Dr. Hvovi Bhagwagar (PhD)

I am a Psychologist and Psychotherapist with over 24 years of experience specializing in clinical psychology and traumatic stress. My practice is dedicated to helping adults, teens, and children manage a broad spectrum of mental health conditions and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from SNDT University, Mumbai, and a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.I serve as a visiting faculty member at several prestigious institutions, sharing my expertise and knowledge with aspiring mental health professionals. I am an International Affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA), an Associate Member of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP), and a volunteer with the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), committed to advancing the field of trauma and dissociation studies in India.My career began as a therapist working with hospitals and private clinics. I was then offered the role of Head of the Department of Psychology at Sweekaar Rehabilitation Institute, an NGO in Hyderabad, where I led various initiatives on disability and mental health management. Since 2002, I have been in private practice, providing treatment for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma, including complex trauma and adult survivors of abuse and neglect. My passion for trauma care began with training in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy through EMDR-HAP, USA. Since then, I have undergone numerous trainings and advanced courses in working with dissociation, complex trauma, and adult survivors of traumatic stress. My work now focuses on trauma and related mental health conditions. I also offer clinical consultation to practitioners for cases involving personality disorders and dissociative disorders, supporting fellow therapists in their professional growth and competence.Alongside my private practice, I am a Founding Board Member and Consultant with the Mental Health Support Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals living with mental illness and their caregivers. I am a committed advocate for mental health literacy, writing for media outlets such as Mumbai Mirror, MidDay, Times of India, and Hindustan Times, and conducting webinars on mental health. Although my journey is ongoing, I am humbled to have received two awards: from the Young Environmentalists Foundation and Times Healthcare in the Young Achievers Category. I’m a Psychologist and Psychotherapist, with over 22 years of experience, currently in private practice with my office, “MANASHNI” at Powai, Mumbai, and a PhD Scholar at Tata Inst of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, researching Secondary Traumatic Stress among psychotherapists in India.