Just be you!

​My journey to become a therapist began with questions—quiet ones at first. I wasn’t just curious about the world; I was trying to understand the mind and heart, including my own.

Early on, I discovered something powerful: when I asked myself the opposite of what I was fearing or assuming, something shifted.What if the fear wasn’t true? What if strength was already here, just unseen?

That inner habit—of flipping questions, staying in the present, and noticing what is working—became more than a coping strategy. It became a way of healing.

Today, it’s the foundation of how I support others.

I help people gently pause, ask clearer questions, and uncover what’s already holding them—so they can meet their lives with more calm, strength, and choice.​

 

I formalised this path through academic training in psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Over the years, I’ve combined evidence-based tools with a deeply human approach—rooted in empathy, clarity, and curiosity.My work today is an evolving integration of what I’ve studied, what I’ve practised, continue to learn through every client I meet.

 

Qualifications & Professional Experience

My professional journey began with an M.A. and an M.Phil. in Psychology from Kurukshetra University, with a focus on clinical psychology, personality, and psychometrics. My early research explored hostility, depression, and personality dynamics, setting the groundwork for my future in emotional wellness.

I further pursued an M.S. in Counselling from Southern Methodist University (SMU), Texas, USA, along with a Certification in Mediation and Dispute Resolution.

At SMU, I trained in contemporary counselling methodologies and gained multicultural, multidimensional clinical experience through placements at:​​​​​​

• SMU Family Counseling Center

• Parkland Hospital

• City House, Dallas (a nonprofit supporting children and families in crisis)

Continuing my commitment to evidence-based psychotherapy, I completed advanced specialised training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from the Beck Institute (USA)—established by the founder of CBT, Dr. Aaron T. Beck.

This included focused modules on anxiety, depression, and personality disorders, integrating structured therapeutic tools with compassionate care.

Today, I support adults, parents, teens, and preteens through therapy—helping them navigate emotional struggles and unhelpful patterns using CBT principles.

In parallel, I author CBT-inspired books and workbooks for children, making emotional literacy and regulation tools accessible, engaging, and developmentally sensitive.

Whether through therapy or stories, my goal is to make psychology feel human, hopeful, and helpful.

 

Before Therapy: My Journey Through Education & Leadership

Before stepping fully into the world of therapy, I spent nearly two decades in roles that shaped how I understand people.

I began my career as an educationist, serving as an Assistant Professor in a reputed DAV College in Haryana for over 12 years. Teaching psychology at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels gave me not only academic depth—but also a front-row seat to the emotional and cognitive shifts young adults experience.

After returning to India post my MS, I entered the corporate world to understand the emotional challenges of Gen Y in fast-paced environments.

I served for 6 years as a VP–HR and Head of GDC Partnership at a multinational IT firm, where I led end-to-end HR functions. My work focused on:​​​​​

• Employee stress management

• Conflict resolution

• Career development

• Skill enhancement

• Leadership workshops

This unique blend of education, psychology, and corporate experience continues to inform my approach to therapy, making it deeply grounded in the real-life contexts people navigate every day.

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I founded Cheshtha Counselling & Psychotherapy Services with a vision —

to make psychotherapy more accessible, compassionate, and relevant to everyday life.While I work with pre-teens, teens, and adults in individual therapy, my scope extends well beyond the therapy room. I:​

• Coach parents to navigate modern-day parenting with insight and confidence

• Conduct emotional wellness and leadership workshops for schools, educational institutions, and youth groups

• Design and deliver corporate wellbeing sessions, partnering with organisations to support employee mental health, stress regulation, and emotional resilience

• Run an online support group, Parenting Today, that fosters meaningful conversations around parenting and emotional health

My deeper mission is to establish psychotherapy as an independent and respected pillar of mental health care —
not just for clinical concerns, but for anyone seeking clarity, growth, or healing.

To this end, I actively:​

• Deliver talks and awareness sessions at schools, colleges, workplaces, and public forums

• Create accessible mental health content through writing, books, and social engagement

• Collaborate with medical professionals — psychiatrists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and gynaecologists — to support their patients through emotional and behavioural challenges

I also assist families in navigating life transitions, helping them set their “new normal” with psychological insight and grounded compassion.

Before the pandemic, I served as a visiting consultant at:

• Pruthi Neuro-Psychiatry Clinic, Kurukshetra

• Radhakishan Hospital, a super-speciality centre

But perhaps the most meaningful affirmations come directly from clients:

“My psychiatrist has tapered off my medicines.”
“Thanks to therapy, I feel awakened and blessed.”
“A decision to take help changed my life.”

These words remain my truest milestones.

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