Group Type: Workshop
Goals of the Group:
- To provide a platform for self-reflection and peer support.
- To equip participants with practical tools to navigate career challenges.
- To foster a supportive environment where individuals can share experiences and learn from each other.
- To help participants make informed decisions about their career paths.
Who Is The Group For?
This group is designed for individuals experiencing career-related challenges, including but not limited to:
- Career transitions (changing jobs, industries, or roles)
- Career stagnation or dissatisfaction
- Work-life balance struggles
- Stress related to career choices
- Decision-making anxiety (e.g., job offers, promotions, further education)
- Navigating office politics, workplace conflicts, or burnout
- Exploring professional purpose and goals
Discussion Topics:
- Career identity and its development
- Personal values and their alignment with career choices
- Tools for decision-making during career transitions
- Workplace stress and burnout management
- Effective networking and managing toxic workplace environments
- Career action planning
What Will We Talk About?
- Understanding and coping with uncertainty and fear in career changes
- Recognizing signs of stress and burnout
- Strategies for stress management and maintaining work-life balance
- Building resilience during times of transition
- Setting boundaries and protecting mental health in professional settings
- Evaluating whether to endure or exit a toxic workplace
- Creating a career action plan and identifying next steps
Glimpse of the Session:
Cluster 1: Introduction and Exploration
- Session 1: Setting the Stage – Career Challenges and Context
- Goal: Introduce group members, set expectations, and explore career-related concerns.
- Key Points:
- Introduction to the group format and guidelines.
- Icebreakers: Share current career struggles or questions.
- Exploring personal and societal pressures related to career success.
- Setting individual goals for the group.
- Session 1: Setting the Stage – Career Challenges and Context
Cluster 2: Understanding Career Identity
- Session 2: Understanding Career Identity
- Goal: Explore how personal values, strengths, and self-identity shape career paths.
- Key Points:
- What is career identity? How does it develop?
- Understanding personal values and their alignment with career choices.
- Strengths and skills identification: What do I bring to the table?
- Reflecting on personal career narratives and how they shape choices.
- Session 2: Understanding Career Identity
Cluster 3: Navigating Transitions and Stress
- Session 3: Navigating Career Transitions and Uncertainty
- Goal: Address the challenges and emotions around career transitions.
- Key Points:
- Coping with uncertainty and fear in career changes.
- Tools for decision-making: Clarifying options and taking action.
- Career transitions: How to assess risk and reward.
- Strategies for building resilience during times of transition.
- Session 4: Managing Workplace Stress and Burnout
- Goal: Understand and manage stressors in the workplace, including burnout.
- Key Points:
- Recognizing signs of stress and burnout.
- Identifying workplace stressors (e.g., workload, relationships, pressure).
- Strategies for stress management and maintaining work-life balance.
- Self-care routines and boundaries in professional settings.
- Session 3: Navigating Career Transitions and Uncertainty
Cluster 4: Relationships and Action Planning
- Session 5: Navigating Workplace Relationships and Toxicity
- Goal: Build skills for effective networking and managing toxic workplace environments.
- Key Points:
- Networking: Importance of authentic connections for career growth and strategies for building them.
- Workplace Toxicity: Recognizing toxic behaviors (bullying, exclusion, disrespect) and their impact on well-being.
- Managing Toxicity: Setting boundaries, using conflict resolution skills, and protecting mental health.
- Stay or Leave: Evaluating whether to endure or exit a toxic workplace.
- Session 6: Creating a Career Action Plan and Closing
- Goal: Summarize learnings and help participants set actionable career goals.
- Key Points:
- Reviewing key insights and takeaways from the group.
- Tools for goal-setting: Short-term vs. long-term goals.
- Creating a career action plan and identifying next steps.
- Group reflection and closure.
- Session 5: Navigating Workplace Relationships and Toxicity
Please note that the session topics, order, and other details may be subject to change based on the needs and preferences of the group members and facilitators.
Facilitator Bio:
• Years of Experience: Shruti: 4+ years | Divya: 13+ years (corporate) + multiple years as therapist
• Groups Facilitated at SoulUp: 1
• Relevant Expertise: Career Challenges, Expressive Arts-based Therapy, REBT, DBT, Adult Well-being, Community Support Spaces, Play Therapy, Self-awareness and Growth
Shruti Bose is a Counselling Psychologist and Play Therapy Practitioner based in Kolkata with over four years of experience. She uses an integrative approach drawing from REBT, narrative practices, and expressive arts to support adults navigating emotional challenges, career confusion, and life transitions. Shruti regularly facilitates expressive arts circles and values group spaces for their ability to reduce isolation and foster shared learning.
She is joined by Divya Sharma, a Counselling Psychologist, Play Therapy Practitioner, and founder of Sunshine for the Soul. With 13 years of corporate experience, Divya brings a strong understanding of workplace stress and performance pressure. Her work is informed by DBT, TA, and REBT, and she has facilitated multiple support spaces and women’s circles.
Together, they co-created The Playful Place to bring expressive arts and community connection into adult mental health spaces, offering a supportive environment to reflect, reconnect, and move forward with clarity.

