Surya Shivanandan

I am a dedicated counselling psychologist driven by a deep commitment to promoting mental health and well-being through evidence-based and compassionate care. With experience across diverse populations and therapeutic settings, I bring adaptability, sensitivity, and a strong research orientation to my work. My approach integrates client-centered values with structured, insight-driven techniques, with a particular focus on understanding developmental and neurodiverse needs.

I am equally passionate about contributing to the field through ongoing research and aspire to bridge the gap between clinical practice and scientific inquiry.

Special Educator at Eka Educational and Charitable Trust (2025-05 – Present)

• Developed and implemented Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of students across Grades 1 to 12, ensuring measurable progress and goal attainment.
• Conducted one-on-one intervention sessions with students to support learning difficulties, emotional regulation, attention, and overall academic performance.
• Designed and facilitated workshops for students, parents, and educators focusing on learning strategies, emotional well-being, and skill development.
• Set short-term and long-term goals for students and programs, consistently monitoring progress and successfully achieving targeted outcomes.
• Collaborated with educators and caregivers to track student development, adapt strategies, and ensure holistic support.

Freelance Counsellor at Visit Health (2024-09 – 2025-05)

• Provided individual counselling for clients experiencing workplace stress, performance anxiety, and professional identity concerns, using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
• Supported clients in navigating interpersonal difficulties, including relationship conflicts, communication barriers, and self-esteem issues, with a focus on emotional insight and adaptive coping strategies.

Intern Counsellor at Metanoia Kleos Empowerment Foundation (2024-06 – 2024-08)

• Provided individual counselling to students from financially weaker sections, addressing concerns related to emotional distress, academic pressure, and self-esteem.
• Delivered psychoeducation sessions on mental health awareness, coping strategies, and emotional regulation to promote psychological well-being.
• Applied therapeutic approaches such as CBT, REBT, and supportive counselling to help students identify and challenge maladaptive thought patterns.
• Collaborated with educators and caregivers to ensure a holistic support system for students' academic and personal development.

Content Writer at Content Whale (2020-01 – 2021-07)

• Produced diverse written content across multiple formats—including technical documentation, blogs, essays, and feature articles—tailored to both academic and general audiences, ensuring clarity, engagement, and relevance.
• Applied SEO strategies and keyword optimization to enhance content visibility, increase web traffic, and ensure alignment with target audience search behaviors and platform algorithms.
• Conducted in-depth research to craft accurate, informative, and compelling content tailored to specific audiences and subject areas, ensuring each piece was both factually sound and engaging in tone and structure.

MSc in Counselling Psychology – Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (2022 – 2024)

BA in Psychology, Marketing, Economics – Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (2019 – 2022)