Biography

Dr. Poornima Viswanathan is a clinical Psychologist, psychotherapist, educator and mental health researcher with a deep passion for student well-being and training the next generation of mental health professionals. After completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology, she taught as an Assistant Professor at Central University of Karnataka. She completed her two-year training at NIMHANS to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Her MPhil research focused on the lived experiences of siblings of autistic individuals, and her PhD specialized in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, specifically, internalizing disorders.

As Junior Consultant at the Clinical Psychology Department, she taught and supervised MPhil Trainee Psychologists for assessment and management of clinical cases from the child and adolescent as well as adult psychiatry departments. She also managed the Child and Adolescent Mental Health clinic at NIMHANS. She is currently a psychotherapist in private practice. She has received specialized training in solution focused behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, art based therapy, basic mentalization based treatment and fundamentals of music therapy.

In her teaching career, Poornima has taught courses on Psychology of Trauma and Recovery, Statistics, Qualitative Research Methods, Counselling Theory and Practicum, Psychological Assessment, Cognitive Psychology and Environmental Psychology. She is also actively involved in supervising student research projects, guiding them in their academic and clinical development. She is the Founding Associate Director of the Centre for Neurodiversity Studies, Co-founder of the Diverse Minds Collective, Faculty Mentor for Mindscapes, a student-run club for art-based expression, and The Origins, a psychology theatre club.

She incorporates a lived experience approach to her teaching, practice and research, encouraging students to engage reflectively and empathetically as they prepare for roles as mental health professionals. She emphasizes creating reflective spaces to foster empathy and a deeper understanding of client challenges, ensuring future mental health professionals are both skilled and compassionate.