Sanghamitra

Approach to Counselling and Therapy

I follow an eclectic approach—to me, each person is a unique individual— and so, their sessions are as unique as them. I borrow from various therapeutic schools and design an approach which suits my client. Hence, it is open to exploration. My primary aim with my clients is to create a safe space to work with them. Typically, I like to learn as much as I can about a client, and create an approach which can help identify behavioural patterns or connections to a client’s past experiences. I firmly believe that the client is the expert of their story, and it isn’t my place to tell them how to live it. What I can do, however, is to help them experience their story from a different perspective.

Areas of Interest and Hobbies

I wish to understand people both from their individual circumstances and their cultural contexts, and to find the common point of balance in between. My areas of interest are in decolonizing therapy and mental health, as most of therapy today is influenced by Western psychotherapy— and thus, somewhat ignorant of the Indian cultural context in mental health.

Some of my hobbies include: reading (both fictional and non-fictional!), writing (a little hesitant towards poetry, however) and connecting life metaphors to nature. My writing reflects this and I have a writing page to muse upon some of my thoughts. I also engage in self-reflection while losing myself to music and day-dreaming excessively, and thus questioning life existentially. You know, the usual. I also endlessly scroll through Pinterest and make aesthetic moodboards for my Spotify playlists :P

Educational Qualifications:

1. Master’s in Applied Psychology (Specialisation in Counselling Psychology) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health): 2019-2021

2. Bachelors of Arts (Hons.) in Applied Psychology, Shyama Prasad Mukjherjee College for Women, University of Delhi: 2015-2018

Additional Qualifications/Certifications:

1. Diploma Certificate in Transactional Analysis (South Asian Association of Transactional Analysis—SAATA) — Currently Pursuing

2. Psychological First Aid by The John Hopkins University

3. The Science of Well-Being by Yale University

4. Six-Day Online Program on Working with LGBTQ+ Community— Nirangal, Chennai

5. QPR Gatekeeper for Suicide Prevention — the Suicide Prevention India Foundation

6. Hypnotherapy for Common Emotional Disorders — YourDost Academy

7. Trauma Informed Care — Sahayam Charitable Trust, Chennai

8. Workshop on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — YourDost Academy

9. Trauma Informed Care — Arizona Trauma Institute (Currently Pursuing)

Work Experience:

1. Psychologist in Private Practice (June 2021—Present): I specialise in providing therapy and counselling to adults, young adults and adolescents facing issues of anxiety, depression, self-esteem, inability to cope with stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). My practice is trauma-informed and queer-affirmative.

2. Intern, Nirangal Charitable Trust (January 2021—April 2021): Nirangal is an organization based in Chennai which works with transgender and LGBTQ+ communities. Provided counselling, psycho-education and research support.

3. Intern, The Canbridge Academy (November 2019— March 2020): The organisation specialises in working with adults with autism and seeks to empower neurodivergent adults with basic life skills.

4. Intern, International Foundation for Crime Prevention & Victim Care (PCVC) (August 2019—September 2019): Provided psycho-social support and crisis counselling to female victims of domestic violence and acid attacks.

5. Intern, Delhi Commission for Women (February 2019— March 2019): Providing telehealth counselling in the Rape Crisis Cell of DCW as well as part of their Social Media Management team.

6. Intern, HAQ Centre for Child Rights (October 2018—December 2018): Provided psycho-social counselling to children involved in cases of child sexual abuse (CSA).

7. Intern, Parvarish Multidisciplinary Parent-Child Resource Centre (August 2018 — October 2018): Created resources and training modules for parents and therapists of children with special education needs.

8. Summer Intern, Unique Psychological Services (June 2017—July 2017): Month-long internship wherein I was part of training in basic counselling skills, and worked with persons with addiction, runaway children and other distressed populations.

9. Community Worker, Mental Health Foundation India (January 2017— April 2017): Worked as a community worker for MHF’s Slum Rehabilitation Project.