Aagahii – Centre for Psychotherapy Research and Training

Research Vertical:

The research vertical at Aagahii is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of psychotherapy, mental health interventions, and therapeutic processes. This vertical focuses on conducting evidence-based studies, particularly in the Indian context. It emphasizes culturally sensitive approaches, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to innovate therapeutic models and interventions.

Training Vertical:

This vertical equips students of psychology and mental health professionals with practical skills and theoretical knowledge through conferences and seminars, workshops, certifications, and supervision. The programs focus on advanced therapeutic techniques, reflective practices, and culturally competent care, fostering growth and expertise in students and mental health practitioners.

These verticals together drive Aagahii’s mission of enhancing both the knowledge base and practical skills in the field of psychotherapy.

Vision:

To be a leading institution in India that fosters innovation, excellence, and cultural sensitivity in psychotherapy research and training, ultimately enhancing mental health outcomes and professional standards across the country.

Mission:

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative studies to advance understanding, develop effective therapeutic interventions, and contribute to global knowledge in mental health.
• Provide focused evidence-based training programs for counselling and clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals, in training at the university, equipping them with the skills needed to address diverse psychological needs.
• Develop and promote psychotherapeutic approaches that are culturally sensitive and relevant to the Indian context, ensuring effective and inclusive mental health care.
• Design and implement accredited training programs and certifications for student trainees and early career mental health professionals through workshops, seminars, and collaborative research opportunities.
• Enhance mental health awareness and access to psychotherapy through outreach and psychoeducational programs, partnerships with healthcare providers, and community engagement initiatives. Interested students will be trained to lead group psychoeducational programs in the community.

The logo for Aagahii – Centre for Psychotherapy Research and Training is a profound representation of the journey toward awareness and self-discovery. At the heart of the logo, the figure holding the torch symbolizes the light of knowledge, guiding individuals from the darkness of the unknown toward insight. The torch itself, representing fire, is emblematic of enlightenment, a vital essence of Aagahii’s mission. Contrasting this, the circular wave encircling the figure evokes the imagery of water. Water, in this context, signifies calmness and the depths of the unconscious mind. The duality of fire and water in the logo highlights a powerful dichotomy—one ignites awareness, while the other nurtures the calm necessary for deep reflection. Just as fire brings light, so does psychotherapy illuminate hidden parts of the self, while water reminds us of the vast, unexplored nature of the unconscious. Together, these elements symbolize the harmonious balance between conscious awareness and the unconscious. Aagahii acts as the bridge between these realms, enabling individuals to dive into the depths of their psyche, emerging with the light of understanding and growth. The logo perfectly encapsulates Aagahii’s role in guiding individuals through a journey of inner discovery, healing, and empowerment.

Logo designed by:

	Bala Durga Karri B.A. (Hons) Psychology, JSPC 2022
	Nidhi Reddy K B.A. (Hons) Psychology, JSPC 2022
	Ajala Bhardwaj B.A. (Hons) Psychology, JSPC 2022

Dr. Mehak Sikand

Co-director
Assistant Professor, JSPC

Dr. Mehak Sikand is the founding co-director of Aagahii. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), a mental health researcher and an Assistant Professor at Jindal School of Psychology & Counselling. She has completed her MPhil (Dr. RML Hospital, Delhi) and PhD (NIMHANS, Bangalore) in Clinical Psychology. With a decade of experience as both a trainee and a professional, Dr. Sikand has been deeply committed to ensuring the provision of quality care to all individuals. She emphasizes trauma-informed integrative care, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs of each person she works with.

Dr. Sikand’s deep interest in psychotherapy process, training, and supervision fuels her commitment to advancing the field of mental health. Her involvement in the establishment of this Centre reflects her dedication to creating a hub for professional development and collaboration. She envisions the Centre as a space that not only supports ongoing professional growth but also fosters critical dialogue among practitioners, researchers, and educators. Dr. Sikand believes that community is essential for nurturing the profession, providing a platform for peer learning, mentoring, and the exchange of ideas.

Through her work with the Centre, she aims to foster a community that promotes continuous learning, reflective practice, ethical care, and supports mental health professionals at all stages of their careers while enhancing the quality of mental health services.

Prof. (Dr.) Manjushree Palit

Co-director
Professor & Associate Dean, JSPC

Dr. Manjushree Palit is a Professor and Associate Dean at the Jindal School of Psychology & Counselling and serves as the Director of Aaghaii—the Centre for Psychotherapy Research & Training (CPRT) at O. P. Jindal Global University. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. With over 18 years of counselling experience and 15 years in teaching and research, Dr. Palit has worked extensively with individuals, couples, and families across diverse settings. Her career spans both non-profit organizations and academic institutions in India and the United States, where she has developed expertise in clinical work, research, grant writing, and administration.

Dr. Palit’s key areas of focus include relationship dynamics, mental health, gender and sexuality, intimate partner violence, and therapeutic interventions. As a seasoned educator and trainer, she has led more than 100 training programs and workshops, reaching school and college students, educators, administrators, psychologists, and other professionals in the USA, India, Nepal, Dubai, and Doha. Dr. Palit has also published numerous works, including books, book chapters, and journal articles, in leading national and international journals.

Through her leadership at CPRT, Dr. Palit aims to advance psychotherapy research and offer rigorous training to nurture the next generation of psychologists. She is committed to fostering a dialogical space that amplifies diverse perspectives in counselling practice, emphasizing the importance of therapist self-awareness, reflective practice, and supervision.

Dr. Poornima Viswanathan

Associate Director
Assistant Professor, JSPC

Dr. Poornima Viswanathan is the Co-founder and Associate Director of Aagahii and an Assistant Professor at the Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling. A licensed clinical psychologist and mental health researcher, she completed her MPhil and PhD in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore. Dr. Viswanathan’s research interests include psychotherapy process research, help-seeking for mental health, youth mental health, mental health of professionals, the psychology of trauma, adult ADHD, lived experiences of families of individuals with mental illness, and the role of creative arts and theatre in well-being. She also explores somatic and body-focused approaches to recovery.

With specialized training in psychodynamic, relational, trauma-informed therapies, and creative modalities like art-based and music therapy, Dr. Viswanathan integrates a person-centred, lived experience perspective that enhances empathy and authenticity in therapeutic care.

Dr. Poornima is passionate about nurturing the mental well-being of psychology students and therapists. She fosters reflective spaces where future therapists can develop technical skills, empathy, and therapeutic presence. Emphasizing personal growth, relational dynamics, and a learning experience that integrates self-reflection with practical therapeutic tools, her work contributes to the holistic development of mental health professionals.

Dr. Poornima envisions Aagahii as a vibrant community where research, training, and collaboration converge to advance mental health care. She aims to create a space that fosters continuous learning, reflective practice, and the integration of lived experiences into therapeutic work. By building a strong, supportive community, Aagahii will empower mental health professionals to refine their skills, engage in critical dialogue, and provide ethical, culturally sensitive care. Her vision is to elevate the standards of mental health services across diverse communities through innovation, empathy, and collective growth.

Prof. Yasmine A. Shilla

Associate Director
Lecturer, JSPC

Yasmine A. Shilla (she/her/hers) is the founding Associate Director of Aagaahii and a Lecturer at the Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling. She is a trained counselling psychologist, primarily working from Rogers’ person-centred approach, and has over 14 years of clinical experience. Before joining JGU as a faculty member, she had a private practice, counselling clients in an urban setting. She also served as a wellness coach aimed primarily at providing mental health consultations to clients from corporate settings and college students. Upon completing schooling in Guwahati, she received a B. A. (Honours) Psychology degree from the University of Delhi. Then she pursued a Master’s in Psychology at Gauhati University before she obtained a Master’s in Counseling & Guidance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, USA.

Having taught Psychology for over a decade, Yasmine has gathered hands-on experience working in various organisations in India and the USA, including academic institutions, non-profit organisations, and community counselling centres. These have contributed to her acquiring multicafeted clinical, research, teaching, and administrative experience.

Her research interests lie in multicultural psychology and counselling, with feminist psychology and tribal mental health as the focus. She is also interested in the professional development of the counselling psychology speciality (especially in the Indian therapeutic context), family influences, relationship challenges, trauma and recovery, somatic body therapy, creativity, and the mental health concerns of academics. Yasmine is particularly interested in Indian indigenous forms of healing and how these can be integrated with Western therapeutic techniques to enhance recovery. Yasmine has contributed to psychology literature by publishing in academic publications, news dailies, and webzines.

Some of her previous academic engagements also include training future counselling psychologists in the practical aspects of the profession. Moreover, as a practitioner, she served as a peer supervisor and has coached prospective counsellors in their professional development.

At Aagaahii, Yasmine endeavours to continue fostering an atmosphere of acquiring and disseminating knowledge surrounding counselling and therapeutic advancements, especially those informed by the Indian indigenous cultures. She is also deeply committed to contributing to the profession with research, training, and supervision of future professionals in the field. Furthermore, advancing the counselling psychology speciality in India is of special interest to her, especially that which is focused on training professionals in the ethical and best practices of the field.