Ipsita

I have been a practitioner and researcher in the area of psychotherapy and mental health for about 7 years. My expertise lies in the area of interventions across the spectrum of mental health, especially in adult, couple and family therapy. I have experience in working in the areas of trauma, emotional well-being, mental health concerns, personal growth, psychosocial disorders, issues of gender, sexual and reproductive health, domestic violence, relational and marital issues, familial concerns and queer affirmative practices. I am also trained and skilled in supervision, monitoring and evaluation of my subordinates in the areas mentioned above. I have worked as the Programme Coordinator of Sukoon, a field action project of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. In my role as a coordinator, I have developed the project from scratch and played a vital role in expanding the project, developing and facilitating implementation across branches, supervising , monitoring and evaluation of research and interventions teams, documentation, report writing, training, networking and advocating with various stakeholders in the legal justice system, and liaising with relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations. I have worked in grassroot levels of the field as well as worked as a leader. Prior to that, I have single handedly worked on a major research project in the area of Marital Dissolutions in TISS. I have hands-on experience in running multiple centres, monitoring teams of research and interventions, supervising a whole team of counsellors and operating through a sensitized, intersectional, rights based and gender based framework. I practice as a consultant psychologist (online and in person in Navi Mumbai) and have experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults (individuals, couples and families) in therapy.

Educational Qualifications:

1. Post Graduate Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies: Trauma Research Foundation, Boston (Online,2022)

2. Master of Arts in Applied Psychology - Specialisation in Clinical Psychology: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (2014 – 2016)

3. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: University of Mumbai (2011 – 2014)

   Currently Pursuing:

1. Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology - Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (S.S College Bhopal) (2022-2023) Accredited by the Rehabilitation Council of India

2. One Year Programme in Narrative Therapy and Community Work (2022-2023): Conducted by Dulwich Centre, Australia in tie up with Children's First, Delhi

3. A certificate in Expressive Arts in Affiliation with European Graduate School, Switzerland (2022-2023): Conducted by Swahansa Expressive Arts India (an accredited member of the International Expressive Arts Training Network)

4. The Master Series: Pain Edition (Trauma and Chronic Pain) (2023)

Additional Qualifications/Certifications:

1. Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Open University UK (2021)

2. The Clinician's Suicide Prevention Summit: Treatment Strategies to Inspire, Hope and Save Lives: Professional and Educational Services International (2021)

3. Unseen Wounds: Contribution of Psychological Maltreatment to Child and Adolescent Mental Health: American Psychological Association Continuing Education (2021)

4. Embracing a Gender Affirmative Model for Transgender Youth: American Psychological Association Continuing Education (2021)

5. New Paths for People with Prolonged Grief Disorder: American Psychological Association Continuing Education (2021)

6. How to be a Better Supervisor for Students in Health Services: American Psychological Association Continuing Education (2021)

7. Certification in Trauma Informed Practices: Trauma Toolbox by Ron Huxley (2021)

8. Certificate in Trauma Informed Practice by Deborah Gray: Journey Home (2021)

9. Suicide awareness training: Zero Suicide Alliance (2021)

10. Certificate in Online Autism Training Modules: University of Missouri-Columbia (2021)

11. e-Mental Heath in Practice Course for Therapists: The Australian National University (2021)

12. Virtual Care and Mental Health: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2021)

13. Certificate in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practices: Mariwala Health Initiative (2021)

14. Responding to Trauma - Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness: Narrative Practices India and Pause for Perspective (2021)

15. Short term training in Narrative Practices: Ummeed Child Development Center and Pause for Perspective (2020)

16. Telehealth Certification Training for Mental Health Professionals: Professional and Educational Services International (2020)

17. Certificate in Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment of Insomnia: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2020)

18. Certificate in LGBTQ Counseling Competencies : American Counseling Association (2020)

19. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): PROHIPAA by ProTrainings (2020)

20. Certificate in Introduction to Peer Support: via Hope Texas Mental Health Resource (2020)

21. Certificate in Introduction to Recovery and Recovery Oriented Practice: via Hope Texas Mental Health Resource (2020)

22. Compassion Fatigue Certificate Training for Healthcare, Mental Health and Caring Professionals: Professional and Educational Services International (2020)

23. 7 Effective Strategies for Managing Zoom Fatigue Symptoms: Telebehavioral Health Institute (2020)

24. Covid-19 Telehealth Best Practices: Telebehavioral Health Institute (2020)

25. Telepsychology Best Practices 101 - Telebehavioral Health: American Psychological Association (2020)

26. Short Term Programme in Couple and Family Therapy: Tata Institute of Social Sciences (2019)

Publications:

1. 1. Joshi, A., Joshi, A., Chatterjee, I, Kantak, C. S., & Puntambekar, A. “Expectations of Women Survivors of Domestic Violence From Counsellors in Legal Settings” TISS-UNODC International Conference on Access to Justice to End Violence. (2021)

2. 2. Joshi, A., Joshi, A., Chatterjee, I, Kantak, C. S., & Puntambekar, A. (2020). Facilitator lessons from online psychoeducational group for relational well-being in India during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Therapy. doi: 10.1111/1467-6427.12337

3. 3. Joshi, A., Joshi, A., Kantak, C. S., Chatterjee, I, & Puntambekar, A. “The Sukoon (Peace) Model of Couples and Family Therapy in Legal Settings in India” International Psychology Conference, Prague (rescheduled due to COVID-19 pandemic).

4. 4. Joshi, A., Joshi, A., Chatterjee, I, Kantak, C. S., & Puntambekar, A. “From Personal to Legal: Nature of Marital Conflicts and Findings ‘Sukoon’ (Peace)” National Academy of Psychology, Pondicherry. India & “International Conference on “Making Psychology Deliverable to the Society”

5. 5. Co-authored two major research reports in the area of reasons for marital dissolutions, impact of divorce, intimate partner violence, and marriage counsellors’ perspectives on spousal violence as a Research Associate in School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

6. 6. Masters’ Dissertation titled, ‘Dysfunctional Attitudes and Illness Perception in Patients with Depression’.

Prior Work Experience:

1. Programme Coordinator, Sukoon: Counselling and Research for Individual and Relational Well-Being (August, 2018-December 2020) – A field action project by the School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences which provides free of cost counselling services to litigants approaching family courts and is actively involved in primary research Responsibilities: Monitoring both research and counselling-interventions teams, liaising with key stakeholders in the courts, liaising with women’s rights organizations, monitoring the progress of the project, report writing and other publication work, developing new centres, facilitating and monitoring project centres across multiple court settings, project management, liaising with the funders, and preparing and achieving set targets for the project

2. Research Associate (January, 2017 – July, 2018) – in a Research Project titled, “Marital Dissolutions through Family Courts: Data Trends and Individual Experiences” in School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai Responsibilities – developing codebook for quantitative data entry, reviewing of literature, data collection, interacting with several different stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental), quantitative and qualitative data analysis, report writing, publication work and project management

3. Consultant Psychologist (April, 2017 to August 2018) – Soumanasya Psychiatry Clinic and Counselling Centre, Navi Mumbai Responsibilities: Psychotherapeutic and psychodiagnostic services for children, adults and families experiencing emotional and psychological distress

4. Visiting Faculty for Master’s in Clinical Psychology (for the academic year 2016-17) – R.D National College (affiliated to University of Mumbai) Responsibilities: Taught personality theories, cognitive behaviour therapy and rational emotive behaviour therapy to first and second year MA students

5. Research Assistant in Course Development (August, 2016) – School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai Responsibilities: Developed outlines, course structure, reading materials and the overall schedule of certificate courses held by SHE

6. Teacher (June, 2012 – December, 2012) – Aspire Educational Services: A School for Children with Autism Responsibilities: Engaged in interventions and teaching with special children

Current Engagements:

1. Founder ( January 31, 2020-present) - Thehraav: Unwind Your Mind® Responsibilities: An intersectional feminist mental health organization which provides online psychotherapeutic services for adolescents, adults, individual, couples and families across varied socio-economic strata, supervisory services for fellow therapists and trainings in the area of mental health, gender, intersectional issues and emotional well being.

2. Consultant Psychologist (December. 2020-present) - Wysa Responsibilities: Chat based therapeutic interventions with individuals from all over the globe. Hiring and supervision.

3. Consultant Psychologist – Swasti Mind Care Clinic, Navi Mumbai (Since June, 2017). Responsibilities: Psychotherapeutic and psychodiagnostic services for children, adults and families experiencing emotional and psychological distress across all socioeconomic strata