Arun Mathews
Founder
Within this growing segment, there are a few psychologists who have truly made a remarkable impact in people’s lives, expertly addressing challenges through an empathetic and methodical approach. Taking a holistic approach towards helping people heal is Arun Mathews, a counseling psychologist, Marriage and NPD counseling specialist, and the founder of Balance Psychology Counseling, based in Bengaluru. He also has an Advanced Diploma in Psychology Counseling and Marriage & Relationship Therapy from NHCA Singapore. With over 9 years of therapy experience, Arun is an extraordinary counseling psychologist supporting his clients in their journey toward self-improvement, coping, and healing. He also attends to clients coming to him for anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Adolescents, adults, couples, and individuals seeking therapy from him normally book days in advance.
Diving into Psychology
A renowned psychologist today, Arun’s professional journey was not always directed towards the pursuit of psychology, rather, it was his passion that propelled him to move from his position as an HR head to pursue a career in this domain. Realizing that his ability to understand people’s behavior in addition to their skills and empathizing with them was one of his biggest assets led Arun to discover his fascination with the complexities of human behavior and the mind.
This curiosity in understanding what drives people's emotions, thoughts, and actions, ignited in him a thirst to channel this curiosity into a profession that enables him to help people and bring a transformation in their lives. This led him to explore psychology as a profession, gaining his qualifications and starting his journey in this segment. From supporting people through a difficult time to guiding them in overcoming challenges and achieving personal growth, Arun has helped individuals unfold some of their most critical challenges pertaining to personality disorders like narcissism, finding opportunities to connect with them on a profound level and contributing to their growth.
“My interest in specializing in personality disorders, particularly narcissism, developed through both personal and professional experiences. I encountered clients struggling with the effects of toxic relationships and narcissistic abuse, which sparked my curiosity about the complex dynamics involved. Witnessing how narcissistic traits can devastate relationships in my own circle, and as an HR too, as employees shared stories of dealing with narcissistic bosses, colleagues, siblings, and parents, which affected their work, fueled my desire to help individuals navigate the unique challenges posed by personality disorders, empowering them to heal, rebuild boundaries, and regain control of their lives”, shares Arun Mathews, Founder, Balance Psychology Counseling.
Addressing Personality Disorders
Adopting a tailored approach towards utilizing therapeutic methods, Arun strives to gain insight into the underlying patterns that shape people’s behaviors and relationships. By recognizing patterns, and tailoring his approach, Arun empowers his clients to set boundaries, recover from emotional trauma, and break unhealthy relational cycles.
Gaining an insight into the particular challenges of the clients, he also creates a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel validated and supported in their healing journey.
“When deciding which treatment approach to use, I focus on the unique needs, goals, and personality of each client. During the initial assessment, I take time to understand their history, the issues they’re facing, and how they respond to different types of interventions. For example, if a client is struggling with distorted thinking patterns, I might use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help them reframe negative thoughts. If trauma is a key factor, I may incorporate trauma-focused therapy. I also consider the client’s level of comfort with different approaches and remain flexible, adjusting the treatment plan as therapy progresses”, adds Arun.
Amalgamating both modern and traditional methods of counseling and therapy, Arun develops a comprehensive therapeutic experience that is customized to meet every single client’s needs. Where on the one hand conventional methods such as psychodynamic therapy offer valuable insights into early life experiences and unconscious patterns, which often shape current behaviors, on the other, modern techniques like CBT and mindfulness-based approaches are highly effective for addressing present-day issues and promoting practical, actionable change.
Leveraging a unique blend of these strategies, Arun helps his clients achieve a deeper level of self-awareness, develop coping strategies, and make waves of change that instill a positive outlook in their minds.
Growing & Evolving
In this challenging domain, Arun has reached the pinnacle of success by focusing on continuous education and training, as the landscape of mental health constantly evolves with new research, treatment approaches, and societal changes. Staying abreast of these changes has empowered him to offer highly effective and evidence based care and continually refine techniques. Through workshops, conferences, and webinars, along with engagement in peer supervision and collaborative learning experiences, he not only stays abreast of advancements but also gains the opportunity to reflect on his practice and explore new perspectives. Dedicated to continually offering top-notch services to his clients that help them break past their challenges, he also advances his knowledge through journals and publications, aligning his therapeutic methods with the most current industry best practices.
“My commitment to ongoing learning not only enhances my skills but also allows me to meet the diverse needs of my clients. Last year, I joined an institute called ‘Banjara’ in Bangalore, where I once again went back to learn about basic counseling skills. Why? Because it not only helped me to make wonderful friends but most importantly, it helped me sharpen my basic counseling skills even further!”, adds Arun.
Drawing from his experience, and beliefs towards the achievement of his commitment to thriving in the domain and impacting lives, Arun urges aspiring psychologists to cultivate a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding personality disorders, particularly narcissism, and go beyond studying theoretical aspects to gaining practical experience through internships or supervised clinical practice. Through diverse experiences, he shares, comes the ability to empathize and adapt one’s approach to meet individual needs.
“For aspiring psychologists, prioritizing self awareness and self-care is important. Working with clients who have personality disorders can be emotionally demanding, so it’s crucial to manage your own mental health effectively. Seek supervision and peer support to process challenging cases and reflect on your therapeutic approach. Additionally, stay informed about the latest research and treatment modalities. The field of psychology is continuously evolving, so commitment to lifelong learning will equip you with the tools necessary to provide effective and compassionate care. By blending knowledge with empathy, you'll be well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the lives of your clients”, advises Arun.
Future Roadmap
The future of psychology promises to be greatly affected by the increasing focus on the integration of technology, expanding accessi-bility, and addressing the unique challenges posed by modern life. The evolving challenges of modern society, like social media’s impact on mental health, climate-related stress, and post-pandemic anxiety, will push psychologists towards devising new methods of counseling. Simultaneously, digital platforms and teletherapy are expected to make mental health services more accessible, pulling people from all walks of life to receive support, and thereby increasing the demand for qualified psychologists.
As Arun envisions the future of his organization, he is dedicated to advancing with the changing client demands, adopting holistic approaches, and incorporating multidisciplinary collaboration and culturally sensitive approaches to address the complexities of modern mental health challenges. He is also eager to collaborate with colleges in the future, believing that supporting today's youth will lead to a positive and lasting impact on society
“When deciding which treatment approach to use, I focus on the unique needs, goals, and personality of each client. During the initial assessment, I take time to understand their history, the issues they’re facing, and how they respond to different types of interventions. For example, if a client is struggling with distorted thinking patterns, I might use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help them reframe negative thoughts. If trauma is a key factor, I may incorporate trauma-focused therapy. I also consider the client’s level of comfort with different approaches and remain flexible, adjusting the treatment plan as therapy progresses”, adds Arun.
Amalgamating both modern and traditional methods of counseling and therapy, Arun develops a comprehensive therapeutic experience that is customized to meet every single client’s needs. Where on the one hand conventional methods such as psychodynamic therapy offer valuable insights into early life experiences and unconscious patterns, which often shape current behaviors, on the other, modern techniques like CBT and mindfulness-based approaches are highly effective for addressing present-day issues and promoting practical, actionable change.
Leveraging a unique blend of these strategies, Arun helps his clients achieve a deeper level of self-awareness, develop coping strategies, and make waves of change that instill a positive outlook in their minds.
With over nine years of therapy experience, he is an extraordinary counseling psychologist supporting his clients in their journey toward self-improvement, coping, and healing, as well as support for anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges
Growing & Evolving
In this challenging domain, Arun has reached the pinnacle of success by focusing on continuous education and training, as the landscape of mental health constantly evolves with new research, treatment approaches, and societal changes. Staying abreast of these changes has empowered him to offer highly effective and evidence based care and continually refine techniques. Through workshops, conferences, and webinars, along with engagement in peer supervision and collaborative learning experiences, he not only stays abreast of advancements but also gains the opportunity to reflect on his practice and explore new perspectives. Dedicated to continually offering top-notch services to his clients that help them break past their challenges, he also advances his knowledge through journals and publications, aligning his therapeutic methods with the most current industry best practices.
“My commitment to ongoing learning not only enhances my skills but also allows me to meet the diverse needs of my clients. Last year, I joined an institute called ‘Banjara’ in Bangalore, where I once again went back to learn about basic counseling skills. Why? Because it not only helped me to make wonderful friends but most importantly, it helped me sharpen my basic counseling skills even further!”, adds Arun.
Drawing from his experience, and beliefs towards the achievement of his commitment to thriving in the domain and impacting lives, Arun urges aspiring psychologists to cultivate a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding personality disorders, particularly narcissism, and go beyond studying theoretical aspects to gaining practical experience through internships or supervised clinical practice. Through diverse experiences, he shares, comes the ability to empathize and adapt one’s approach to meet individual needs.
“For aspiring psychologists, prioritizing self awareness and self-care is important. Working with clients who have personality disorders can be emotionally demanding, so it’s crucial to manage your own mental health effectively. Seek supervision and peer support to process challenging cases and reflect on your therapeutic approach. Additionally, stay informed about the latest research and treatment modalities. The field of psychology is continuously evolving, so commitment to lifelong learning will equip you with the tools necessary to provide effective and compassionate care. By blending knowledge with empathy, you'll be well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the lives of your clients”, advises Arun.
Future Roadmap
The future of psychology promises to be greatly affected by the increasing focus on the integration of technology, expanding accessi-bility, and addressing the unique challenges posed by modern life. The evolving challenges of modern society, like social media’s impact on mental health, climate-related stress, and post-pandemic anxiety, will push psychologists towards devising new methods of counseling. Simultaneously, digital platforms and teletherapy are expected to make mental health services more accessible, pulling people from all walks of life to receive support, and thereby increasing the demand for qualified psychologists.
As Arun envisions the future of his organization, he is dedicated to advancing with the changing client demands, adopting holistic approaches, and incorporating multidisciplinary collaboration and culturally sensitive approaches to address the complexities of modern mental health challenges. He is also eager to collaborate with colleges in the future, believing that supporting today's youth will lead to a positive and lasting impact on society
