LinkedIn - @Indratapa Das
My early upbringing begins in Kolkata. I am that one odd Bengali woman who does not like sweets. Owing to my father’s transferable job, we have moved around the country quite a bit. This formed a big part of my upbringing – changing cities and schools, meeting people from vastly different backgrounds and learning to adapt to new environments quickly.
Like most Indian millennials who could survive science subjects in school, I was pushed into an engineering degree by my family and society for my under-graduation. As a young adult, I felt the itch to study the human mind and behaviour, but engineering was the route I took, initially.
Throughout my B. Tech degree course in Biotechnology, I felt my itch for Psychology grow stronger. So, right after completion, I decided to pursue my interest and passion.
I took a gap year, studied basic Psychology with the help of friends and tutors. By the end of the gap year, I enrolled on MSc. in Counselling Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University). This course shaped the psychologist I am today – driven to better myself every day and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
2. What led you to take up this career path?
This career chose me as much as I chose it. Even as a young kid, I had the drive to go out of my way to help people – I once walked back home from school to get extra crayons for my friend so that she would not be scolded for not having crayons in class.
I am the type of person who walks into a room and intuitively knows if someone is upset, angry, happy, sad. I believe my intuition is my gift to share with the world. I took up this career path because the profession of psychology suits me better than any other, and I can use my intuition to make a difference.
Today, I work with more experienced psychologists who have honed their intuitive skills for years. I am learning from the best and hope to pass on my knowledge and skills to budding psychologists and clients alike. Learning to listen to my gut and have faith in it is at the heart of my work with my clients.
3. What are some common myths in society about psychology?
The first and most common myth about psychology is that psychologists read minds. If I had a dollar for every time someone cracked that joke or earnestly asked me if I can tell them what they are thinking, I could retire by the age of 30. I could probably even own a luxury yacht.
Another common myth about psychology and the practice of psychotherapy, especially in India, is that psychologists would advise clients, tell them what to do. That is absolutely not how this works.
I took a gap year, studied basic Psychology with the help of friends and tutors. By the end of the gap year, I enrolled on MSc. in Counselling Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University). This course shaped the psychologist I am today – driven to better myself every day and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
2. What led you to take up this career path?
This career chose me as much as I chose it. Even as a young kid, I had the drive to go out of my way to help people – I once walked back home from school to get extra crayons for my friend so that she would not be scolded for not having crayons in class.
I am the type of person who walks into a room and intuitively knows if someone is upset, angry, happy, sad. I believe my intuition is my gift to share with the world. I took up this career path because the profession of psychology suits me better than any other, and I can use my intuition to make a difference.
Today, I work with more experienced psychologists who have honed their intuitive skills for years. I am learning from the best and hope to pass on my knowledge and skills to budding psychologists and clients alike. Learning to listen to my gut and have faith in it is at the heart of my work with my clients.
3. What are some common myths in society about psychology?
The first and most common myth about psychology is that psychologists read minds. If I had a dollar for every time someone cracked that joke or earnestly asked me if I can tell them what they are thinking, I could retire by the age of 30. I could probably even own a luxury yacht.
Another common myth about psychology and the practice of psychotherapy, especially in India, is that psychologists would advise clients, tell them what to do. That is absolutely not how this works.
Unfortunately, this myth and expectation are exploited by quacks, because clients often prefer being told what to do instead of putting in the effort to find out the course of action that would be best suited for their unique selves and unique lives.
Yet another myth that I often see getting in the way of people getting the help they need – being in therapy is like airing your dirty laundry in public. This is more prominent among couple clients and families. While I understand the need to keep our issues private, it is beneficial to understand that working with a psychologist is private. It is not a public affair.
4. How do you expect digital mental health to grow over the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I expect the digital mental health industry to break through the stigma that keeps people in states of distress and stops them from getting the help they need. There is a significant number of mental health professionals in digital spaces working tirelessly to reach more people every day and educate them about this profession, bust the myths and help people realise the benefits of mental health work.
I also expect the digital model of mental health practice to make mental services more accessible and affordable to the masses.
5. What are your concerns about Digital Mental Health?
My biggest concern about Digital Mental Health is that this space is starting to become saturated with grossly under-qualified psychologists who are better at marketing themselves than the psychologists who spend more of their time and effort sharpening their skills and helping the small number of people they can reach.
Yet another myth that I often see getting in the way of people getting the help they need – being in therapy is like airing your dirty laundry in public. This is more prominent among couple clients and families. While I understand the need to keep our issues private, it is beneficial to understand that working with a psychologist is private. It is not a public affair.
4. How do you expect digital mental health to grow over the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I expect the digital mental health industry to break through the stigma that keeps people in states of distress and stops them from getting the help they need. There is a significant number of mental health professionals in digital spaces working tirelessly to reach more people every day and educate them about this profession, bust the myths and help people realise the benefits of mental health work.
I also expect the digital model of mental health practice to make mental services more accessible and affordable to the masses.
5. What are your concerns about Digital Mental Health?
My biggest concern about Digital Mental Health is that this space is starting to become saturated with grossly under-qualified psychologists who are better at marketing themselves than the psychologists who spend more of their time and effort sharpening their skills and helping the small number of people they can reach.
This is a dangerous development in the mental health space. We do not yet have robust laws and licensure around this. It puts the onus of responsibility on the qualified psychologists to dedicate more time to psycho-educating people, and responsibility on the people to educate themselves so that they can differentiate between someone who is and isn’t qualified. This has become an exploitative business in that way.
6. Can you let us know anyone application of Digital Mental Health in your country which has impressed you?
Digital Mental Health is adding to the wealth of self-help and psycho-educational information, and making it easily available for all. This helps, not only destigmatise mental health but also empowers individuals to better their mental health on their own to a large extent.
6. Can you let us know anyone application of Digital Mental Health in your country which has impressed you?
Digital Mental Health is adding to the wealth of self-help and psycho-educational information, and making it easily available for all. This helps, not only destigmatise mental health but also empowers individuals to better their mental health on their own to a large extent.
It helps to know about healthy patterns of behaviour, mental illnesses, childhood trauma, and so much more. This opens the doors for people. More and more potential clients are able to recognise their mental health condition sitting at home. One can better decide whether or not they need professional help on this basis.
7. What are your tips for people who want to practice this profession?
People who want to practice this profession must start with themselves. The practise of psychology is a difficult but rewarding personal journey that one needs to be ready to embark on. As soon as you decide to get into this profession, find a good therapist and start working with them.
7. What are your tips for people who want to practice this profession?
People who want to practice this profession must start with themselves. The practise of psychology is a difficult but rewarding personal journey that one needs to be ready to embark on. As soon as you decide to get into this profession, find a good therapist and start working with them.
Unpack your luggage and understanding yourself before you even begin to work with another individual. Our own biases and experiences will sneak upon us, we’re human after all. We need to thoroughly know and understand ourselves first so that we do not end up hurting clients knowingly or unknowingly.
In this profession, education is never over. Develop a mindset of continuing education for as long as you practice. It is immensely rewarding to learn something new and be able to broaden your perspective. If you do not like reading research articles, books or attending educational conferences, this work is not for you. It is an absolute must to constantly broaden your knowledge base and keep up with current research.
8. What does your typical day look like and what do you like to do besides work?
I do not have a typical workday. My week has several kinds of workdays. Few days a week, I see clients and one day a week is spent on reflecting, thinking, even worrying about my clients. I set aside time to study every week, read research papers and keep myself updated. Some days a month is set aside for attending courses and developing new skills.
In this profession, education is never over. Develop a mindset of continuing education for as long as you practice. It is immensely rewarding to learn something new and be able to broaden your perspective. If you do not like reading research articles, books or attending educational conferences, this work is not for you. It is an absolute must to constantly broaden your knowledge base and keep up with current research.
8. What does your typical day look like and what do you like to do besides work?
I do not have a typical workday. My week has several kinds of workdays. Few days a week, I see clients and one day a week is spent on reflecting, thinking, even worrying about my clients. I set aside time to study every week, read research papers and keep myself updated. Some days a month is set aside for attending courses and developing new skills.
Some time is spent in supervision with more experienced therapists. Being a psychologist with an independent practice, some time is also set aside for marketing and other entrepreneurial work. Most importantly, days are set aside every week to go to therapy myself and decompress from this emotionally intensive profession.
Besides work, I am a craftsman and an artist. I create craft items and spend time playing with colours. I am a huge music and movie buff. Much of my decompressing comprises of exploring new and old music, watching good cinema and spending quality time with the people closest to me.
Besides work, I am a craftsman and an artist. I create craft items and spend time playing with colours. I am a huge music and movie buff. Much of my decompressing comprises of exploring new and old music, watching good cinema and spending quality time with the people closest to me.
- Interviewed by - Soumya Bhayana
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