“Curiosity about people’s minds has always guided me. At 12, when my family moved from my small town of Yellareddy, Telangana, to Hyderabad, I noticed how the same situation could feel completely different to different people. That question stayed with me, and I knew I wanted to understand why we think, feel, and react the way we do.
Though my school didn’t offer psychology, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at St. Ann’s College for Women, Hyderabad, supported by my father despite doubts from relatives. Internships in child psychology and research taught me that psychology isn’t just emotions—it’s about patterns, analysis, and helping people grow. I completed my Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Jain University, Bangalore, learning structured therapy for anxiety, depression, OCD, schizophrenia, and more.
Returning to Hyderabad, I worked at Cadabams Psychiatry Hospital and later in student counselling. Academic pressure and self-doubt weigh heavily on students, and I conduct workshops on stress, self-care, and listening, truly listening. I’ve seen how therapy can transform lives, but also how draining it can be for caregivers and professionals.
Beyond counselling, I’m involved with programs helping students manage exam stress and building my own mental health platform with therapy, workshops, self-care kits, and assessments. Psychology has shaped how I see the world, and I’ve spent two years professionally listening to fears, hopes, and struggles.
Outside work, I explore mandala art, and travel. Both give me clarity and perspective. Therapy still carries stigma, but things are changing.
On this World Mental Health Day, let’s remember that mental health care is not a luxury, it’s a basic right that everyone deserves. Still, many people don’t get the right kind of support when they need it, especially during tough times or emergencies.
As a counselling psychologist, I’ve seen how strong people can be when they seek help, but also how emotionally draining it can be for those who support others. Even caregivers and mental health professionals need kindness, rest, and understanding.
Today, let’s promise to build a world where people talk openly about their feelings, value emotional well-being, and make mental health care easy and accessible for everyone.”
- Vaishnavi Kailasa, Counselling Psychologist