Mrunmayee Pathare
(she/they)
Founder, Lead Psychotherapist & Supervisor
Meet Our
Lead Psychotherapist
Mrunmayee Pathare (she/they)
Qualifications:
MA Psychology in Lifespan Counselling, South Asian Diploma in Narrative Practices, Advanced Training in Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy, POSH Train the Trainer Training, Diploma in Supervision using Narrative Ideas & Practices
Areas of Work:
Specialization:
Languages:
Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Childhood Trauma, Relationship Concerns, Gender & Sexuality
Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health
English, Hindi, Marathi
Tell us a bit about your journey to be a therapist...
Choosing to be a therapist is largely informed by my own lived experiences of anxiety, grief, and formative experiences. Becoming a therapist was always more than a career choice for me. Studying psychology and understanding the human mind - body connection has helped me and continues to help me understand myself, the people I interact with, and our meaning - making process to make sense of the world.
What can your clients expect after their first session?
I wish for my clients to take back gentleness, slowness, reignited hopes and dreams with them after their first session with me - to navigate the journey of life no matter how challenging it may seem right now; to reclaim their identities; to choose to rest or just be. I hope that they hold onto the understanding that our lives are nuanced, complex, and multi-storied (made of multiple stories) beyond the problems we encounter at the moment.
How can one begin their therapy journey?
Seeking therapy for the first time can invite a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts. You have a right as a client to ask your therapist as many questions about the process and logistics of therapy as you can. Understanding that the therapy process is not always linear or space to get a ‘quick fix’ can help you be kind and gentle with yourself during this journey of reflection. Expressing your expectations and hopes from therapy can help the therapist evaluate how they can best support you in this journey. It's also important to notice that regularly going to therapy is not sufficient by itself. Remembering to work on the therapy homework between sessions can greatly help you translate your insights and reflections in your life.
What do you look forward to about your work as a therapist?
Although I am deeply moved by the life stories shared by my clients, witnessing or listening to their stories of resistance helps me hold on to the hope as a therapist. It is also very exciting to witness the process of discovering and rediscovering ourselves, exploring the multiple possibilities of lived experiences, and learning from each other’s know - hows.
Which therapy approach do you use in your work?
I use Narrative Ideas and Practices in my work which highlight that we are made of multiple stories and identities. Some of these stories tell us more about our problems whereas some bring us closer to our hopes, values, and dreams. In therapy, we build on these hopes and dreams while renegotiating our relationship with the problem. I also use trauma - informed and queer affirmative lens in my practice while keeping in mind the unique history, challenges, and contexts of every person I consult with. As a practitioner, I am also interested in knowing more about your strengths and skills as much as your concerns.
How do you build a therapeutic relationship with your clients?
I strongly believe in a collaborative process where both my clients and I are co-travellers in their mental health journey. Together, we explore the problem territories, the impact it has on their life as well as their hopes, dreams, values and commitments. I hope that both of us are on the same team while navigating the problem territory. We also plan together for the next sessions. I periodically check-in with my clients about how the therapy process is going for them and if there is anything that they would like to try out differently in therapy.
What do you do when not working?
I love to doodle, paint, learn a new skill and make crispy dosas in my free time. I also love to just be in nature, go on treks, observe the skies, soak in the greenery around me, and find patterns in them. When I am not working, you can catch me reaching out to my loved ones and speaking with them about everything under the sun.