Our team comprises of professionals who are variously qualified as psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, developmental psychologists, occupational therapists and consultants.Some of them are dually qualified as arts based therapists, expressive arts and movement therapist and family therapists .
Many have also done trainings and certifications in techniques like Sensory Integration Therapy, Oral Placement Therapy, Narrative Therapies, Solution Focussed therapies etc.
We are ably supported by an administrative team and support staff at both centres.
Dr Shelja Sen
Narrative Therapist, Writer, Co-founder Children First. MA, MPhil, DClinPsych and Masters in Narrative Therapy & Community Work
Delhi
Dr Shelja Sen
Dr Shelja Sen is a narrative therapist, writer, co-founder of Children First. Shelja is a TED speaker and a columnist Indian Express, and author of three critically acclaimed books – All You Need is Love, Imagine and Reclaim Your Life. She is Clinical Tutor at the University of Melbourne and international faculty at Dulwich Centre Foundation, Adelaide, Australia. She is a curator of the unique skills, expertise and know-how of children and youth she has the honour of working with.
Sandra Jose
Counselling Psychologist, Narrative and Arts-based Therapist, Head of Mental Health Services
Delhi
Sandra Jose
Sandra is a counselling psychologist. She not only loves being around children but is also passionate about working with them. She ardently believes that each child is wired and inspired differently and hopes to focus greatly on building a safe therapeutic relationship with each child and family she meets with. Her zeal and inclination towards using different expressive modalities in therapeutic work with children has motivated her to complete a course in Arts-based Therapy. Sandra is a major fan of all things Bollywood be it Bollywood music, movies and drama. And a good cup of chai, day-dreaming, lots of sunlight, shopping are just some other things that make her happy and sparks joy!
Thwisha Bajpai
Psychologist and Narrative Practitioner, Coordinator of Neurodiversity Hub and Schools That Care
Gurgaon
Thwisha Bajpai
Thwisha Bajpai (she/her) is a psychologist who has always been inquisitive about human behaviour and likes to learn and explore diverse methods to understand its dynamic nature. She believes that spaces where each individual has an opportunity to express and nurture their needs and unique skill sets are building blocks for a pathway to a safe, inclusive, healthy and collective community. She holds an endeavor to integrate nuances of neurodiversity, gender, social and cultural diversities and lived experiences in the framework of her therapeutic work, through collaborative learning with the young people she works with. She enjoys reading, travelling, photography and identifies as a dog lover! She holds a degree in M.Sc Psychology (specialisation in Clinical Psychology) from Christ University, Bengaluru and a Diploma in Narrative Therapy and Community Work from The Dulwich Centre, Adelaide, Australia.
Priya Ahluwalia
Priya Ahluwalia holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She enjoys working with young people and fervently believes that for them to become our future they need to have the opportunity to develop a healthy, happy and fulfilling present. As a psychologist, she uses an eclectic approach and endeavors to create a safe therapeutic space for her clients which invites them to rediscover and author the best versions of themselves. She has previously worked with victims of sexual violence and holds experience of victim assistance, as well as community based counseling. Currently, she is hoping to be a co-facilitator in young people's journey as they explore their experiences of living with emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety, trauma, self esteem, body image, among others. At the same time she remains open and curious to explore more avenues with her clients. Outside of work you can find her doodling away in empty notebooks and singing along to Taylor Swift because she remembers the lyrics all too well.
Annmariya Joy
Annmariya Joy is a Counselling Psychologist who firmly believes that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to never let our childlike sense of wonder and awe ever get sullied. Through her work she wishes to protect and facilitate the same in her clients. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology Honours from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University and a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore. She further holds a Diploma on promoting psychosocial well-being through multi-arts and play. Her experience and interest lie in the area of Neurodevelopmental Functioning and ADHD. While her nature of therapeutic collaboration includes building and expanding on awareness, acceptance, advocacy, and skills.
Tanvi Chatterjee
Tanvi Chatterjee draws the philosophy of her therapy from this quote from The Little Prince: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." She loves remembering the child that she once was when she is working with kids and their families. She has done her M. Phil in Clinical Psychology from NFSU, Gujarat and her Master's in Psycho-Social Clinical Studies from Ambedkar University, Delhi. Away from work, she loves talking about ice hockey, Formula 1, food shows, and random trivia, like the Emu wars.
Madhavi Harikumar
Madhavi is a psychologist who holds a degree in Psychosocial Clinical Studies from Ambedkar University Delhi. She believes in creating spaces of potential, wherein the client and therapist weave out their own story. Madhavi believes that children are layered beings who hold multitudes within and deeply cherish each of the intricacies they come with. She holds Winnicott's quote “It is a joy to be hidden, and a disaster not to be found” close to her heart, and wishes to make the tiresome task of unravelling easier for her clients. Her previous work with children from marginalized communities and refugee populations residing in Delhi colours her practice today, and she takes a client-centred intersectional approach. In her free time, you can find her wandering into an art gallery, watching Ghibli movies, or listening to the latest Bangtan release.
Aakanksha Singh
Aakanksha is a psychologist who views the world through the lens of 'Unconditional Positive Regard', which simply translates to expressing empathy, support, and acceptance to people, regardless of what they say or do. Her interest lies in working with children and families within the therapeutic space and she primarily uses a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. Her educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Manipal University Jaipur, following which she pursued her Masters in Applied Psychology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is an avid reader of all things fictional, enjoys writing poems, spending time with animals, and watching documentaries on nature.
Ananya Sharma
Ananya is a client-centric psychologist trying to meet people ‘where they are.’ Drawing from strength-based practices, she believes that therapy is a collaborative space prioritizing client autonomy. She integrates the socio-cultural contexts of her clients into her approach, believing that therapy is most effective when it respects and reflects their unique backgrounds. She is interested in community mental health and wants to bring a positive change in society, no matter how small the step. She has completed her Honours degree in Psychology from Delhi University and Masters in Applied Psychology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai). With a diverse experience of working with individuals during her fieldwork settings, she brings in different perspectives to the table. Outside of work, she is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and likes to play badminton. She also loves exploring new places, is a big time foodie and all things fun.
Shivani Jain
Shivani is a psychologist who in their practice endeavours to work with a strength-based lens and abundance of curiosity to notice the unnoticed and unseen. They are enthusiastic about bringing changes at a grassroot level using community care and advocacy to invite people to join-in the constant process to question values and assimilate inclusive ones with empathy and sensitivity. They feel grateful to witness the beautiful journey of young people and their families and how they navigate situations. In addition to gardening, they like hiking nature trails and capturing flights of the magnificent species found in the secluded areas of the city or hills.
Lavina Nanda
Developmental Psychologist and Therapeutic Play Practitioner, Head of Developmental Centre
Delhi
Lavina Nanda
Lavina feels blessed that she can make some of her loved interests like toys, stories, music, art, jumping and laughing, a part of her work. While she feels development and healing is a life long process, she also believes in the magic of ‘early intervention’. Through her work, she hopes to create safe zones for children, young people and parents to explore their strengths and work on their difficulties. She enjoys travelling and has an appetite to experiment with everything edible!
Sukarma Dawer
Sukarma is a Developmental Psychologist who joined the team with experience in child assessments and adult counselling. However, it was her core belief in the power of intervention that steered her towards becoming a developmental therapist. As an interventionist, Sukarma brings in the perfect balance of groundedness and playfulness, seriousness and giggles, and an infectious presence that makes children naturally gravitate towards her. She balances this beautifully with being able to take a systemic perspective with children and families. She is a peace loving soul who is highly creative, loves beach trips, singing and all things pink and pretty!
Akansha Rastogi
Akansha is a developmental psychologist who finds joy in working with kids. She has a background in counselling psychology and 3 years experience working with children and adolescents in school setting. She loves reading, traveling and is an adrenaline junkie. She finds spending time around children energising, and attributes it to their innocence and free spirit. Her goal is to be able to provide safe spaces for children where they can just be. Akansha is passionate and takes pride in her work. She has a positive outlook towards things and is a keen learner.
Mallika Narang
Mallika is a mental health professional who doesn't like to be limited to her professional designation. She did her post graduation from AUD and then worked at ACE for a year and a half. She is fascinated by language both verbally expressive and the one that goes beyond words and sentences. It marvels her to see the variety of ways kids play and the impact playing has on one's growth. She likes music, car rides, food and everything freshly made from books to food to babies.
Tarang Kaur
A psychologist and a member of the Developmental Team, Tarang is living out her dream of working with kids. (Sometimes, they make more sense than adults!) She graduated with her Master's in Psychology from Delhi University, following a BA (Hons) in the subject from Lady Shri Ram College. Currently, she is also pursuing a Diploma in Narrative Therapy and Community Work. She feels passionately about narrative practices, community mental health, and the importance of early intervention. Tarang loves good food, bad movies, and terrible jokes. These days, you'll find Tarang trying to reread her entire bookshelf, making ambitious vision boards, and dreaming of someday adopting a cat.
Shubhika Sharma
Shubhika Sharma works as a developmental therapist and expressive arts therapist, with a background of two years of experience working with individuals of different age groups, including children and the elderly. She holds the belief that one's childhood experiences significantly shape their perspective towards life. Shubhika advocates for providing children with a nurturing environment that encourages creativity and self-expression. In her free time, she enjoys visiting new destinations, with a particular fondness for beaches, and cherishes the opportunity to interact with people and offer them a supportive and secure space. She loves trying different cuisines and believes that every individual has a unique story and a different perspective to share.
Anushree Nandi
Anushree is a developmental therapist, she is an RCI licensed rehabilitation counselor who completed her bachelors and masters from University of Delhi. She comes with a mindset that if you are lucky enough to be different, don't ever change. She loves to embrace the child in herself and the greatness in every child. She enjoys reading, art, music and collecting stars by the pocketful. She loves to take the moment and taste it and lives for the hope of it all.
Sheetal
Sheetal is a RCI licensed rehabilitation counsellor who completed her Masters from Ambedkar University Delhi. She is an empathetic mental health professional who cherishes the uniqueness of each child. She believes that each child should be heard, seen and valued. You can find her clicking pictures of nature, and she never asks for rain to go away. Sheetal carries immense love for her friends, family and food.
Sakshi Agrawal
Sakshi is a RCI licensed rehabilitation counsellor, who has worked with children and adolescents with varied life experience. She loves children and often finds herself amazed by the magic that they lay out through their play. She firmly believes in the power of early and earliest possible intervention for all. She also advocates for the individuality of all children, which when nourished, she feels, leads to the blooming of independent young beings. Thus, she lends great importance to the opinions and choices of all children, regardless of their age. She finds joy in literature, art and a nice, comforting meal with loving company. She enjoys exploring a variety of new hobbies and learning about the culture and ways of new places. She finds beauty in the way a community's culture carries with it - an essence of lives blooming - in ways human and similar to one's own and yet equally unique. An interplay of similarity and uniqueness that she feels is also very beautifully exhibited by each child as well.
Vidushi Joshi
Vidushi Joshi is a Developmental Psychologist at Children First. Being born and brought up in the lush green valley of Dehradun, she believes in the magic of connecting with nature and draws a lot of learnings and inspiration from it. She has completed her Bachelor's degree as well as her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the state university of Dehradun, Doon University. She has interned at various Government and Private Hospitals including National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disability (NIEPVD), Mandala Clinic and at Latika, a school for children with special needs. She has previously worked at SKF Dehradun and Asha Hai, extending her services as a Counsellor as well as an Developmental Therapist. She believes that each child has their own superpowers and aims at identifying and fostering them. At leisure you will find Vidushi taking strolls, reading books, clicking pictures and hiking to the nearest riversides.
Ritika Gogia
Ritika is an occupational therapist. She completed her Masters in paediatrics from Jamia Hamdard University. She loves to work with children of all age groups. She believes every child is unique and all they need is little more love, care and happiness. She is industrious, caring and creative. She loves to travel, explore new places is a complete foodie!
Harshita Gusain
Harshita is an Occupational Therapist , completed her masters specialised in neurology from Indian spinal injuries center. When it comes to showing her creative side, Harshita is always ready as she is fond of art & craft, for her its her stress buster. Believing "you always have something to sing about" helped her to find new interest in singing also. Being a Pahadi girl she have a never ending love for mountains. Her mantra of life is keep smiling & spread happiness around. she feels extremely grateful & blessed to work with little ones, for her children are like fountain of joy.
Sheetal Garg
Sheetal is an Occupational Therapist, she is all about happiness, warmth and love. Her love for children attracted her towards this noble profession where empathy, kindness and compassion are prerequisites. She is very dedicated towards her occupation with sensory integration being her area of interest. She always promotes vulnerability without being embarassed about it. She loves to dance, make digital art, and record all the special moments of her life. She loves to make new connections and has an amiable nature.
Amarpreet Kaur
Amarpreet Kaur, a graduate of Jamia Hamdard University, holds a master's degree. She boasts three years of professional experience, primarily focused on working with children. Amarpreet has a deep affection for interacting with children, believing them to possess the purest souls. This interaction brings healing to her own soul, and she considers herself fortunate to assist them while also gaining valuable insights from their perspective. Beyond her passion for working with children, Amarpreet has a profound love for mountains and the natural world.
Priyanka
Priyanka is a dedicated occupational therapist, driven by the mission of empowering small hands achieve big things. She has completed her bachelor of occupational therapy from Indian Spinal Injuries centre. Outside of work she indulges in hobbies such as makeup, dancing, singing and collecting adorable items. Being immersed in the world of children brings her immense joy, as it allows her to reconnect with her inner child and find fulfilment in nurturing young minds.
Dolly Manchanda
Dolly is a pragmatic occupational therapist who has the calibre to better understand and create a positive impact in the lives of individuals with special needs through the best occupational therapy services. She has rightly leveraged her way of dealing with clients across all disciplines. She is a strategic thinker with a knack for creativity who seeks to bring this expertise to a forward-thinking team and always keeps an eye on grasping opportunities that help her grow in her respective field. Out of her professional life, her penchants are painting, travelling, and exploring different places, which helps her maintain a well-rounded and balanced life.
Dr Amit Sen
Director, Senior Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. MD, MRCPsych, CCST in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Delhi
Dr Amit Sen
Dr Sen is a co-founder of Children First and has been practicing child psychiatry for over 25 years. He proudly believes that he has ADHD. As a child, Dr. Sen started by wanting to become a bus driver, changed to a doctor at an epiphanous moment, was driven to become a footballer through adolescent years, dreamt of being a rock star during medical college days till he realized that he had no talent for it, and finally reconciled to become a doctor after all. After finishing medicine from AFMC Pune, he went to NIMHANS Bangalore for an MD in Psychiatry and had a blast for the next 3 years. A longish stint in Newcastle UK made him serious about life and proud of his country. Besides growing his family, he managed to get another 2 qualifications, one of them being in child and adolescent psychiatry. Working with children, the football and rock music, dreams and aspirations, have all come together for him. Through the myriads of magical and fulfilling experiences, Dr Sen feels that he has developed empathy over the years and can connect to children and their families. In doing so, he hopes to make a difference, however little, in their lives.
Dr Kavita Arora
Kavita is a co-founder of Children First and loves to connect with children and young people.She is of the firm belief that youngsters today are far smarter and quicker to learn and evolve than previous generations! She is curious about new perspectives, and prefers a question to an answer. She happens to be qualified as a psychiatrist, but would prefer to be a DIY guru. She loves the ‘web’, reading, movies, travelling , photography and most of all ,a good joke!
Dr Sonia Malhotra
Dr. Sonia Malhotra lived her dream when she did her medical graduation and post graduation in psychiatry from top reputed government medical colleges in the country. Being a child at heart herself, she has always loved being amidst children and understood their point of views about life and world better. Practicing child and adolescent psychiatry became her area of special interest and expertise, allowing her to gain different perspectives and grow, not only professionally, but also as a person. Her easy going and warm nature makes it easy to open up to her and approach her, not only with behavioral and educational issues of children and adolescents but also with other emotional, psychological and relationship issues of families (and parents, siblings in particular) that need attention. Her humorous and playful self connects very easily with kids, making it a pleasure to be at work with her "little tribe". When not at work, she enjoys baking, travelling and making new friends.
Dr Jeetinder Singh
Jeetinder is a passionate psychiatrist with a deep love for sports. With an MD in Psychiatry from GMCH Chandigarh, he combines his expertise in mental health with his enthusiasm for sports to promote overall well-being and resilience in individuals. He had the opportunity to work at IIT Roorkee, where he furthered his expertise in the realm of mental health and gained valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by young individuals, especially in highly competitive academic environments. His approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and evidence-based practices. In addition to his passion for sports, he is a devoted pet lover. His dog, who he affectionately considers his therapist, holds a special place in his heart. Furthermore, he values the connections he shares with family, friends, and the community, as they contribute to his overall happiness and well-being. Driven by his passion for mental health and love for sports, he remains devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of others. He envisions a world where mental well-being is prioritized and believes that every individual deserves compassionate care and support on their journey to a fulfilling life.
Kavita Karki
Kavita manages the front desk and appointments at Children First, Delhi. She is a post-graduate in Commerce from Bharti Vidyapeeth University. She has been working in medical and healthcare industry for more than 5 years. Her support includes scheduling appointments, answering phones, billing, resolving issues/complaints, checking in visitors, and maintaining visitor logs—while driving the achievement of business goals in front desk support roles with Children First. She loves travelling to new places and is fond of dancing. The joyful spark and charm on her face disseminate positivity in every aspect.
Rakhi
Rakhi oversees various administrative functions, including office logistics, resource management, and internal communications. Her primary objective is to cultivate a conducive work environment conducive to individual growth and task efficiency. With a degree from Kamla Nehru College and nine years of experience in administration, Rakhi brings a combination of strategic vision and practical implementation to her position. She advocates for a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, emphasizing the value of every voice and idea. Outside of work, Rakhi enjoys traveling, listening to music, and playing cricket, further enriching her life beyond her professional endeavors.
Ravi Kohli
Ravi has joined Children First in October as Front Desk & Admin. He has done B. Com from Delhi University. He has 4 years of work experience with different NGOs and Trust. Ravi loves to play sports, clicking pictures and designing.
Shilpa
Shilpa manages the front desk admin and appointments at Children First, Gurgaon. She is a graduate of Delhi University and has more than 7 years of experience in front desk and administration. Her support includes scheduling appointments, answering phones, billing, managing clients and families and addressing their concerns daily. She is the mother of a two-year-old daughter. She loves travelling and is fond of cooking.
Samreen Rehman
Samreen is a psychologist, researcher, photographer, designer and everything else that helps her thrive. With a Master’s in Applied Psychology (Specialisation in Clinical Psychology) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, her work as a psychologist focuses on enabling others to become thriving and healthy individuals. She focuses on seeing and cherishing people in their wholeness, as they come with their shades of struggles and competencies. An inclination toward community mental health, group work and developmental perspective continue to inform her practice. A mix of chai, sunset and KDramas make up her perfect leisure time.
Chitra
Chitra has recently joined Children First as Front Desk Admin Executive at Gurugram. She is graduate of Delhi University and has 2 years of experience in Administration. She is a travel enthusiast and mountain lover. She loves reading novels, shopaholic, skincare junkie and a binge watcher. She has a curious habit of keeping things in a proper organised way. A kind and empathetic person always ready to help others.
Vanshika Arora
Vanshika Arora is a recent graduate in Healthcare Management from the University of Delhi. During her academic career, She gained valuable experience through various internships that have helped to shape her career as a professional. She is confident that her academic achievements, coupled with her experience, have ensured her to be a valued member of the team. Outside of work, Vanshika enjoys travelling and photography and has a keen interest in reading fictional short stories.
Kalpna
Kalpna manages the Front Desk and Appointments at Children First, Delhi. She has done her graduation from the University of Delhi and she has 3 years of experience in the front desk and 3 years of experience in other fields and administration. Her support includes scheduling appointments, answering phones, billing, managing clients and families and addressing their concerns daily.
Pranjali Agarwal
Pranjali is a Mental Health Care Facilitator who holds a master's degree in social work with a specialization in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. With over four years of experience in the development sector, she has worked closely with sexual violence survivors and the queer community in roles such as Mental Health Counselor and Gender and Sexuality Trainer. Pranjali believes that the intersectionalities of individuals profoundly shape their lived experiences and is committed to fostering inclusivity and empowerment through her work. An introvert by nature, Pranjali enjoys art that explores social realities, particularly through plays and cinema. In addition to her professional pursuits, she enjoys singing and exploring new musical instruments. She is currently learning to play the ukulele, bringing harmony to her personal and professional endeavours.
Asha Singh
A universal favourite at CF, she has been with us for three years now, although how we managed before that, we have no idea! Innately caring and motherly with an eye for detail, she has a connect with each and every CF member and child, and helps us keep things neat, clean and orderly even in the midst of chaos.
Mahesh Saini
The superhero at CF, Mahesh Ji has been with us for several years now! Mahesh Ji helps manage and support the teams at CF with anything and everything! He has the ability to solve any kind of problem at CF and ensures that our team has no hurdles to deal with at the clinic.