1. Tell us about your background and journey.
This is a story of a girl who became Psychologist accidentally. A girl who was way more introvert, always lost in her novels, had very few interactions with the outside world, loved staying in her own self. The one whose family mattered the most and had few friend circles around. She was too passionate to bake, cook & invent her new dishes which you may not find on Google or YouTube channel was so determined that she will pursue her career as a Chef but somehow, she didn’t as her mother wanted her to be a Psychologist which she had never thought of.
Ultimately, ended up taking admission in an Arts School instead of Culinary School. And that’s how my journey began; I am Avantika Setia basically I belong to Abohar in Punjab but from past few years due to my education and then job I stay in Chandigarh most of the time.
Well, honestly the day I began this journey it was quite tough as I was following my mother's dream and not my passion. But to my surprise when I started studying Psychology, I realised that this is my “Cup of Tea,” I should definitely make this as my profession. After graduation I did Masters in Clinical Psychology then P.G. Diploma in Counselling and Family Therapy, not only the degree courses but also certification in Career Coach.
From last 1 year I have been working in this field, my mission is to educate people about various tenets of Psychology, from choosing the right career path to increasing awareness about the burden associated with Mental Health. We should always remember that both Physical and Mental Health are equally important and none of them should be neglected.
Someone has rightly said that we human are just like plants but with more complex emotions which needs to be taken care of on time. Hereby, being a Mental Health Professional I wish to serve each individual to take a step forward in the journey of unfolding yourself and have a more open-hearted conversation.
2. What led you to take this career path?
This is my IKIGAI - a reason for being, a purpose of waking up.
When I was young, my mental health was affected to which no one bothered other than my mother. The only reason my mother wanted me to pursue this career so that what I have been through no one else should. She supported me so well took me for therapy sessions, prepared me so well that I can proudly say that Yes whatever I am today is because of her.
For a Therapist to treat a client it is very important to have a healthy state of mind to which I am totally in, I have prepared myself to serve each individual to take a step forward in the journey of unfolding themselves. I don’t know why people are so afraid of going to a Psychiatrist or a Psychologist, we live in 20s where we have been made aware of so many things which do includes that mental health is equally important as our physical health and it should be made a priority.
We should definitely make this a new normal practice as if we can go to a doctor when we suffer from cold then why not a therapist when we suffer from Mental Health issues. (“Going to a Therapist is as normal as going to a Doctor for our health issues.”)
3. What are some common myths in the society about Psychology?
Here are few of the myths:
- Psychology is just common sense.
- Psychologist can face read.
- Psychologist gets paid for listening to people.
- Psychology isn’t a real science.
Psychology might be a relatively young science in the grand scheme of sciences, but it is indeed a real science. However, it’s important to note that scientific Psychology does not have limitations and human behaviour vary and change over time.
4. How can people practice mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a natural quality that we all have. It’s available to us in every moment if we take the time to appreciate it. When we practice mindfulness, we’re practicing the art of creating space for ourselves—space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.
While mindfulness might seem simple, it’s not necessarily all that easy. The real work is to make time every day to just keep doing it. Here’s a short practice to get you started:
- Take a seat. Find a place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you.
- Set a time limit. If you’re just beginning, it can help to choose a short time, such as 5 or 10 minutes.
- Notice your body. You can sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, you can sit loosely cross-legged, in lotus posture, you can kneel—all are fine. Just make sure you are stable and, in a position, you can stay in for a while.
- Feel your breath. Follow the sensation of your breath as it goes out and as it goes in.
- Notice when your mind has wandered. Inevitably, your attention will leave the sensations of the breath and wander to other places. When you get around to noticing this—in a few seconds, a minute, five minutes—simply return your attention to the breath.
- Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself or obsess over the content of the thoughts you find yourself lost in. Just come back.
That’s it! That’s the practice. You go away, you come back, and you try to do it as kindly as possible.
5. What are your tips for people who want to practice this profession?
To all my dear future Psychologists, be ready for all types of situations and never lose yourself in the process of healing others. Whatever you do in future do it by putting all the efforts. Healing a client from his distorted self takes time and demand a lot of patience. So, being a Psychologist, you have to prepare yourself for everything.
6. Is work-life balance a myth or a reality according to you?
Work-life balance is a renowned concept that refers to the situation when a person has a regular and sustainable source of income, while at the same time, is able to take out enough time to relax with his or her loved ones or to do stuff that they find entertaining, in order to regularly rejuvenate themselves and avoid experiencing burnouts.
In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a work-life balance requires creativity, passion for work, and a contemporary way of thinking. As corporate life stretches to late night hours, many successful employees have started to figure out ways to blend their work lives with their personal lives, so that they are able to fulfil their commitments to both.
One might think that finding this true balance would require quitting one’s full-time job, but that’s not true. If one is determined to maintain harmony in life, it is very much possible to achieve that without lagging behind in one’s performance in any aspect. All that needs is to be done is we should not waste time on unwanted stuff and add in elements of flexibility into your mindset towards work.
Thus, we can say that work-life balance does exist, but maybe not in the exact way that it’s perceived. At the end of the day, it all boils down to your approach towards work. When we are able to take pleasure in our jobs, we wouldn’t even feel the need to maintain any kind of balance, as our lives would already be in harmony.
7. How according to you one can manage stress?
Everyone experiences stress differently. Sometimes, the best way to deal with stress is to change your perspective on it. Developing clear comprehension of how stressful activities impact your physical and mental well-being is crucial. It’s also encouraged to understand how your mental and physical wellness can affect your stress levels.
Even moderate levels of stress can trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response, which unleashes certain hormones like adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream. Fight-or-flight responses can be activated in situations like waiting in traffic or working a stressful job. When the perceived threat dissipates, our body utilises the relaxation response to return to normal functioning.
However, in cases of chronic stress, the relaxation response doesn’t occur often enough, and being in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight can cause irreparable damage to the body. Maintaining an optimistic perspective in the midst of stressful activities can feel nearly impossible. But is it?
Observing your stressors without judgement, without an automatic, unconscious reaction, by just observing how you feel, is considered the first step in stripping stress of its power. Self-help, physical activity, talk therapy and stress-reducing activities are all proactive approaches for managing day-to-day stress levels.
Interview By - Sonam
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