Get to know Deepika.

City & Background

Deepika Mahesh (She/Her) is a mental health counsellor from Chennai who practices online. They practice in Adyar, Chennai.

They're 28 years old and have been practicing since 6 years.

Tamil, English, and Hindi are some of the languages they know, and hourly fee is (₹) 1,500 - 2,500.

Education

They have the following qualifications: M.A. Applied Psychology with Specialisation in Counselling Psychology .

Additional qualifications:Mental Health Training Program in Narrative Ideas and Practices .

Why they became a therapist.

"I walked into the mental health space with specific values (of empathy and kindness) and found the space, people and experiences to explore these values with more nuance as I continued to practice. My work also opened up pathways to build on these values with people and systems and helped translate them into tangible ideas and actions of change. This is also something that helps me stay close to my work and myself."

What they'd like a client's first session to be like.

"I hope for clients to take back maybe a fraction of what they were hoping for from therapy - relief, feeling heard and acknowledged, clarity or action steps. Through my conversations, I’ve realized that people walk into therapy with specific expectations, but I do hope they take back feeling safe in a conversation."

How they make their practice a safe and affirmative space for queer and trans* folx.

"By never assuming heteronormativity, drawing from my experiences, constantly reading, advocating through conversations outside of therapy, curating safe resources and support systems, engaging with peers, supervisors and accessing training and sharing circles. Within the therapeutic space it would involve honouring the queer and trans clients’ stories and holding space for them to explore safely."

Areas of concern they address in counselling.

"I have been working with adolescents, adults and families since I began my practice. Through my practice I have worked with experiences of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, abuse, interpersonal relationships, workplace dynamics and socio-emotional concerns in day to day life. My work is very strongly grounded in queer and neurodiversity affirmative stance and I follow a trauma informed approach."

A Quote Deepika Resonates With.

"You live through that little piece of time that is yours, but that piece of time is not only your own life, it is the summing-up of all the other lives that are simultaneous with yours... What you are is an expression of History. ~ Robert Penn Warren"