" Changing Mass Consciousness Is an Individual Responsibility." - Priyashi Srivastava

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I belong to the city of Allahabad, presently known as Prayagraj. My father is a PCS officer, so we always kept on moving from one city to another of Uttar Pradesh. I was sent to the hostel when I was in VIII standard, which provided me several opportunities to explore different fields. So I grew up as a good, multi-skilled student. As a person, I have always had a sense of empathy and compassion towards other people and animals.

Being a Science student further, I did my graduation in B. Tech. I.T. from IMS Engineering College (2014 batch). During the third year of B.Tech, I decided to prepare for the UPSC IAS exam. So, once the graduation got over I joined Vajiram and Ravi IAS Coaching Institute and that’s when I decided to choose Psychology as my optional subject. Within another two years, I was so deeply touched with Psychology and Bhagwad Geeta that they started to move me from within, on the contrary, I started to observe how reading newspapers, international relationships, complicated history of the world, religion-based politics in the country and so much more started to impact me. To reduce my stress level I joined Shaolin Temple India and learned different Martial Arts such as Shaolin Kung Fu, PTK, and Wing Chun from Shifu Kanishka. This came to me as a blessing, as it helped me a lot to channelize my emotions and become better at decision making, confidence, stress, and anger management.

With time I discovered a sense of awareness that if Psychology & Bhagwad Geeta could heal me, how beautiful would it be to use them and provide healing to others. And that’s how my journey to become a Psychologist/ Counselor/ Life Coach started.

I completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology from AIPS, Amity University Noida. During these two years of tenure, I kept myself under rigorous training in different areas such as hospitals, clinics, NGOs. I did certification and training programs with ICHARS and LIFOLOGY as well. With time, I used my technical skills to build my website (www.theindianpsychologist.com), I used my hobby of writing to create content, I used my natural instincts of empathy and compassion to connect with people and within few months I was able to initiate two programs that I run, Raahein ( to help people with coaching and counseling services) and Vairagya (The Spiritual Wellbeing Program). Presently, I am focussing to create mental health awareness as it is much needed in today’s time.



2. What led you to take up this career path?

The most important source for my intrinsic motivation originated from my personal experience. During B. Tech. In the second year, I suffered from mental illness. By the time I reached a normal mental/ emotional state, my graduation was over. And then the journey of healing started as I continued to be a Psychology student while preparing for UPSC exams. With time I realized how important mental health awareness is and how Psychology with other spiritual practices can help someone change their life completely. So, I responded to this inner voice and took my steps towards where I am today.


3. What are some common myths in society about psychology?

There are many. I will bring in your notice some:

1. Whoever reaches out to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist is mad: Mental Health Professionals are trained with several life skills such as how to deal with anger, stress, anxiety, poor relationships, bad childhood trauma, damaging behavioral patterns, etc. These skills can bring in major changes in someone’s life. And we never know what the person is actually going through, yet people continue to judge just because they are seeking a psychological professional help.

2. “He/she does not look depressed. I don’t know why he/she is pursuing treatment.” : Depression is usually characterized by people with unhygienic appearance, sad face, alcoholism, smoking, remaining in bed throughout the days, not going out for parties, etc. And all this conditioning has resulted from certain movies or web series, which once showed a character who dealt with depression showcasing the above-mentioned symptoms. But in reality, a person can be depressed and yet show up at parties, at the workplace, could continue to function at its best, smile, make jokes, and achieve promotions. No, the appearance or behavior is not the way to decide for somebody if they are in depression or not. In fact, there are several kinds of Depression. So, I recommend to be kind and nonjudgemental with people and leave the diagnosis of any kind of mental disorder to professionals in the field.

3. Psychologists can read your Mind: Psychologists are trained to study human behavior with the help of observations and assessments. They do not mind readers. They have several skills in order to provide solutions to the problems or understand someone’s behavior based on their past experiences but they are can not read the mind.

4. A mental health professional can not have a mental illness: Just like any physician or any specialized doctor has solutions to the injuries, diseases, or problems, similarly so do mental health professionals. And as the doctors fall sick with flu, migraine, fracture, BP, diabetes, etc likewise mental health professionals may fall sick as well. We are also humans after all.

5. Once a mental health patient, always a mental health patient: Several times, people only need to redirect their perspectives, adapt to certain major changes in life, come up with out of the box thinking to solve their problems, etc. They go through the entire journey of therapy and attain the missing element from their perspectives. They become better with time, completely comfortable with their lives, and move ahead with normal living.

6. “Why do you need to go to a Counselor? I can counsel anyone. Come sit with me, tell me what happened. I will tell you what to do ahead.”: This is one statement so many of us have heard in life. To counsel someone does not mean to put your own ideas, biases, or words in someone else’s mouth. As professionals, we are trained to empathize with our clients, to remove our biases or judgments before hearing them, to provide a holistic intervention, to ask right questions to them, to hear them without any distractions, to allow them to acknowledge their own behavioral patterns, to help them develop insight about what is best for them and so much more.


4. How can people practice mindfulness? 

Being Mindful means becoming one, becoming present with this moment. A lot of times people spend their lives living either in the past or in the future, while the present just passes by and so does life. Thus, to become mindful at this moment one can practice: 

1. To bring their focus on the breath
2. To acknowledge what thoughts are coming to them and observe them from a distance.
3. To observe nature.
4. To describe their emotions.
5. Yoga
6. Meditation
7. Breathwork
8. Dancing

After a certain period of time, one can enjoy the remaining mindful of doing anything in life.


5. What are your tips for people who want to practice this profession?

Right education, the right mentors, the right training, the right training, and the right training are the major keys to become good in any profession. But as it comes to Psychology, I will add having a non-judgmental perspective, empathy, compassion, understanding, patience, observational skills, active listening skills, good concentration, communication skills, and calmness are very important.

Once the education and training are over you may experience certain challenges when it comes to employment. But you need to have a bigger vision than just the employment. Your contributions to mental health awareness is a need of today’s time. Make good use of the internet and social media to spread your voice. Keep your self updated with new researches. And respect your seniors who are RCI registered, if you do not have the license do not cross the limitations and provide a diagnosis to the clients ( As only RCI Licensed professionals have the right to provide diagnosis and treat severe mental disorders). Well, the best way to do that is to have good connections with professionals and you can refer your cases to them if you feel a need for a better expert to take over on the case.


6. Is work-life balance a myth or reality according to you? 

I think we should start to create a change in our perspectives regarding this. I read somewhere, that instead of trying to create work-life balance we should attain a “life-work” balance. As we initiate to prioritize our lives over the work, I think most of the problems will be solved automatically. After all, we work to live not live to work right? So, in my perspective “Life-work” balance is surely possible can not say about work-life balance much. :)



7. How according to you can one manage stress?

1. Writing the journal while self-questioning: 

Writing does not only represents the thought pattern but it also engages you in an activity that requires you to be present. And as we continue to question our state of being or feelings we soon come to realizations of how actually our thought process is acting against your well being. Being in the present moment helps you understand that fear/ anxiety is occurring only out of the presumptions or illusions your mind is creating. So, come out of that illusion, break it, and tear away the questions or doubts over your capabilities.

2. Breath Work:

Breathing in a proper way helps us to oxygenate our body and bring us into the moment. With the help of certain breath works such as Kapalbharti or Anloma Vilom can actually bring your anxiety or stress level down and provide a sense of relaxation.

3. Finding creative ways of expression:

While choosing creativity over a narrow-minded loop of thoughts causing stress, you will be able to channelize your emotions of fear or insecurities. Channelizing the emotions with creativity allows you to look beyond, to think out of the box, to create something new, and free yourself from the limited boundaries created by the negative thoughts in your mind. On the other hand, it boosts your mood, your esteem, and confidence. 

4. Being Mindful: 

Mindfulness is one of the most amazing tools. Whenever you feel stressed, bring your conscious attention to where you are, what you are, what are you doing (sitting, eating, etc), how you are doing it, and describe the actions while you are doing it. This brings your awareness to the present. At present, you realize that life is simple as of now until you rush into thinking about what will happen ie the future.

5. Yogasanas:

Yogasanas have the capability to regulate and balance our endocrine systems. All the emotions and feelings are influenced by the hormones in our body. So, as we make use of our body to perform certain geometrical asanas, it starts to reboot our endocrine system and help us in balancing the hormones such as serotonin, endorphin, cortisol, dopamine, etc

6. Exercising:

Doing physical tasks produce endorphins in our body, the hormone which helps us fight from stress, fear, or pain naturally. This will fill you up with feelings of positivity and will give a sense of high naturally. Exercising is one of the best ways of boosting your mood, reducing stress, anxiety, or pain.


-Priyashi Srivastava, Life Coach, Psychologist and Counselor

- Interviewed by Shilpy Sharan