Ms. Ishwari Marathe is specifically trained in Rational Emotive Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which applies to all mental health concerns. She has a personal practice, but her sessions are online since she is based in Germany. She also learns Indian Classical music and loves to travel. Ms. Ishwari focuses on the word “Aham”, which means self. This is because a counseling session is the patient’s journey within himself. Since Ms. Ishwari has patients pan-global, she comes across different cultural backgrounds of people. She said that acceptance of therapy has grown globally. Nowadays, people open up to their best friends and avoid going to a professional therapist, even when advised to do so. The Legit Talks asked Ms. Ishwari’s take on this. She said that though a friend’s support is essential, he/ she cannot go deeper to identify the root cause of the issue, which is addressed by a professional therapist. There are some issues rooted deep inside that even the patient and his family members are unaware of. Only a skilled professional is able to identify and treat such issues. At what point in time should one seek a therapist; this is the common question we all have. Ms. Ishwari said that as soon as one notices the difference between who they were and suddenly they are different. These differences can be in your thinking, mood, appetite, or sleep pattern. If someone is having self-harming thoughts, then one should seek help immediately. The most challenging patients for Ms. Ishwari are those who are resistant to the treatment. When a patient is convinced that he needs help, half of the job is done. However, convincing a patient who does not accept help is hard. Many people have wrong perceptions about a therapist. They think that therapists may constantly nag them and would not support them. On the contrary, a therapist understands your issues and helps you to choose a path that is most comfortable for you. Also, the patient himself feels negative about himself thinking that something is wrong with them while visiting a therapist. Many times, it is difficult for a patient to trust a therapist. Ms. Ishwari says that sometimes a patient may take more than three sessions to open up. But a therapist never judges their client for their issues and always help them to accept themselves. Though Ms. Ishwari enjoys her job, working out is the best part of her day, she says. It helps her to start her day positively. There are some days when Ms. Ishwari does not feel like taking sessions and meeting the clients. She accepts this as she is a human before she is a therapist and that it is normal for everyone to feel like this once in a while. Ms. Ishwari is an emotional person. Whenever she hears a painful story of a client, she tears up. She says that letting flow your tears is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of authenticity. The Legit Talks asked Ms. Ishwari why there are more women in this profession. Ms. Ishwari said that one reason could be that women are more empathetic, communicate more effectively, and that they understand better. One other reason she added is that most of the financial support of a household is dependent on a man. There is this peer pressure that a man should earn more. However, in this profession, making money is not easy unless you start your private practice. Then, setting up your own clinic also requires infrastructure. Therefore, more women prefer this job to men. Talking about job satisfaction, Ms. Ishwari says that when she and the client are both on the same page, that is her biggest satisfaction. When she comes to know how a patient’s life has changed because of her, she knows that she is doing the right thing. Therapy is not gender specific, says Ms. Ishwari. People assume that men don’t need therapy, they perceive them as strong beings. It is not true. Emotions are common for everyone and anyone can go to therapy. Ms. Ishwari’s goals are to expand her brand and conduct more workshops on mental health. The message that Ms. Ishwari wants to give to the audience is that prioritize your mental health at all costs. Everything comes later, but mental health comes first. Do not hesitate to seek the help of a professional when you don’t feel good. Watch the complete session of Ms. Ishwari on the following YouTube channel
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