Avani Ratan: Striving to De-stigmatize Mental Health Concerns, Especially those Surrounding the LGBTQ Community
Avani Ratan
Consultant Clinical Psychologis
Striving hard to improve this scenario in the country are the psychologists and psychiatrists who carry vast experience in various areas of mental health. One such eminent psychology professional who is helping individuals lead better, happier lives is Ms Avani Ratan. Having completed her bachelors and masters in psychology, Avani went on to complete her M.Phil in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Human Behavior & Allied Sciences. She is also certified from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and is currently pursuing her Ph.D from University of Delhi. Today, with over eight years of experience with multicultural clients across diverse psychological areas, she is among the most well-renowned and sought-after psychologists in Delhi and neighboring regions, while simultaneously teaching final year MD psychiatry residents through an edtech firm. Avani is also the author of ‘ADAPT’- a comprehensive workbook designed to improve emotional regulation in adolescents and young adults.
“I’ve always been drawn to human behavior and have been motivated by compassion and empathy. In addition to assisting others, the field has improved me as a person and human, wherein every case was like a screenplay, making the field itself fascinating. My comprehension of human behavior was enhanced by each theory, and I was continuously refining and developing my beliefs regarding attachments, the subconscious mind, and personality. The human brain is mysterious and beautiful in this way. As I delve into the field, it keeps me motivated to strive for more and learn new skills”, says Avani.
Key Areas of Specialization
As a specialist in providing therapeutic interventions to diverse psychological conditions for clients of every age group, Avani’s key practice areas include cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma focused work, couples & marital therapy, and LGBTQ affirmative therapy. Additionally, she is also well-versed in conducting a broad spectrum of psychological testing & assessments pertaining to IQ, specific learning disability, neuropsychological assessments, neurodevelopmental disorders, personality assessments, career & aptitude assessments and a lot more. However, her primary forte has been providing therapeutic interventions to members of the LGBTQ community, wherein she was also one of the pioneers in India to conduct a research on the community when section 377 was ruled out by the Supreme Court in 2018.
“Mental Health is a very individualized experience, where sometimes we even encounter people who are resistant to treatment or are grappling with the stigma around it. Thus, I believe in providing empathetic, safe, non-judge mental and compassionate spaces to my clients. Busting the myth that therapy is all talk and promise no tangible results, I practice empathetic listening and follow evidence-based techniques and treatment plans that are structured and reliable ways to gain more insights to further improve the quality of life. Further, I ensure to use a collaborative approach so that the clients feel they are in-charge of their lives and are encouraged to explore their resistances”, adds Avani.
Client-centric Approach to Treatment
Avani’s secret mantra to success, apart from her vast industry experience, has been her commitment towards bringing back the happiness into her clients’ lives by ensuing that they receive nothing short of the best quality care. Thus, she also leverages all possible modern day techniques such as teletherapy, VR tools for exposure treatment to patients with phobias, PTSD or anxiety, biofeedback to help stress & anxiety patients regulate their reaction, gamification to boost interest and motivate patients of younger age group, and many more. Further, Avani first assesses the client history, formulate a customized treatment plan according to their problem area, and then educates them about the modality that would be implemented in their treatment process.
Owing to her vast subject matter expertise and proven track record, Avani has conducted numerous stress coping training sessions for Delhi Police and CISF personnel. Additionally, she has also mentored many master’s in psychology students from University of Delhi to complete their internships. Going forward, Avani wishes to further advance her specialization in LGBTQ area and come-up with the new treatment modalities for the mental health related concerns faced by members of that community due to continued fear of prejudice and non-acceptance that they still face in the society. Overall, her long-term objective is to educate people and create awareness among them about various critical facets of mental health by conducting numerous community outreach programs and public awareness activities.
Sharing Words of Wisdom
When asked about what her advice is to youngsters aspiring for a career in the field of psychology, Avani elucidates, “Like Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist & psychotherapist said, ‘Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul’. Given the dynamic and ever-changing field you’re wanting to enter, practice continuous learning and gain diverse experience, as eclectic approaches would help you get more exposure and widen your perspective. Develop strong communication skills, seek supervision and mentorship, prioritize self-care, be open to feedback, and most importantly, stay true to the ethics of the field”.
As a specialist in providing therapeutic interventions to diverse psychological conditions for clients of every age group, Avani’s key practice areas include cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma focused work, couples & marital therapy, and LGBTQ affirmative therapy. Additionally, she is also well-versed in conducting a broad spectrum of psychological testing & assessments pertaining to IQ, specific learning disability, neuropsychological assessments, neurodevelopmental disorders, personality assessments, career & aptitude assessments and a lot more. However, her primary forte has been providing therapeutic interventions to members of the LGBTQ community, wherein she was also one of the pioneers in India to conduct a research on the community when section 377 was ruled out by the Supreme Court in 2018.
I practice empathetic listening and follow evidence based techniques & treatment plans that are structured & reliable ways to gain more insights to further improve the quality of life
“Mental Health is a very individualized experience, where sometimes we even encounter people who are resistant to treatment or are grappling with the stigma around it. Thus, I believe in providing empathetic, safe, non-judge mental and compassionate spaces to my clients. Busting the myth that therapy is all talk and promise no tangible results, I practice empathetic listening and follow evidence-based techniques and treatment plans that are structured and reliable ways to gain more insights to further improve the quality of life. Further, I ensure to use a collaborative approach so that the clients feel they are in-charge of their lives and are encouraged to explore their resistances”, adds Avani.
Client-centric Approach to Treatment
Avani’s secret mantra to success, apart from her vast industry experience, has been her commitment towards bringing back the happiness into her clients’ lives by ensuing that they receive nothing short of the best quality care. Thus, she also leverages all possible modern day techniques such as teletherapy, VR tools for exposure treatment to patients with phobias, PTSD or anxiety, biofeedback to help stress & anxiety patients regulate their reaction, gamification to boost interest and motivate patients of younger age group, and many more. Further, Avani first assesses the client history, formulate a customized treatment plan according to their problem area, and then educates them about the modality that would be implemented in their treatment process.
Owing to her vast subject matter expertise and proven track record, Avani has conducted numerous stress coping training sessions for Delhi Police and CISF personnel. Additionally, she has also mentored many master’s in psychology students from University of Delhi to complete their internships. Going forward, Avani wishes to further advance her specialization in LGBTQ area and come-up with the new treatment modalities for the mental health related concerns faced by members of that community due to continued fear of prejudice and non-acceptance that they still face in the society. Overall, her long-term objective is to educate people and create awareness among them about various critical facets of mental health by conducting numerous community outreach programs and public awareness activities.
Sharing Words of Wisdom
When asked about what her advice is to youngsters aspiring for a career in the field of psychology, Avani elucidates, “Like Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist & psychotherapist said, ‘Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul’. Given the dynamic and ever-changing field you’re wanting to enter, practice continuous learning and gain diverse experience, as eclectic approaches would help you get more exposure and widen your perspective. Develop strong communication skills, seek supervision and mentorship, prioritize self-care, be open to feedback, and most importantly, stay true to the ethics of the field”.
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