Mrs Arti Mayan

A conversation with Arti Mayan

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  When I was a mental health nurse I was initially very curious about how the mind works, but instead of feeding my curiosity I was too busy giving people medications, doing my nurse tasks etc, which were of course part of the job. A lot of the times I found that people relied on medications to solve their problems, because every time they relapsed, medication was the first thing that was assessed and prescribed. But, sometimes they also needed someone compassionate who would talk to them, and listen, because they rarely had that experience in their life. One day I spent an hour with a client who was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, and counselled her, she said my support was very helpful and empowered her to make the changes she wanted. That was the day I decided counselling will be my profession.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I have always been a spiritual individual, even when I was not completely aware at the time. However, I have grown up amongst different cultures, and I have learned to integrate a lot of what I have learned from them to develop my identity. For example, from the Polynesian cultures I have learned to be more fluid with time, no need to rush, take it easy. From the Indian cultures I have learnt balancing the self-centredness and self-sacrifice. From the Western culture I have learnt independency and freedom of choice.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am very open, diplomatic and curious so I am literally interested in all aspects of health and the human journey, everything in balance....mind, body, spirit is important to form a complete story of ones journey.

• What methods do you use?

  I use mainly integrated models meaning, not one size fits all, the model I work with will be based on what the person needs. In saying that whatever model I use, they are all informed by the person-centred model by Carl Rogers.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  In my experience, progress starts from the time the client picks up the phone and says "I am struggling, I need help" this already shows that they are progressing as they are becoming more aware of their needs. Throughout the therapy, when the client reflects on their issues, starts to construct a path to reach their destination, they are progressing, and once they are more clear and confident about the decisions they have made, and see no further need for therapy, then progression has definitely been made.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has helped me to be more self-reflective, and self-aware of who I am and who I want to be. I have been able to be more accepting, and emotionally mature in managing my triggers and memories.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I love about being a therapist is that I learn something new all the time, the way people think and feel challenges my own beliefs and assumptions about life. It's not a routine based work, where I come in to work, know what I have to do and walk away once I am done, not that there is anything wrong with that. As a therapist I love that I don't know what new story a client will tell me, what we will discover about their world when we explore deeper, it is mysterious and ignites my curiosity all the time.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  I always have bad hair days, Who doesn't! Its a fact of life, I have accepted it. Even for people who lather their hair with settling gel, there is always that 1 piece of hair that refuses to oblige. Talk about rebellious hair!

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  I think the most significant problem we face in the world today is disengaging from our own being, we have become so busy trying to chase our goals and dreams, of cars, big house with a garden, family needs, career, that amongst all this we forget ourselves, we don't take the time to ask ourselves, how am I feeling today?, we are not reflecting on our emotional and psychological wellbeing. The most common rationale is NO TIME! IT'S TOO HARD!, we have already developed a mindset that focusing on our inner being is not worth the time, and its too hard to sit for 2mins and check-in with yourself. I believe if we spend sometime engaging with our inner self, we will be more functional and productive in our lives.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  I love psychological thrillers from a very young age, which I think has really inspired me to work with people who experience mental health issues. Some favs: Any Stephen Kings psychological thrillers, Butterfly effect, Beautiful Mind, Shutter Island.