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Education • Master of Arts Degree (M.A.) in Counseling Studies from the University of Nottingham, UK. • Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in Drama and Movement Therapy from the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, UK. • Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Pure Economics from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India.
Background I am a counselor and drama therapist with a deep interest in people. Having lived and worked in three different countries I am interested in intercultural interactions and relationship building both within and outside of the family unit. I feel that the most meaningful part of therapy is to help people to discover, love and accept themselves on their journey of personal growth. I am experienced in counseling children and adolescents, families, couples and individuals both on a one to one basis and in groups. I do my best to integrate creative techniques into my therapeutic work.
Counseling Adults "Let's work together to better your understanding of yourself and change the current situation into one you want it to be." I am very committed to helping my clients discover their potential within and outside of their relationships. Some of the issues I work with are anxiety, depression, stress, sleep related issues, grief/bereavement, personal growth, couples work, relationship issues and self esteem. Working with clients on health related issues has always interested me. I believe in holistic healing. There is a strong connection between the body and the mind - the healing process of one is deeply connected to the other. I also specialize in dream work (helping clients to better understand their dreams). Dreams carry a myriad of messages that when properly understood, can help the conscious mind gain a fresh perspective on a situation, provide a map to get to where it wants to be or find a solution to a problem it has been grappling with. My work is based on my belief that each client is unique and has inherent potential. I use creative techniques and a Jungian approach to enable the child or adult client to better understand and accept themselves in an atmosphere of safety and trust. My training has been person centered and grounded in the Sesame Approach. The Sesame Approach uses creative techniques to therapeutically open otherwise closed doors in people's emotional lives. Individuals are encouraged to explore difficult situations and emotional blocks in a safe and non confrontational manner.
Counseling Children My work with children is based on my belief that each child is unique and precious and has inherent potential. One of my therapeutic aims is to enable the child to discover herself/himself in an atmosphere of safety, trust and unconditional acceptance. I specialize in and enjoy working with children between the ages of 3 and 12. Some of the issues I work with are emotional and behavioral issues, anger management, self esteem, grief and bereavement, autism and special needs, social skills and communication and adoption. I do my best to integrate behavioural strategies with creative techniques used in play therapy, drama, movement and story into my therapeutic work. Most of my work with children is focused on play, drama and movement. Through imaginative play and media such as paints, clay, sand, and water, children express themselves both figuratively and symbolically. Whereas adults may struggle to express their emotional worlds in words, many children easily do so through playing. Working with children calls for being able meet the child where she or he is at any given moment--whether that is in the world of words (i.e., verbal communication) or in the world of experiencing (i.e., actions, play). I believe trust and safety are key factors in the relationship building process between a child and therapist. It is important to create a safe, accepting and protected space for the child's self-expression. Once a child has developed a sense of security in the counselling setting and in the child-counsellor relationship, he or she is ready to begin addressing the issues that initiated counselling. At this time, the child's activity becomes a metaphor for his or her presenting symptom, and this enables the child to communicate about conflicts through play, drama, movement and story.
Relevant Experience I have worked as a trainee drama therapist and counselor, in the UK, where I worked with children in a Nursery setting, children with Autism, teenagers with behavioral problems, as well as elderly patients with psychiatric problems. During this time, I incorporated techniques of story, movement, and drama into the client centered therapeutic work. I have also counseled children in primary and secondary schools suffering from emotional and behavioral problems using play therapy, the sand tray, paint, artwork, puppets, and role-play. I was an intern at the University of Colorado where I worked with children and teenagers on the spectrum and their families, on a number of programmes related to Autism. I worked on providing them with early intervention services, developing preventative behavioural techniques through positive reinforcement, delivered lectures on social skills and worked in the capacity of a consultant with the Public School system for children on the spectrum.
Counselling style and Training My training has been person centered and grounded in the Sesame Approach. The term Sesame has been coined from the ancient story where the phrase “Open Sesame” opens the cave and reveals the treasure within. The cave is a metaphor for the Self. The Sesame Approach uses drama and movement to therapeutically open otherwise closed doors in people’s emotional lives. Through the use of the creative techniques employed in drama, story, play and movement individuals are encouraged to explore difficult situations and emotional blocks in a gentle, safe and non confrontational manner. Metaphor and symbol are at the heart of the sesame approach. Through the use of these the client is able to explore and become aware of his/her emotions, thought patterns, unconscious beliefs and consider new perspectives and possibilities. The approach incorporates the philosophies of Jung, Laban, Slade and Lindkvist and uses drama and movement as powerful resources to promote healing and change. My training and work experiences have taught me how the right therapeutic intervention can transform a life. Whilst my intuition and perception navigate me, my work has been influenced by my underlying philosophy that the human psyche has the ability to regulate itself and that each individual is unique and has inherent potential.
Publications Thesis completed: The Encouragement of Light: On using therapy as a tool to access Personal Power - May 2006 Thesis completed: Into the well of the Self - A night of turning star s: A journey across the Opposites - February 2008
Papers and Presentations University of Nottingham, Nottingham UK. Through the eye of the needle : Looking at the shame in Bullying. Dec 2004 The Bridge across the abyss: Exploring the Body – Mind connect. March 2005 Into That Boundlessness : Penetrating into the essence of conflict. May 2005 Counselling Children. September 2005 Central School of Speech and Drama, London UK. Through Darkness into Light : Jung and the Opposites. Jan 2007 Exploring synchronistic connections. November 2008 University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado August 2008 Social Stories as a tool for developing social skills for children with Autism.
Professional Organisations The National Association for Drama therapy The Health Professionals Council, UK The British Association of Dramatherapists The Sesame International Institute
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