Psychologist

Psychologist
Hello, I am Sharanya, a psychology professional with 7 years of academic and 2 years of practical experience in psychology, with a particular interest in mental health, accessibility and the experiences of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
My journey in psychology began with my Bachelor’s degree from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, where I also conducted a research study exploring ableism and its impact on the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I went on to work as a shadow teacher/counsellor before pursuing my Master’s degree in Psychology from K.C. College, Mumbai. During my postgraduate training, I completed internships across hospitals and rehabilitation centres, gaining exposure to diverse clinical and mental-health settings. My dissertation explored hustle culture and burnout experiences among young adults, further deepening my interest in the relationship between mental health, everyday pressures and the way we navigate our lives.
I currently work as a Counsellor with Heart It Out, where I support individuals through their mental-health journeys and continue to develop my practice through clinical experience. I have also completed a CBT Practitioner Course and currently incorporate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques into my work with clients, under appropriate supervision.
Alongside my work in psychology, I have been a Bharatanatyam dancer for over 20 years and an assistant teacher at Bharatanjali Nrtyalaya, where I have been teaching for over 8 years. Dance has been an important part of my life and has shaped the way I understand discipline, expression, identity, connection and community.
I have also recently started 'Unfold with Sharanya', a space where I talk about psychology and mental health in an accessible, everyday way. I particularly hope to create more conversations around the mental health experiences of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. As a Deaf person with a cochlear implant myself, this is an area that is deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally.
I’m looking forward to continuing to learn, grow and create spaces where conversations around mental health feel more open, accessible and human.
- Kisinchand Chellaram College in 2026
- St. Xavier's College in 2022