Rucha Naik

I'm Rucha, an early career therapist, expected to graduate with a Master's in Lifespan Counselling from St. Xavier's College in April '26. I have over 70 hours of individual client-therapy work, under supervision, working with children, adults, and the elderly, and 10 hours of experience as a group facilitator, in both lead and co-facilitating roles. I've worked with concerns to do with relationships, depression, PCOD, self-identity exploration, as well as perfectionism and anxiety.

My therapeutic practice is deeply rooted in an integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Practices, though my coursework with St. Xavier's has given me a foundation in many other modalities, including Gestalt work, Person Centred Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to name a few. Beyond these modalities, I also have foundational training in queer-affirmative and trauma-informed practices, and I look forward to gaining formal certifications for both.

I'm a keen learner of new practices in psychotherapy, always looking for more tools to add to my repertoire as a therapist.

I've spent 6 months working as a volunteer crisis counsellor for the Vandrevala Foundation. I am currently pursuing my Master's in Lifespan Counselling from St Xavier's College and I have worked as a project intern at The Center for Restoration, and participated in fieldwork for 3 months as a school counsellor-in-training at the Akanksha Foundation.

I'm certified in Psychological First Aid from John Hopkins University through Coursera. I've attended workshops in Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and am interested in pursuing an eclectic approach to therapy that combines narrative therapy with cognitive therapies like CBT and SFBT.

I'm commonly described as conscientious, warm, empathetic, and organised. My sense of purpose comes from serving others and I find joy in helping others cope and/or solve problematic aspects in their life.

Counsellor Trainee at Aaji Care Home Health Services (2025-12 – 2026-03)

Trainee counsellor providing cognitive assessments and psychoeducational interventions for residents with neurocognitive disorders.

• Completed cognitive assessments
• Ideated and organised psychoeducational and team-building activities for staff
• Ideated and facilitated group workshops for residents with neurocognitive disorders

Hospital Observer at King Edward Memorial Hospital (2025-09 – 2025-10)

Observational experience across psychiatric departments and specialized clinics.

• Observed the psychiatric outpatient department - assessment, diagnosis, treatment
• Observed the psychiatric inpatient department
• Observed the workings of the child guidance clinic
• Observed the deaddiction centre

Pro-bono Counsellor in Training at St. Xavier's College (Empowered Autonomous) (2025-07 – 2025-09)

Provided individual therapy and counselling services to clients with regular supervision.

• Conducted 12 individual therapy sessions for 3 clients over a period of three months
• Assessed and understood the needs, issues, and goals of clients
• Developed and implemented individualized treatment plans
• Utilized various therapeutic techniques to guide clients towards emotional well-being
• Monitored client progress and made necessary adjustments to treatment plans
• Maintained accurate, timely, and confidential client records
• Offered guidance on self-help strategies and techniques
• Adhered to professional, ethical, and legal standards
• Underwent regular supervision with an experienced psychologist

School Counsellor in Training at The Akanksha Foundation (2025-01 – 2025-03)

School-based counselling and intervention work with children and adolescents.

• Conducted class observations
• Documentation and field reporting
• Conducted one-on-one sessions with students
• Worked with various stakeholders involved - school leaders, school counsellors, teachers
• Employed an eclectic therapeutic approach to support children and adolescents
• Basic experience of using behavioural and narrative therapy approaches
• Engaged in one-on-one supervision with experienced counselling practitioners
• Conducted and co-facilitated group workshops

Project Intern at The Centre for Restoration (2024-06 – 2024-08)

Research project on intimate partner violence in India.

• Conducted secondary research about intimate partner violence in India
• Identified relevant and important findings from selected research papers
• Formed and reviewed qualitative interview items

Volunteer Crisis Counsellor at Vandrevala Foundation (2023-03 – 2023-08)

Provided crisis counselling and psychological first aid support.

• Provided psychological first aid and chat-based crisis counselling
• Able to de-escalate situations and offer meaningful support in crisis situations

Master's in Lifespan Counselling – St. Xavier's College (Empowered Autonomous) (2024 – 2026)

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – SVKM's Mithibai College of Arts (Empowered Autonomous) (2021 – 2024)