About Me

Hi, I am Neha, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 13 years of experience in dealing with a diverse client population and varied concerns. I have had rigorous and extensive training at institutions like AIIMS , Delhi and VIMHANS (Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-allied Sciences ) as part of my internships. I completed my M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi and am registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI – license no A13768) as a clinical psychologist.

Have always been a keen learner and did my graduation and post-graduation from Delhi University (M.A in Clinical Psychology, North Campus and B.A Honors in Psychology). I have enjoyed participating and training myself in various nuances of psychology through informal & formal workshops, research work, projects, conferences or courses and have ranked high in my academic pursuits all along.

Psychotherapy: Approach & Orientation

I mainly work with individual adults, adolescents and at times specific families or couples. Over the years my work finds its roots in psychodynamic formulations with an attempt to assist the therapy process by integrating tools from Self psychology, Cognitive Behavioral therapy approaches , Family therapy models, Personality and humanistic approaches.

Being a trained clinical psychologist, my strength lies in understanding and identifying various disorders, psychological conditions, relationship issues, substance abuse problems and outlining treatment considerations accordingly. My experience and training enable me to analyze and work through both clinical or self-issues with an attempt to frame a more tailored model to work with clients trying to thereby address and integrate specific needs accordingly.

In the years of my work as a therapist I can share that there is no one format of therapy that generally can fit into the complexity of personality, situations, contexts, or biology that we all carry. Attuning to the client and assessing the requirements of the moment is a definitive marker not just contributing towards rapport but also determining the efficacy of the therapeutic process itself.

We all struggle, we all gain insights , we all repeat patterns and find some healing then falter again. Besides data or evidence on what works or does not , one cannot really always tell but yes the authentic space that therapy offers , a forum to feel free and clear up, to unfurl latent truths or just talk about experiences , to be able to articulate and share , to be able to be confused , unsure , anxious yet try and make meaning and process in the presence of an attentive and involved , non judgmental , emphatetic containing other human is perhaps the most powerful tool that enables release , healing or subsequent growth.

So, to summarmise therapy for me is an attempt to provide a process based, dynamic space where within a client centered framework, I often juggle or shift gears between directive cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) models to sometimes just process oriented, exploratory insight building frameworks upholding ethical practice norms alongside.

Work Experience

Currently working as independent Clinical Psychologist at ‘Curatif’ Vasant kunj. My practice is mostly with adults. Besides seeing clients who are personally motivated for self-growth, or working through interpersonal or work-related issues, a lot of my work is with clients referred by psychiatrists working in some of the premier hospitals in Delhi/NCR. I strongly believe and follow a collaborative team approach and integrate pharmacological management alongside if and when necesaary .

Alongside my own practice, I also worked consultant psychologist for the Mother’s Integral health center, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Feb 2016 onwards. I have also worked in supervisory capacity for the psychology department at Mother’s international school addressing school related psychology interventions and programs.

Worked as consultant clinical psychologist at VidyaSagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (VIMHANS), from 2008 to 2013. Post that I have been associated with vimhans for outreach projects as a consultant till present.

Testing / Assesments

In course of my education, workshops and courses attended I have gained proficiency in conducting clinical interviews, understanding, administration and interpreting of specific Indian and International psychometric assessments, scales and batteries ranging from clinical scales, personality to intelligence & cognitive testing for both children and adults.

Underwent supervised training of Exner’s Comprehensive scoring system for Rorschach Psychodiagnostics.
Certified in neurocognitive assessment (MCCB Matrices Consensus Cognitive Battery
Trained in specific and latest diagnosing and rating scales for various developmental disorders like Autism, Mental retardation, ADHD, and other conditions.

Training / Workshops

Have been involved in both long term and short-term training of graduate and post graduate students of psychology and other related disciples in assessment and intervention of psychiatric disorders and psychotherapy modals.
Have conducted workshops and biannual training sessions on imparting theoretical and practical skills to students and professionals in the area of testing (intelligence, academic and social functioning) of children, adolescents and adults
Conducted numerous interactive workshops on various child and adolescent issues such as dealing with bullying, study skills, aggression, critical thinking etc for schools in Delhi and NCR.
Conducted 12-part interactive, popular monthly series at India Habitat centre on Parenting Adolescents. It comprised of an educative and interactive format dealing highlighting and discussing various adolescent issues & parenting skills. Widely attended and appreciated by a mixed audience of teens, parents, and counsellors.
Conducted various workshops and group therapy sessions of psychiatric rehabilitation centres and Deaddiction Centres on lines of Motivation enhancement therapies (MET) and relapse prevention therapies (RPT) .
Have assisted with psychological interview and psychometric assessment for employee recruitment and selection for some private companies.

Projects

Was project coordinator of the ‘school project’ run by vimhans. Project involved training of school counsellors, teachers, and principals in various aspects of child mental health, life skills workshops, and early assessment and intervention programs.
Worked in projects with street children, trauma survivors and mental health community & De-addiction programmes.
Was project coordinator and facilitator of the ‘Clean Mind Program’, an initiative of the Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi. The project involved a wholistic integral approach to health and well-being. Sunday group programs for children and adults were held. During the project, we did some qualitative and quantitative research to examine contentment scores as marker of integral health quotient in the community.
Member of Indian association of family therapy and involved in their clinical and case supervision activity.

Curatif

Neha Bhimwal Patial, M.Phil

To Set People Free

- Rolo May -