As part of our relentless efforts to identify and share some of the meaningful stories from India and around the world, this week we invited Counselling Psychologist Shivani Naghnoor for an interview with us. She is a blogger, mental health coach, nutraceuticals and nutritional psychologist. Let’s read more about her astonishing journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with her:
Talk us through your background and your journey as a psychologist, please
I have done my Masters in Biotechnology (Advanced) from The University of Queensland in Brisbane Australia. Here I specialized in nutraceutical research and did experiments on microencapsulation of fish oil and antioxidant activity in apples. The aim of researching on microencapsulation of fish oil is to promote the power of omega-3 Fatty Acids on physical and mental health. I have also done a one-year course in Counselling Psychology from Banjara Academy which is a Member of World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH). Ever Since the completion of the course in the year 2016 I have done online counselling with Banjara Academy, and I have my blog page called positivenotes2016. I also contribute articles on mental health and nutrition to Woman’s Era, a leading English magazine in India.
As a Psychologist, my area of specialization is mental health counselling. I counsel people with depression, anxiety, child and adolescent issues, substance abuse, mid-life crisis, pre-marital issues, marriage and relationship issues, self-harm and suicidal ideation. My counselling strategy is unique in the sense that alongside counselling I suggest natural foods that calm the mind and good for mental wellbeing.
My journey as a psychologist has been rewarding and I have received positive feedback from clients.
How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in?
Mental health is the need of the hour in India and globe over, especially now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, the issue of mental health needs to be addressed and there has to be more awareness platforms on the benefits of counselling. I am utilizing my expertise in counselling psychology through various mediums such as blogging, online counselling and contributing to Woman’s Era magazine. India ranks 144 in the World Happiness Report and this should be remedied. There is a stigma around mental health that needs to be addressed in India.
People are afraid to seek help from mental health professionals and the key goal here is to promote the realization that it is normal and okay to feel depressed, anxious or have mental health issues, and it is not a reflection of your personality or strength of character. It is also important to address that mental health is as important as physical health.
What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?
My aspiration as a mental health professional is to change the perception of how mental health is viewed in India.
My goal is to help people understand that it is okay to go through a period of depression, anxiety, and low energy. The issue of mental health should be addressed from a non-judgemental point of view.
What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
My journey has been good so far, the need of the hour in the mental health field is to bring about awareness. There are many counselling centres in India, but the field of counselling should be given more importance. It is essential to promote the value of being non-judgemental when people feel depressed, anxious, or sensitive. Clients should also be aware that they can talk to a counsellor who is trained to be non-judgemental and also a counsellor treats not only mental health issues but various other concerns as well such as confusion about certain decisions, rejection, adjusting to a new environment, perfectionism, and so on.
What comes first for you – money or emotions?
My aim is to connect with people and promote knowledge of mental health through counselling and foods that can calm the mind. I feel promoting knowledge and awareness through blogs and posts on social media is the key to gathering clients and this translates to money. I, therefore, feel emotion comes first and money will automatically follow.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
I work on being as determined as possible which is required in the mental health field, I do not give up easily. I feel it is important to have a positive frame of mind and everything will work out for the best.
What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
I believe in being consistent with your work and passion and never giving up on your dreams.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
I feel the key to success is to recognize your passion and work on it. I believe in being optimistic and if you have a new and unique idea you have to believe in it and work on it.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
If you are keen on being an entrepreneur make a list of what your aspirations are and do thorough research on your product or company. If you have the confidence to believe in it, go ahead, but process the feedback, work around it, and stay on path.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
