The Counselling Cell, Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) in collaboration with Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu organized one day orientation programme for Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Principals District Institutes of Education Research and Training (DIET) and in charge Counselling Cells at DIETs regarding extension of counseling services to government schools of Jammu province.The event was held under the Patronship of Vice Chancellor Prof Manoj Dhar and guidance of Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta.Director Department Lifelong Learning, Dr Kavita Suri, who supervised the event, said the aim of the program was to sensitize the district officials for extending, co-coordinating and monitoring counselling services in all the schools.Prof Arti Bakhshi, Head, Department of Psychology JU, Dr. Kavita Suri HOD DLL, JU, Dr Pallavi Sachdeva, Assistant Professor, DLL JU, Romesh Kumar Sharma, Head, Counselling Cell, DSEJ and Shambhavi Deval, Clinical Psychologist, Child Development Centre, Jammu acted as resource persons during the programme.The programme was attended by Anuradha Gupta DSEJ, Shokat Mahmood Malik Joint Director Jammu Samba Kathua, Sanjay K. Bhatt Personnel Officer, (DSEJ), Chief Education Officers, Principal DIETs, In charge counseling cells from all the DIETs.Director, while speaking on the occasion, impressed upon all the district officers to facilitate, co-ordinate and regularly monitor the counseling initiatives undertaken by counseling Cell DSEJ. She suggested equipping of upcoming Psychology laboratories at DIETs with professional counseling material to develop them as model counseling resource rooms. She stressed upon focusing more on quality than quantity of initiatives.Prof Arti Bakhshi spoke on how can mental health services in schools can play a significant role in improving the physical, emotional, social and psychological well-being of students and schools. She assured full cooperation from the department of psychology towards professionalizing counseling services in schools.Dr. Kavita Suri assured all cooperation from the department of DLL in extending career counseling, gender sensitization activities in the far flung areas. She narrated her real life incidents and experiences related to extension activities in remote areas.Romesh Sharma, Head, Counselling Cell, DSEJ spoke about the rationale and importance of counseling initiatives in present context. He also gave a detailed presentation on roadmap for institutionalizing and professionalizing counseling services in schools of Jammu Division.Dr Pallavi Sachdeva spoke about the relevance of the programme which is directed towards the importance of mental health and emotional well-being among schools children. She emphasized upon encouraging life skills education in schools besides academic curriculum.Shambhavi Deval spoke about the emotional well-being of children and focused on clinically proved strategies required in schools for the wellness among children and creating healthy teaching learning balance.