Psychology and Gospel: Sr. Kakali brings hope to young people in India
By Sr. Ilaria de Lillo, S.A.
Offering young people a place that fosters trust and listening and supporting them in times of crisis is the mission of Sr. Kakali Majhi of the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, a psychologist at the Jesuit-run University of Kolkata, in West Bengal, India.
“The country’s social context has a strong influence on the depression that has become widespread among young people. They feel crushed on several fronts, from political uncertainty to the widespread use of social media,” Sr. Kakali explains.
In this scenario, her work as a psychologist allows her to accompany students on their journey of healing, while the wisdom of the Bible guides her on the journey of hope she undertakes with them, in an effort to reignite the extinguished flame of desire.
A combination of listening and accompanying
After obtaining a Masters in Psychology in Kolkata and a Masters in Counselling in Chicago, Sr. Kakali began working as a therapist in 2024, supporting the emotional and mental well-being of students.
She slowly came to realize the urgency of taking advantage of the skills she had acquired in psychology, and integrating them with the human and spiritual skills of a consecrated woman.
On the one hand, the specific professional characteristics of psychological listening give her the opportunity to intervene in situations with treatments. On the other hand, the salvific experience in Christ allows her to remain anchored to hope, when society’s crises seem to have no end.
“As a psychologist and a consecrated woman, my work is linked to the charism of supporting those who are wounded in their hearts,” Sr. Kakali says.
In crisis situations or with painful experiences, being close to patients and walking towards life is like the journey from the night of Holy Saturday to the light of the Resurrection, she adds. In the suspended time in which young people feel they have lost meaning in their lives, Sr. Kakali wishes to stand beside them.
An anchor that offers welcome and compassion
In a social context that has no reference points, providing psychological support to young people can be like offering an anchor to hold on to.
Sr. Kakali tries to provide a suitable place for young people who knock on her door. “In the counselling process, I make an effort to create a safe environment that is non-judgmental and compassionate, where young people can express themselves freely,” she says.
Having a space in which to talk can be progressively liberating and “helps them rediscover their inner strength and their capacity for growth.” The journey is slow and unpredictable and demands the attitude of the merciful Samaritan, a process that involves the entire teaching community, continued research and a compassionate professional practice, she explains.
Impact of society and technology on depression
The issues Sr. Kakali has noticed in young people include anxiety about the future, loss of trust, emotional breakdowns and unstable relationships.
“Some of them have great aspirations, but they lack resilience,” she explains, adding that “when they encounter setbacks, they often interpret them as personal failures rather than challenges to overcome.”
At the root of this unease is a complex social framework, which Sr. Kakali and her colleagues take into account: political uncertainty, social pressure and the pervasive role of social media have redefined interpersonal relationships.
According to Sr. Kakali, political polarization foments social division, which results in violence and poverty; hyperconnectivity and digital interaction reduce young people’s self-esteem and increase confrontation and competitiveness.
Personal identities take on a value and are shaped by the amount of “likes” received. “Many of them,” Sr. Kakali says, “have unrealistic expectations, a very low ability to communicate and tend towards isolation.”
Journeying together towards mutual transformation
Sr. Kakali embraces the challenge, which she sees as an apostolic emergency: to give a voice to the unease felt by young people and to accompany them in building their identity. She feels that, through this service, she too is learning to hope.
“I have the privilege of journeying beside young people, when they are at their most vulnerable. By doing this, I am undergoing a personal transformation,” she explains. Experiencing that every day is a lesson on listening, on fragility and on resilience, Sr. Kakali learns to connect herself with the lives of young people and to become their traveling companion.
To assist in healing paths, seeing the small but present signs of transformation in young people, nourishes her desire to be beside them. It may seem like a drop in the ocean but, “hope is a bridge between desperation and possibility,” she concludes.
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