Ms. Bhagirathi Pillai

I met Bhagirathi when my life was in complete mess. Bhagirathi patiently listened to my problems and my life incidences that affected me. When I was sharing my problems I was at ease because my each and every word was perfectly understood the way I was feeling. In Pune, she was my only support as I was staying alone and working, away from family. Only because of her counseling sessions, I survived in Pune and could work properly. Sometimes, my feeling were so extreme that at times I was suicidal, it was an urgent need to meet her the same day or on the following day and considering my situation she gave me time and soothed me down. Because of her I never tried any of these things, soon I shifted back with family in my home town.

Life poses difficult challenges as we go through it. I had one such challenge between 2016-2018 when I was going through a rough phase in my marital relationship. I was involved in an extramarital affair and was keen to pursue divorce at the time. Due to challenging conflicting situation I was in, my mind was far away from being at peace. To help me deal with unmanageable stressors, I felt the need to seek psychological counselling. I came across Bhagirathi’s website after conducting an online search for Clinical Psychologists who could offer remote consultations. This was because I am an NRI and wished to opt for seeking support from Psychologists in India. There were very few clinical specialist psychologists I came across who would offer that and Bhagirathi’s clinical expertise and flexibility to offer sessions got me to avail her consultation service.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Bhagirathi since mid 2017. Connected with her quickly. I have found her method to be effective and her manner very professional. I have heard that people find is difficult to find therapists whom they connect with, but I was lucky with Dr. Pillai. She was able to help me through a very difficult time and I have come through as a better person with her guidance. I still visit her occasionally and am very comfortable with her. She adjusts her schedule to accommodate you, within reason. Even recommends higher frequency of sessions depending of if she thinks it is required. Unlike some stories I’ve heard, with Dr. Pillai, never ever have I felt pushed into doing something I didn’t want to do. She didn’t rush me and the pace of sessions were suited to my state of mind. At times during our interactions, I felt like I needed more time with her. However, she was friendly, and firm about why our time had to be limited and why I needed time by myself to reflect. Therapy is only helpful if you trust the person and the process. Dr. Pillai is the best person to have come into my life at what I feel was a crucial turning point in my life. She made me feel safe and together we worked through the process she set out. There were times when my progress stalled due to circumstances but she never lost patience with me. She was friendly when needed; stern and firm when required. She goes out of her way to create a safe space for her clients. I’ve had a wonderful experience with her and I am sure others will feel the same!

I was recommended to see Bhagirathi by a friend of mine. I didn't knew much about how the process worked. At my first session, I couldn't convey much about what I was going through but Bhagirathi was patient enough to give me time to open up on my own. In a couple of sessions down the line I got comfortable sharing with her about what was bothering me. Not only is she a very good listener, she actually tries to put herself in your shoes to understand what's going in your head. It's been almost 18 months now, and I am at a much better place. I would definitely recommend Bhagirathi to any of my friends or family who needs help.