Hello Suraj

Why did you get involved in Psychology as a career path and means of support? 

In our culture, it is taboo to discuss mental health conditions. Growing up, I saw people in the community suffering because they had no one to talk to about their experiences. I wanted to help people and spread the message that we need to look after our mental health. 

 

What's your cultural background and what makes it stand out? 

I'm from a Sindhi family. My family moved from Sindh to Mumbai as refugees after the partition. I was born in Mumbai and did primary school there. I then did high school in New Zealand, and my undergrad and postgrad degrees in Sydney. Having moved a few times, I can offer genuine support for people who have difficulty moving to another place and are trying to bridge different cultures. 

 

What sort of Individual challenges can you best support? 

I can help people who are experiencing change or uncertainty in their life. We all go through periods where we have high expectations of ourselves, or times when we feel lonely and disconnected from others. If you are struggling with your mental health, I can help you in a supportive and non-judgmental way. 

 

What are your areas of expertise and is there anything else you want to branch out into? 

My areas of expertise are depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, autism, OCD and PTSD. I work with children, adults and older adults. I'm branching out into helping people with dementia or people with chronic health conditions. 

 

Something Fun: If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it? 

I would play guitar, get a coffee, and go for a bushwalk!