reflective activities, case studies, practical demonstrations or opportunities to apply the concepts to real counselling scenarios. Short interactive exercises interspersed between the lectures could also help maintain engagement, encourage participants to share diverse perspectives and make the learning experience even more immersive. These additions would complement the excellent theoretical foundation and further support participants in internalizing and translating the knowledge into practice. Overall, it was a valuable and well-conducted programme for which I am sincerely grateful”.
One area would be to enable practice sessions. We could start off with even members in the group making a pair and hearing each other out on a specific problem and trying to understand how to apply the learnings of the course to each other. There may be other ways to enable participants to practically apply the learning while doing the course itself.
“The greatest benefit for me was understanding how Integral Yoga Psychology can be applied within the context of counselling. Having previously studied Western psychology, I found it enriching to explore a framework that views the individual from a much wider perspective of consciousness and inner growth rather than primarily through pathology or behaviour. The course helped bridge many concepts from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother into a more systematic understanding, making them easier to relate to counselling practice.”
“It was a deeply enriching and intellectually stimulating experience. Dr. Basu's scholarship, clarity and years of experience were evident throughout the sessions. The course offered a comprehensive introduction to Consciousness-Based Counselling while remaining rooted in the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. As someone who has grown up around these teachings, I appreciated gaining a more structured and practical understanding of concepts that I had often encountered philosophically.”
Did the course deepen your knowledge and understanding of the nuances of Integral Yoga Psychology?
“Definitely!! In depth knowledge of Aurobindo's idea of personality was valuable learning. Concepts such as the mental, physical, vital, the outer, inner and inmost being...the physical plane, its mechanical nature, habit formation and understanding change from the subconscious perspective. New to me were topics of occultism and chakras which completed the understanding of personality leaving no gaps in the integral yoga psychology.”
“I greatly appreciated the information and exploration in depth of Sri Aurobindo's revelations re planes of the individual being from psychic to ego/personality and phenomenological experience and beyond to the universal - in relation to incorporating the philosophy into professional practice and normalising applied integral psychology and wellbeing as a truly holistic approach for supporting our clients as well as for facilitating personal and interpersonal progress in general.”
Yes,
“Yes, definitely. this course deepened my understanding considerably. It helped clarify the subtle distinctions between different planes of consciousness, the role of the psychic being, and how these concepts can meaningfully inform the counselling process. Coming from a background of learning psychology mostly from the Western point of view…. it was particularly valuable to appreciate how Integral Psychology expands beyond conventional psychological models by including the spiritual dimension of human development.”
“The collective atmosphere was sincere, respectful and conducive to learning. Participants came from diverse backgrounds yet shared a genuine interest in understanding Integral Psychology. This created an environment where there was openness to learning and thoughtful reflection, making the experience more meaningful.”
“The collective atmosphere was perfect, few people had their cameras on and a few people asked and shared. This is a workshop which would impact each one differently. The presentation by Dr. Basu was the focus and most important. Dr. Basu let us be. To me each one was comfortable and so was I.”
Did this workshop give you a greater knowledge into the insights of Integral Yoga?
“The workshop provided greater insight into Integral Yoga by presenting its psychological foundations in a structured manner. Rather than approaching the teachings only from a philosophical standpoint, it demonstrated how they can be understood and applied in the context of counselling, self-development and working with others. It strengthened my appreciation of the practical relevance of Integral Yoga in contemporary psychological practice.”
“Yes, however I need to sit and go through each and every session to work through. I initially tried, but it became heavy so somewhere I surrendered to the process. I realized the need to go slower.”
“Some of my key takeaways include:
1. A deeper understanding of consciousness as the basis for counselling.
2. Greater clarity on observing movements of the mind, vital and psychic being without judgment.
3. A more holistic framework for understanding human behaviour and inner development. Insights into integrating compassion, self-awareness and conscious presence into the counselling process.
4. A renewed motivation to continue studying the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother with greater depth and practical application.”
“Practical take home for me is that integral yoga can be lived in day to day life. For example our actions thoughts and feelings are to be aware of for change. We don't have to create an ideal environment, which will not be a progressive movement towards integral yoga. Aspiration, rejection and surrender are key words to a life of yoga.”
“I will work on the meditative exercises, work on enhancing my intuition, and seek grace to see the multitude of perspectives so I can grow and serve integrally. The bit about dreams was very healing for me to know about as I had shared an experience regarding a dream that I woke up to find was a reality. This was a puzzle I had never voiced in my life. I have also found myself to be less apprehensive with the concept of occult forces and their impact. I used to always avoid the topic earlier even in my thoughts.”
“The meditative exercises were helpful to imbibe the teachings of the session.”
“Some concepts were hard to grasp. At my end I need to review the content and material more deeply to integrate in my practice. My initial expectation was that I would integrate as I
“I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found the material from Dr Basu valuable and interesting, and appreciated the great support to the program from James.”