CORE TEAM COUNSELLORS
Ritu Sharma
Ritu is an engineering graduate from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, with over 25 years of IT experience. She did her diploma in personal counseling from Banjara Academy and has been involved in conducting life skills training and counselling for over 10 years. She built a team of counsellors and managed the Emotional Support Group in the Indian Cancer Society, Karnataka branch, for six years. She also teaches Mathematics to children from economically weaker backgrounds. Her other interests include reading, playing tennis, long-distance running, and DJing.
Lata Rai
Lata is working at Ramaiah Hospital as a child and Adolescent counsellor in the Pediatric OPD. She also counsels caregivers of patients in the Pediatric and Neuro ICU. Her course at Banjara Academy introduced her to counselling and made her realize her calling which she has pursued since. Her other passions are sketching, painting, music, and reading. Her favorite quote that motivates her is: “Our children are not failing, we are failing our children every single day” by Dr. Shelja Sen, a child and adolescent psychologist.
Sangavi Nandakumar
Sangavi is a postgraduate in Finance. She has worked in the corporate sector for over 15 years and has volunteered with several NGO’s. She has worked as an emotional support counsellor with the Indian Cancer Society. She has also volunteered with Step Up for India as a teacher in their English teaching program for Government Schools and taught spoken English online with the group One All during the COVID lockdowns. Her passion for art and education led her to co-found the NGO Hongirana Foundation which works to bridge the gap in quality education for underprivileged children. Her other interests include sketching, reading, baking, running, and swimming.
Malathi Rao
Malathi is a postgraduate in Mathematics from Delhi University, who left her job in the IT industry to devote her time to her family. She has trained with the Indian Cancer Society and provided emotional support to cancer patients and caregivers for five years or more. She has also been providing emotional support to children from underprivileged backgrounds. Malathi is an avid travel enthusiast, who loves nature, gardening, and dance. She believes in keeping oneself physically active through yoga, dance, and walks. She highly values all relationships and believes in being true to oneself.
Shobha SV
Shobha is an Engineering Graduate from the University of Bangalore with over 25 years of experience in the technology industry. Subsequently, she earned a Diploma in Counselling Skills from Banjara Academy. She volunteered with the Indian Cancer Society in the emotional support group and during a short association with Banjara Academy as a counsellor for their email counselling platform. She is currently pursuing her MA in Clinical Psychology from IGNOU. Her other interests include cooking, traveling, and Yoga.
Mili Chakraborty
Mili has a double master’s in Physics and Psychology. She has 15+ years of experience teaching, running a daycare and play school, training, and coaching. She got her diploma in personal counseling from Banjara Academy. Mili is also a certified CBT, REBT practitioner, and happiness coach. She has been associated with the Indian Cancer Society and other NGOs for many years. She has been actively counselling for the past 8+ years and has her private practice called MITAAN. Her other interests include reading, yoga, music, traveling, and baking.
Lipika Phani
Lipika is a certified counsellor from Parivarthan Counselling Training and Research Center with specialization in child, youth, and couple counselling. She has been a practicing counsellor since 2010 and is a counsellor working at Parivarthan Counselling Helpline. She is also associated with cancer support NGOs: ICS (Indian Cancer Society) and CTH, which provides emotional support for cancer patients and caregivers. After Completing her MS from Farleigh Dickinson University NJ, she worked for two years as a research and teaching assistant at New York University. She worked as a software professional for 28 years in India and the USA in multinational companies like IBM, TCS, CGI, and Syntel USA. Her other interests include performing arts, philosophy, psychology, yoga, and meditation.
Elizabath Thomas
Elizabath is a teacher by profession with various degrees. She has done MA Psychology from IGNOU. She is currently working with OneCare as the Wellness Coach for people suffering from Chronic illness and also as Emotional Support Coach for young women during pregnancy. She had her Communications Skills training from Parivarthan in 2011 and a Diploma in Personal Counseling from Banjara Academy. She started working with Foster homes like Kolbe Boys Home (where single parent prisoners’ children are taken care of), Jeevodaya (the rehabilitation centre for women), Anugraha (less privileged girls home), Dream India Network and with the Emotional Support team of Indian Cancer Society, Karnataka branch. She has also worked as a full time Counsellor at Notre Dame Academy and has been a freelance Wellness Coach reaching out to the needs of various age groups and couples during their periods of crisis.
Manjula Rajendran
Manjula is a counseling psychologist trained at Banjara Academy with six years of experience supporting cancer patients at Karunashrya, Videhi, and Manipal Hospitals. This work has honed her skills in empathy, active listening, and resilience building. She applies these skills when counseling young children to help them navigate emotional and behavioral challenges. Her approach creates a safe, supportive space where children can express themselves and develop coping strategies for life’s difficulties. As a mother of three and a grandmother, she understands the importance of family dynamics and emotional well-being. In her free time, she enjoys playing the Veena and preparing meals for her loved ones, finding joy in both creative expression and nurturing connections.
VOLUNTEER COUNSELLORS
Chaitra
Chaitra is a post graduate in Physics and Education and holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Management of Children with Learning Disorders. She has spent around ten years as an educator and a special educator in diverse social and academic settings. She has done certificate in counseling programs from Prasanna Counseling Centre and Samadhana Counseling Centre, and Well-being Volunteer program from NIMHANS. She has also trained with the Indian Cancer Society and has been providing emotional support to cancer patients and caregivers since the last three years. Her other interests include reading, music, yoga, Samskrutam studies and trekking.
Suchethana
Suchethana has done her M.Sc., B.Ed and Honours Diploma in Systems Management(GNIIT). She was a Lecturer at Pre university level for more than 2 decades. As a Class Teacher through her tenure, she actively participated in Counselling & guiding hundreds of students through their crucial stage of academics. She did her Diploma in Counselling skills from Banjara Academy & has been voluntarily involved in counselling mildly disabled children, young adults & their Care givers in Aruna Chethana (Multiple Disability Center). She is a Volunteer at M S Ramaiah Hospital. Her Voluntary work is extended to Counselling & teaching Spoken English to the children from under privileged & poor background. Her other interests include Reading, Yoga, Meditation and Reiki.
Shilpa Shrini
Shilpa Shrini is a caring and talented person with a passion for helping others. She holds a degree in science and worked as a graphic designer. She later obtained a Montessori and Nursery training diploma. Her experience teaching computers in an autistic school during her leisure led her to pursue a diploma in counseling from Banjara Academy.
She has also volunteered with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS). Shilpa is a certified yoga trainer and teaches yoga at Nimhans as a form of recreation to the patients.
In addition, Shilpa is a Pranic healer and uses energy healing techniques to help people with physical and emotional issues.
Ayesha
Ayesha has completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling from Martin Luther Christian University. She has a good working knowledge of various counseling modalities such as CBT, DBT, and Schema Therapy. Her counseling hours have covered issues ranging from child behavior to relationship conflict, self-harm, and anxiety. Besides independent counseling, and working with children in foster homes through NewMornings, Ayesha is a counselor with Nitingales Elder Care, Urban India Ministries, and Concerns Universe (women). She has 25 years of experience working as a writer and manager in documentation teams in the IT field. She is committed to drawing from her learning and experiences, to become a healing channel and help hurting hearts.
Gazala
Gazala holds an M.Sc. in Zoology, a B.Ed. from Panjab University, and an MA in Psychology from IGNOU. She has further specialized in child mental health, earning certifications from the Institute of Counsellor Training Research and Consultancy and Samadhana Counselling Centre, Bangalore, in child and adolescent counseling. Gazala has volunteered as an educator while focusing on life skills training and one-on-one counseling for school children since joining New Mornings in August 2024. She finds great fulfillment in working with children, using her skills to nurture their emotional well-being and support their growth during these formative years. Gazala enjoys reading, writing poetry, cooking, traveling, and practicing yoga.
Nidhi
Nidhi has earned her diploma in counseling skills from Banjara Academy. She is also certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and wants to extend her services to those in need. She holds a Masters Degree in Economics. She is an empathetic listener who loves connecting with people and building deeper relationships. In her free time, Nidhi loves gardening and is an avid reader.
Flora
Flora has been volunteering with several NGOs in the education field since 2018. She has been interested in counseling since her college years. Flora has done a Masters in Counseling Psychology from IGNOU and completed a certificate course from NIMHANS. She has volunteered to provide crisis counseling over the telephone. She is an empathetic listener and, passionate about reintroducing classical board games to the younger generation. Her hobbies are reading and traveling.