2016 to 2024 - Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia

2014 - Master of Clinical Psychology (MClinPsych), School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia

2004 - Master of Science (M.Sc) - Counselling Psychology, Montfort College, Bangalore University, India

2002 - Bachelor of Arts (B.A) - Psychology, Economics, and English Literature, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University, India

I have been a practising psychologist for 20 years, working in counselling and clinical settings in India and since 2011, in Australia.

Clinical practice: My clinical experience has primarily been in the following areas:

• Chronic and severe mental illness with personality vulnerabilities, especially in the context of socio-economic disadvantage.

• Behavioural sleep medicine.

• Socio-emotional and cognitive adjustment after brain injury.

• Clinical policy - risk assessment, inclusive practice, and interpersonal violence.

Research: I am also a social psychology researcher focusing on the psychology of social inclusion and helping relations between socially privileged and disadvantaged people. I am currently doing a PhD at the UQ School of Psychology, with Prof. Winnifred Louis, co-supervised by Prof. Aarti Iyer, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. See my research publications on social justice based helping and inequality here.

CLINICAL MEMBERSHIPS

Psychologist with generalist registration - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Reg. PSY0001616028

Member - Australian Psychological Society (APS)

SOCIAL RESEARCH MEMBERSHIPS

Member - Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)

Student member - Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP)

Ongoing professional development

As psychologists we are required to maintain a robust learning and development plan every year. In my case, I focus on the following:

• Keeping abreast of the latest, best practice assessments for psychosocial disabilities.

• Undertaking training in assessment tools that are new to me.

• Keeping track of research developments in assessing cognitive functioning in people with severe and complex mental illness.

• Consulting with peers and senior clinicians when I am in doubt or need further input.

Holistic

Focusing on the individual-in-context and drawing in not just the adult in question, but caregivers, social circles, and family as active participants in the assessment process.

Creating easy-to-understand AND fit-for-purpose reports

So that they provide the most useful and specific information necessary to make decisions on funding and further supports.

My cultural background

I was born and raised in Tech City Bangalore, South India. My ethnic community - the Kodavas - come from a place called Kodagu, where our people primarily grow coffee and have a long history of serving as warriors. I emigrated to Australia in 2011. I live here with my husband and two dogs.

My disability

I was diagnosed with severe and intractable chronic pain of the cervical (neck) spine in 2015 which flipped my life upside down for a few years.

After close to a year of being bed-bound and several failed treatments, I was fitted with a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) a few years ago. Since then, I have been able to adjust to my disability better.

It continues to be a process of daily physical, psychological, and occupational adjustment, and the informal supports I have are invaluable in that process.

My experience with chronic pain has been a profoundly humbling experience and has forever changed me as a person and a psychologist. It continues to inform how I approach my profession, my priorities, and relationships.

Me

Being an 80’s child, on days off, you’ll find me watching tv. A lot of it. This also includes a lot of rubbish reality tv! I enjoy watching, reading, and discussing all things at the intersection of pop culture, politics, and human behaviour. I enjoy reading non-fiction, especially books on geopolitics and modern terrorism. I also enjoy playing with my dogs and photograph them endlessly.