Ayurvedic Psychology: Applications in Counseling – HPP 11

Sujatha Reddy, MS, LPC, BAMS

Civilized life has many amazing benefits. We can create great structures and share information with each other. But as we all know it also has its complications. Some of the biggest issues in civilized societies are interpersonal relationships, our physical health and how we stay well in our own mind. Mental illness is actually quite a serious issue across the world in developed and developing countries.

Because of these types of issues that come along with civilization, people throughout time have been using different systems to address the health of the mind and physical body.

Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of medicine originating in India roughly 5,000 years ago when sages were the predominant healers in society. A little-known fact is that long before western psychology systems were developed, Ayurveda had it’s own psychological framework that’s vast in both theory and clinical applications.

In this episode, you’re going to learn about the principles of Ayurveda, how it translates into a modern psychological system, an analysis of the mind from this perspective, and a lot of other really interesting information.

Our guest today, Sujatha Reddy, studied Ayurveda in India and became a Vaidya in 1988 with a degree from Bangalore University. She moved to the United States nearly 30 years ago and has been practicing Ayurveda since. She specializes in Ayurvedic psychology and its application for mental health. She earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton and is also a Health and Wellness Coach.

Show Notes:

What is Ayurveda and its translation to modern psychology and psychotherapy [6:15]

Where is the mind located from an Ayurvedic perspective [10:15]

The distinction between Ayurvedic doctors and Allopathic physicians in India [17:00]

What do people with mental health issues in India do for help [18:30]

When can Ayurveda act as an alternative to psychiatric medication [24:55]

A new but very old lens on mental health disorders [23:00]

Sujatha Reddy, MS, LPC, BAMS

Sujatha Reddy is originally from India and has lived in the United States for nearly 30 years. She has a Bachelors in Ayurvedic Medicine from India and a Masters from University of Dayton, Ohio. She’s practiced in the field of mental health for over a decade and more than twenty-five years in the field of Ayurveda. She maintains a private practice in Lakewood, Colorado and is certified in CBT, yoga and meditation, as well as training in the Emotion Freedom Technique (EFT).

She treats adults in her counseling practice and offers coaching services for optimum health and wellness through Ayurveda and mindfulness based disease management. You can visit her website at: bewellmindbodyspirit.com