We have developed innovative techniques based on psychological schemas of the individuals. There is a general misconception about psychology that people are either with mental disorders or with good mental health who don't need any counseling help. We believe that even people with good mental health may require support to stabilize or improve their psychological dimensions for better living.

Sangamithra Amudha is a seasoned counselor/therapist with over 15 years of experience. Her uniqueness and efficacy in counseling is supported by her "Schema-concept" where due recognition is given to basic cognitive influences that go on to form mental representations in a persons life. She has integrated psychology with introspective techniques as a psychological treatment for people in need of gaining holistic mental health.

// The Schema-Counseling Approach

The objective of Schema counseling is about living an efficient and stress-free life without diluting the functionality in working towards your interest.

As behavior is an expression of emotion and hence the underlying cognition, Sangamithra likes to get to the root of the issues by analyzing the causatives of cognition known as "schemas". People use their schemas (usually subconsciously) to draw inferences about themselves and the world around them. She helps her clients to restructure their negative or maladaptive schemas by using Introspective/Interactive techniques combined with various Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques, resulting in enhanced coping-up skills and wellbeing.

Schemas develop from early childhood itself as reality-based mental representations of their environment, resulting in each client being unique at a detailed cognitive level. Therapy can thus include varied approaches depending upon one's affinity for them. Accordingly, therapy can vary in its setting too under Individual, Group, Family, Phone or Email.

// Applicability

Since many years, Sangamithra's work has found good use in gaining mental health in wide ranging situations involving children, students, people at work, couples, elderly, substance-abuse therapy groups, sex workers, prison inmates, people with health problems including those with Cancer and HIV+ and those afflicted by adversities. Being a therapeutic mental approach, its applicability is almost universal.

// The Schema Concept

"Mind" is a fascinating survivor in creation, constantly adapting to its needs in the psychological, parapsychological and metaphysical realms.

Though research and understanding of the functions and mechanisms of the mind is an overwhelming and ever growing process, for practical use it is adequate to realize that it is structured by "schemas". Schemas are strong basic-directives developed in a mind, which when manifested behaviorally can also be called as attitude or personality. Schemas are relied upon for strength and more importantly as channels for the mind to work out its desires. They are formed from factors such as upbringing, environment, social norms, cultural and religious concepts and so on. Thus, schemas can be created, prioritized, modified or even given up as need be.

Because people are completely encased in their schemas, even the thought processes to set or realize their goals (their desires for being happy or content) are based on them.

Wayward or unnecessary schemas do not contribute in directing a mind onto its legitimate desires, besides being the principal cause of mental-health problems and even mental-disorders. Even in commonly occurring situations where the peace of mind is interrupted (as in a person feeling down about being held-up in traffic or as in a student who feels terribly disappointed because of not scoring well), a closer look beyond the circumstantial causes help in understanding that our behavior/reactions are habitual and usually similar. Here again, it's the schemas that help a person in cognition, ideation and response. Where our cognition, ideation and response reduce our efficiency or wellbeing, there is a need to re-structure our schemas to regain direction and contentment. While some schemas can even create unrealistic goals, almost everyone has some schema or the other which at least interrupts their happiness.

So, introspecting and restructuring schemas where need be is not only of vital importance, but is also special in being a self-help technique when mastered (it is easier when understood that happiness and contentment is a comfortable natural state of mind, but that the schemas that we form could themselves intervene). For getting on to it however, guidance onto general schemas (Basic Positive Schemas) and counseling on detailed schemas (Personal Positive Schemas) are to be rendered. And since people have also structured themselves to be inspired from varied inputs, another effective way of restructuring their schemas is through the activities (Positive Diversions) they like. Hence, in our schema counseling we use any or all of the above ways to restructure the schemas of a person, based on their individual affinity for it.