Institute of Relational Therapy rests on two central principles of psychotherapy. These principles form the foundation of our practice and training.

Relational Gestalt Therapy

Psychotherapy approach that is relational in its attitude follows certain core philosophical principles in its practice: Phenomenology, Field Theory and Dialogic Existentialism (Yontef, 2002). The focus of Relational Gestalt Therapy (RGT) is the relationship between the therapist and client and the emergent awareness through which change happens. A relational approach follows the basic psychoanalytic premise that as trauma, woundedness, developmental arrests happen within a relationship with the ‘other’ (Klein, 1946); healing, and integration happens within a ‘safe, good enough therapeutic relationship’ akin to ‘good enough mother’ (Winnicott, 1973). Our paradigm stance is relational, giving primacy to the therapist client relationship as the bedrock of healing.

Assimilative Integrative Approach

Assimilative integration is practiced by therapists who adhere to a specific school but with an openness to incorporate or assimilate practices from other schools of therapy. Recent trends in research and practice has seen a shift towards embracing integrative practice to explain personality and find ways to reduce psychological suffering (Bernstein, 2005; Bleiberg, 2007; Applebaum, 2007; Yeomans & Delaney, 2007; Bateman & Fonagy, 2007; Fruzzetti & Shenk, 2007). The Paradigm frame of iort is RGT into which other theoretical principles are assimilated for augmenting our evolving approach to the practice of psychotherapy practice and training. We integrate knowledge and practices from Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Existential, and Cognitive Behavioral School into RGT.

Founder

Vanaja Ammanath has a PhD in counseling and psychotherapy. Her doctoral research was on ‘The Indian Client’s Experiences with the Therapist in Psychotherapy’. Her paradigm stance is RGT. She has received advanced training in Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Family and Couples Therapy, and Cognitive schools like Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Transactional Analysis. She is part of the Pacific Gestalt Community where she goes for her annual retreat, ongoing education, and training (approved by American Psychological Association).

Vanaja has been in private practice for the last 20 years and has been associated in the field of education, teaching and training for 34 years. She conducts group therapy retreats, advanced training in Psychodynamic Therapy, Family Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy. She is a visiting faculty for NIPCCD, Christ University, and has worked as a trainer at Studio for Movement Arts & Therapies (SMArT) for two years. She has presented papers and conducted workshops at National and International Conferences. Apart from this, she has been a practitioner of Yoga for the last 37 years and invested in her own personal therapy and supervision for last twenty years. She believes in integrating Western and Eastern philosophy for holistic health.

Faculty

Pinki Solanki

Pinki Solanki is an alumna of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, 1999 batch. She is certified in Relational Gestalt Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Feminist Counselling. She is also oriented with other frameworks such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Systems Family Therapy, and Transactional Analysis which she contextualizes as per the client’s needs. Her dominant psychological approach is humanistic. Presently she is on the executive board of a non-profit named Vishakha and guides their mental health interventions, consults various other development donors for research and evaluation. She is also in private practice working with individuals, couples and groups.
She carries a rich experience of over 2 decades working with urban and rural communities in India. Her experience with the Government machinery and agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, Oxfam, Tata Trusts and grassroots organizations have helped her to develop a systemic perspective in looking at human struggles. Her focus on viewing psychological struggles as co-created in a person-environment context brings a profound value to her work with clients. She is committed to her personal and professional development through ongoing education, personal therapy and supervision.

Parul Soni

Coming with eight years of experience in the corporate world Parul has highly developed planning and organizing skills while managing relationships with multiple stakeholders in a seamless and gentle manner. She shifted into the field of mental health due to a deep interest in understanding herself and others better which makes her attuned and sensitive to self and others. She has gone on to complete a Masters in Counselling Psychology with dedicated diligence. In addition, she has received training in Advanced Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents, certification in Relational Gestalt Therapy and Expressive Art therapy (FECAT). Having invested in acquiring knowledge and skills in other modalities of personality theories like Transactional Analysis and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, she has developed a relational approach to her psychotherapy practice that assimilates different schools of psychology into her practice.
Parul works with adults, teenagers and children using talk, play and expressive art therapy. She is also associated with schools as a visiting counselor using a systemic approach in her work with children. She works at building a supportive scaffold for the children through her gentle and persuasive work with multiple stakeholders like teachers and parents. She facilitates groups in different school settings towards mental health awareness, psychotherapy and training. She is a practitioner of Yoga and Buddhist philosophy and is invested in her personal and professional development through ongoing education, personal therapy and supervision.

Maura Chari

From being an entrepreneur Maura stepped into the world of counselling after receiving extensive training and has been working in the field of counselling and therapy since 2016. She uses an integrative practice while working relationally with adults, teenagers, children, and parents. She believes that human growth and healing is in a constant dynamic process. She has been immersed in a multi-cultural life for more than two decades which equips her to sensitively traverse cultures and she brings this unique perspective while working with diversity.
Wherever Maura is located, she has continued with her pursuit of knowledge, she has received advanced training in Relational Gestalt Therapy, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy and in Expressive Creative Arts Therapy. She has also completed advanced training in Systemic Family Therapy and Couples Therapy, additional training in Play Therapy and Dreamwork. Her work is grounded in psychodynamic and humanistic schools. She believes in ethically sound practice; is in regular supervision with senior consultants; and is dedicated to ongoing training. She also provides counselling and supervision to other mental health professionals.
Maura is committed to helping clients understand themselves better by thinking and feeling their way through origins and patterns of the life forces that animate their lives and may have led to relational, professional, academic or family struggles.
Together with the client she endeavours to make a safe space that allows the person to grow into their wholeness and their integrity, which in turn develops capacity for authentic relationships with others.
She offers personal coaching and relationship coaching in English and German language.

Meena Pai

Meena is a therapist with a profound foundation in social work that equips her with a nuanced understanding of cultural influences on people and a natural sensitivity to layers of gender, religion, caste, class and regionality on shaping our lived experiences. Her approach has been further informed by a Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and an M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS. This has furthered her competency in working with couples and families using a systemic and culture-sensitive lens. As part of her ongoing learning, she has received Advanced training in Psychotherapy with Children & Adolescents, Expressive Creative Arts Therapy (FECAT), and a two-year advanced training in Relational Gestalt Therapy. She has attended workshops and training in Transactional Analysis, Personality Adaptations and Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches to augment her practice. Presently she is in ongoing training in Advanced Family and Couples Therapy while continuing her private practice.
She has ten years of experience in working with adults, adolescents and children. She has consistently invested in her personal and professional development through the dedicated pursuit of personal therapy, supervision and ongoing education. She has an approach that is assimilative, incorporating her knowledge and skills into working relationally using expressive arts embedded in talk therapy.

Garima Khanter

Garima has a Masters in Counselling Psychology from Christ University after which she has worked as a counsellor in a reputed school, helping students navigate through the pressures of home and academic life. Being drawn to nature from a very young age, she has spent time in personal retreats in farms where she has experienced healing for self through her engagement with nature. She has utilized this unique ability of hers to support individuals in healing through connections with nature and animals. Her journey for academic and professional growth has made her continue her development after her Masters through ongoing training in Relational Gestalt therapy for two years. She has also attended short courses in Personality Adaptations and Systems Family Therapy. Presently she is pursuing her advanced training in Family and Couples therapy while in private practice. She also does part-time work for organizations providing online counseling services. She believes that therapy can help navigate life transitions, cope with challenges whether it is related to work, home or relationships. She is passionate about working with young adults and couples in supporting self-awareness and personal growth. She believes in ethically sound practice and is in regular supervision with senior therapists and mentors. Her approach is relational and informed by her own personal work, training and supervision.