Individual
conversations
A place to talk about what’s on your mind, explore your feelings and discuss the support you’re looking for.
Enquire about counselling✳ A LITTLE SPACE. A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
You don’t have to figure it all out
on your own.
A space to be heard, understand yourself, and take your next step — at your own pace.
Human connection. Thoughtful conversations.
A little more room to be yourself.
A little more room to be yourself.
A. Athma RishiMental Health Counsellor · MSW
Growth takes time.
And that’s okay.
ROOTED IN EMPATHY. OPEN TO POSSIBILITY.And that’s okay.
For people. For communities. For everyday wellbeing.Tamil & EnglishMadurai · Puducherry
01 / A HUMAN FIRST
Someone to listen.
Space to be you.
Hello, I’m Athma.
I believe being heard
can be a beginning.
I’m a mental health counsellor with a background in medical and psychiatric social work. My work brings me into conversations with individuals, students, educators, healthcare teams and communities.
From counselling support in Madurai to community outreach in Puducherry, my focus is on making mental health conversations more approachable, more human, and part of everyday life.
Outside work, I enjoy badminton, reading and listening to stories. Drama and mime have also been part of my student leadership and community awareness work.
Athma RishiA. ATHMA RISHI · MSW, PGD COUNSELLING
02 / WAYS TO CONNECT
A little support.
A meaningful step forward.
For yourself, your students, or your team.
Let’s start with what you need.
Individual
Schools &
colleges
Approachable sessions on mental health awareness, emotions and substance use prevention for young people and educators.
Plan a student programmeWorkplaces &
communities
Start a conversation about mental wellbeing in your organisation, with a programme shaped around your people.
Discuss a group sessionA SMALL PAUSE, JUST FOR YOU
There’s no rush.
Be here for a moment.
If it feels comfortable, take a quiet moment
and let your breathing find its own rhythm.
03 / BEYOND THE COUNSELLING ROOM
Real conversations.
Shared spaces.
Making mental health a conversation
we can have, together.
500+
Approximate healthcare-provider reach
across H.E.A.L. training batches
~300
Students reached at Bharathidasan
Government Women’s College, Sep 2026
One intention.
More understanding.
Less stigma around seeking support.
PROGRAMMES & INVITED SESSIONS
Healthcare training & community outreach
- H.E.A.L. intervention training: Batch-wise substance use training for Medical Officers and LHV, ANM and ASHA workers in public health facilities across Puducherry, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services. Approximately 500+ participants across multiple batches.
- ICDS awareness programme: Substance use awareness and appropriate ways to respond to people affected by substance use, for approximately 50 Anganwadi teachers and helpers.
- Pondicherry Youth Festival · 30 March 2026: Substance Use Disorders awareness session at Kamban Kalaiarangam, organised by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Puducherry.
- Community outreach across Puducherry: Programmes covering substance use, its impacts, support for affected individuals, treatment options and referral facilities.
Schools, colleges & creative awareness
- Bharathidasan Government Women’s College · 28 September 2026: Substance use awareness, consequences and prevention for approximately 300 students in Puducherry.
- Swami Vivekananda Rural Community College, Puducherry: Awareness programme and facilitation of MSW students in preparing a mime/skit on substance use.
- Matriculation and government schools across Puducherry: Prevention-focused sessions on substance use and its consequences.
- World Suicide Prevention Day · 2023: Participated in street theatre at Guhan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai, organised by Ilakkuvanar Mental Health Centre.
Resource-person engagements & invited talks
- St. Joseph Blind School, Madurai: Session on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- Shine Educational Trust, Y. Pudupatti, Madurai: “Coping with Emotions” programme for special educator teachers.
- Government Primary Health Centre, Anaiyur, Madurai: “Mental Hygiene for Antenatal Women,” organised by Paavai Foundation.
- Anandam Mind Care Foundation · Suicide Prevention Day 2026: Invited online talk, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide: From Risk Recognition to Prevention and Hope,” for mental health professionals and general audiences.
04 / LEARNING & EXPERIENCE
Grounded in learning.
Guided by people.
A foundation in social work and counselling,
with a commitment to keep learning.
Master of Social Work
Medical & Psychiatric Social Work
Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling
Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Block placement in the Department of Psychiatric Social Work, 10 May–9 June 2023.
Psychiatric Social Worker
Ilakkuvanar Mental Health Centre, Madurai.
Project Technical Support–III
ICMR-funded project at Pondicherry University: “Positive Deviance to Enhance Accessibility to Community-Based Stigma-Free Treatment for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders in Public Health Facilities in Puducherry District.”
Under Prof. R. Nalini (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Iftekhar Alam (Co-Principal Investigator).
Expressive Arts Therapy
Postgraduate diploma at Anugraha Institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE JOURNEY
Education, professional courses & field placements
Completed education & courses
- Master of Social Work, Medical & Psychiatric · 2021–2023: Madurai Institute of Social Sciences; 75.35%.
- PG Diploma in Counselling · 2021–2022: Madurai Institute of Social Sciences; 72.1%.
- B.Tech in Biotechnology · 2017–2021: Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education; 70.1%.
- Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology: Weekend online course, 15 CPD hours, Anugraha Institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. Certificate issued 10 May 2026.
- NPTEL MOOC courses: “Speaking Effectively” and “Abnormal Psychology.”
- School education: CEOA Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai; Higher Secondary, 2017 (73.4%), and SSLC, 2015 (89.4%).
Continuing education
- PG Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy — pursuing: Anugraha Institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.
- Diploma in Sex Therapy — pursuing: Anandam Mind Care Foundation, Coimbatore. Three-month online course, September–November 2026.
Internships & concurrent fieldwork
- Coimbatore Cancer Foundation: Internship, 7–29 July 2022.
- NIMHANS, Bengaluru: Psychiatric Social Work block placement, 10 May–9 June 2023.
- Concurrent fieldwork in Madurai: Ilakkuvanar Mental Health Centre; Trishul IRCA Centre (de-addiction); Zion Trust (geriatric care).
Research & paper presentation
Mental health literacy among future educators
Research topic: “An Interventional Study on Mental Health Literacy Among B.Ed College Students.”
Presented “The Need for Mental Health Literacy among Trainee Preceptors before Placements” at the International Multidisciplinary Conference on Emerging Trends, Challenges & Opportunities, organised by IQAC of Sree Narayana Guru College, Coimbatore, on 24–25 August 2024.
Awards & recognition
- Academic Proficiency Award · 2022–2023: First rank in academic performance.
- Benudhar Behara Smarak Award · 2022–2023: Best academic performer.
- Best Social Service Award · 2023: Bharatha Matha Foundation, Dindigul.
- University-level Best NSS Volunteer award.
- JCI Madurai appreciation · 2020: Recognition for raising ₹1,20,000 for people’s welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workshops, conferences & ongoing learning
Learning through workshops and conference participation:
- Two-day workshop on the roles of social workers in departmental functions at NIMHANS.
- One-day workshop on rehabilitation and early intervention for children with disabilities at NIPMED.
- One-day workshop, “Hypnotism: Principles and Practices for Knowledge Enhancement.”
- Two-day workshop on conducting social work research, led by Dr. Kannan from MS Chellamuthu Trust, Madurai.
- Five-day “Healing the Inner Child” workshop at Anugraha.
- One-day state workshop on Expressive Art Therapy at Patrician College of Arts and Science, Chennai, and a five-day course at Anugraha Institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Dindigul.
- Two-day international psychology conferences at The American College, Madurai, addressing life stages and walks of life.
- One-day national seminar on Positive Psychology and Quality of Life at The American College, Madurai.
- Workshop clinic on community practice transformation for mental health professionals, 23–24 March 2024.
- “Exploring the Therapist in Me” intercollegiate workshop, 28 March 2024, part of Project Celebrate Life, supported by BPCL and facilitated by Dr. Rajaram Subbian, Executive Director of Basic Needs India, Bengaluru.
Volunteering, advocacy & student leadership
- NSS volunteer; special camp in Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, 11–17 May 2019.
- Training on non-violent economy, local livelihoods and social entrepreneurship, conducted by CESCI Madurai and Madurai Institute of Social Sciences.
- Participation in the YA4C consultation on ending violence against children and child marriage, organised at LDC College, Madurai, with Thozhamai, UNICEF and the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment.
- Volunteer at CESCI’s Ahimsa Santhai at Gandhi Museum, Madurai.
- Participation in an International Women’s Day awareness event on violence against women, organised by Ilakkuvanar Mental Health Centre at Vishal de Mall, Madurai.
- Mime arts team head in the Pyros college club at Kalasalingam University; student secretary at Madurai Institute of Social Sciences.
- COVID-period volunteering and tree-planting activities across Madurai.
Languages: Tamil and English — reading, writing and speaking.
A FEW THINGS YOU MAY WONDER
It’s okay to
have questions.
Do I need to know exactly what to say?
No. You can begin by sharing what prompted you to reach out, or simply say that you would like to talk. The first enquiry can help clarify what support you are looking for.
Can I invite Athma to our institution?
Yes. Enquiries are welcome from schools, colleges, workplaces and community organisations. Share your audience, proposed date and topic so that the scope and availability can be discussed.
Which languages can we speak in?
Tamil and English. Mention your preference when you get in touch.
How do I arrange a session?
Reach out on WhatsApp to discuss availability, format and fees. Sending an enquiry does not confirm an appointment.
05 / WHEN YOU’RE READY
Every conversation
starts with
a simple hello.
For personal support or a programme for your people,
let’s find a starting point.