Kavya Ravi Ravindrakumar

I’m Kavya (she/her), a BACP accredited mental health professional, reiki practitioner, life model and hobbyist pole dancer. I am a brown, cis-gendered women currently based in Chennai. My socialisation as a cis-gendered woman made me internalise a set of rules that made me a chronic people pleaser who constantly neglected my own needs. In my early 20’s going through some life changing and heartbreaking experiences pushed me to begin doing the work of really getting to know who I was below the masks I was wearing to try and fit into the world. This journey has led to me to my ongoing training as a healer.

I completed my Master of Counselling at The University of Edinburgh and have been practicing for 4 years now, 1 of which was during my student placements.

I’m currently training in Somatic Trauma Therapy from The School of Holistic Health in Edinburgh.

Psychotherapy/Counselling is a process of self-discovery that can be beneficial for relief from psychological difficulties, trauma, or crises. It can also facilitate personal development and growth. Over time the therapeutic relationship works to provide a safe, and compassionate space where trust is built. By doing so, it enables individuals to explore their inner selves and reconnect with neglected aspects of themselves, which can be difficult to face alone. However, the therapy process is a collaborative space that can work as a container to work through these challenges and explore new ways of being. Through this process, we may explore different ways of coping, relating, and sometimes simply being. An important part of this work also includes open conversations about what feels helpful, what does not, and how we relate to each other in the here and now, allowing the therapeutic space itself to become a place of learning and reflection.

The effectiveness of the counselling process depends, to a large extent, on your commitment to the therapeutic space and to spending that one hour for yourself on a regular basis.

I base my practice on an Interpersonal Dialogue, which blends Person-Centred styles with Psychodynamic models of psychotherapy. My practice is focused on developing insight through a relational approach that facilitates growth in a supportive and non-judgmental manner, helping clients to trust themselves to make empowering choices that lead to a more authentic life. I feel strongly about non-pathologizing approaches to therapy, and honouring one’s lived experience as a source of true wisdom. We will take a holistic approach to healing, rather than a narrow and limited perspective that disregards any life experience or capability.

Using somatics:

There are numerous ways in which our lived experiences, especially trauma, impacts bodies long-term and can often span generations. I believe trauma creates disconnection, and when we move towards healing we move towards connection, with ourselves, our relationships, community, our histories and the land.

We will use sensation, touch, gesture, breath, emotions, mindfulness based awareness, imagination, memory and conversation to help you understand and reconnect to your present body and expand your access to choice, resilience and power.

I am a queer, trans, polyamorous, BDSM, and sex worker friendly practitioner who is geared towards liberation oriented practices aimed at dismantling systemic oppression. I have worked with Trauma such as like sexual assault, domestic abuse, or emotional neglect, often rooted in childhood, depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, addictions and eating distress, gender queer and sexuality diverse experiences, polyamory, relationship issues, caring roles and financial struggles.