Our Team
Trustees
Dr. Manjula V
Dr. Manjula Veeraraghavan is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in Couple and Family Therapy, with more than 20 years of experience working with couples, families, and individuals. Her clinical work focuses on helping people navigate relationship challenges, including abusive dynamics and non-physical forms of violence with antagonistic partners. Grounded in systemic therapy, she brings a feminist and social justice lens to her practice, supporting clients in understanding and reshaping relational patterns. Based in Bengaluru and fluent in Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu, she works with clients both locally and online. Her deep commitment to relationships and resilience is shaped by her personal experiences of abusive relationships, witnessing the inequalities faced by women, and her clinical work with couples.
Dr. Aditi Arur
Dr. Aditi Arur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Christ University, where she primarily teaches in the Educational Psychology program. She holds a PhD in Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota. Her academic and professional interests center on gender, sexuality, and anti-oppressive pedagogies in education. Over the years, she has conducted feminist evaluations of girls’ education and life-skills initiatives run by multinational NGOs in partnership with government schools in marginalized communities in India. Through her teaching and research, she is committed to fostering inclusive educational spaces that challenge inequities and empower young people.
Dr. Alphonsa George
Dr. Alphonsa Georgeis a behavioral health professional, psychotherapist, trainer, and research consultant with over a decade of experience across clinical practice, academia, and community-based interventions. She holds a PhD in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and an M.Phil and MSW in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work from Pondicherry (Central) University. Her practice integrates evidence-based methods with a deep appreciation for lived experience, addressing mental health within systemic and cultural contexts. Passionate about social justice and inclusion, she has worked extensively with marginalized communities to make mental health care accessible and culturally sensitive. Through her therapeutic, teaching, and research work, she continues to promote holistic well-being and equity in mental health care.
Advisory Panel
Ms. Deepthi Jose
Deepthi Jose Maliakkal is a mental health practitioner, researcher, and educator with more than eight years of experience in academia and private practice. Currently an adjunct faculty member at Christ University, she is pursuing her doctoral research on emotional abuse and help-seeking behaviors. Her clinical practice integrates trauma-informed and emotionally focused approaches, with an emphasis on creating a compassionate and non-judgmental space. Deepthi has published in peer-reviewed journals, developed a conceptual model on emotional abuse, and is authoring further works in the field. Her research and advocacy extend to legal abuse, parental alienation, and shifting dynamics within families and relationships. She is deeply committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and influencing policies that strengthen support systems for survivors.
Dr. Lekshmi Vimala
Dr. Lekshmi Vimala is a psychotherapist with nearly a decade of experience in mental health practice and research. She holds an M.Phil. and PhD in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, where her doctoral work focused on suicide prevention and the role of media in public mental health initiatives. She has led numerous gatekeeper training programs and worked extensively with clients using Solution-Focused Therapy, strength-based frameworks, and existential approaches. Her practice is LGBTQ+ affirmative and trauma-informed, grounded in a belief in holistic healing beyond diagnostic labels. Committed to lifelong learning, she continues to expand her skills to meet the evolving needs of diverse client groups.
Dr. Priya Puri
Dr. Priya Puri is the Founder and Chief Clinical Psychologist at The Healing Space. She completed her M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata, and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS, Bengaluru. She is trained in a range of evidence-based psychotherapies and works extensively with individuals navigating complex trauma, emotional abuse, narcissistic abuse, and borderline personality traits/disorder. A certified Schema Therapist with the International Society of Schema Therapy, she is also training in EMDR (EMDR-India) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute). Her approach is trauma-focused and holistic, helping clients process unresolved emotions, memories, and bodily sensations while building on their strengths to foster long-term healing and resilience.
Dr. Ragesh
Dr. G. Ragesh is a psychiatric social worker trained at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and currently serves at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kozhikode. With over 15 years of experience in mental health services, training, and research, his work spans clinical care, teaching, and community engagement. His primary area of expertise is women’s mental health, where he has contributed to both direct support and broader advocacy, combining clinical practice with systemic awareness.
Dr. Vidya Ramkumar
Dr. Vidyaa Ramkumar is a long-standing advocate for gender justice and child protection, with over two decades of leadership in safeguarding the rights of women and children. She has served as Chairperson of the Puducherry Child Welfare Committee, leading efforts to prevent child marriage, respond to child abuse, and strengthen child protection systems. She has also chaired and advised multiple committees on sexual harassment in universities and workplaces, ensuring safer and more equitable environments for women. As Consultant and Nodal Officer for the Women Protection Cell in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, she has trained judges, police officers, educators, and community leaders on addressing gender-based violence. Her work reflects a strong commitment to social justice, survivor empowerment, and systemic reform, making her an important voice on our Advisory Panel.
