Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This conversation exposes the impact of cultural trauma on Indian mental and emotional well-being and the conflicts these cultural pressures can cause. After outlining how therapeutic approaches can ease the pain, transform lives and begin to shift cultural norms, expectations and beliefs, Mansi asserts that having dreams, desires, and boundaries is an expression of one's wholeness, not a betrayal of others.

Cultural dynamics explored include: - The expectation that women will sacrifice their personal happiness for family honor - Belief systems that defy logic and reason - Abusive parents, difficult in-laws, avoidant husbands and broken familial promises - The opposition of successful, educated professional vs. traditional wife and mother roles - Normalizing physical abuse, financial abuse, and marital rape

Constantly overriding authenticity to pursue attachment gives rise to appeasement patterns, fawning responses and false beliefs such as, "sacrifice is love." These behaviours are linked to autoimmune diseases, as is detailed in Gabor Maté's book, When the Body Says No. Mansi supports his thesis with a poignant story of a friend battling terminal cancer, who sadly learned this lesson too late.

About Mansi Poddar, Psychotherapist

A trauma-trained psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, Mansi developed the SANI Model of Therapy—a trauma-informed, integrative framework which weaves together 4 key strands of therapeutic wisdom—Somatic Psychology, Affective and Attachment Psychology, Narrative Therapy, and Deep Inquiry. Having supported individuals through trauma, life transitions, and emotional healing for 14 years, Mansi's approach is designed to provide deep healing, emotional resilience, and personal transformation.

She specializes in Compassionate Inquiry (developed by Dr. Gabor Maté), somatic therapy, narrative therapy, and inner child healing, integrative approaches that support deep transformation of both body and mind.

With a MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, Mansi is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner trained in suicide prevention. Manis is currently pursuing advanced training in Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Psychotherapy.

Promotional Message

If you're interested in experiencing Gabor Maté's trauma healing approach, consider working with a certified Compassionate Inquiry (CI) Practitioner. Access healing support for mental, emotional and physical symptoms, unresolved trauma, relationship issues, addictions, and more. Use this link to access our global directory of multilingual certified professionals. In addition to their years of CI training and regular Certification reviews, our Practitioners bring the depth of their own personal lived experiences and skills in additional, complementary therapeutic approaches.

Resources:

Websites:

Professional Website

Related Links:

Parental Abuse in Indian Culture

Surviving to Thriving

Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ)

Books:

When the Body Says No

Podcasts:

Women Making Impact - India

We See Your Pain

Quotes:

"For decades, Indian culture has practised an authoritarian style of parenting where parents believe in having complete autonomy over their child's life, in most cases, even during the teenage and adult years. 'Tough love' is a favorite among Indian parents. 'Traditional Indian parenting' or 'conservative mom and dad' are terms loosely thrown around in India to uphold and normalise acts of suppression and child abuse, carried out for decades in familial structures." - The Naked Truth

"When you question something, you are told, this is our culture, this is our tradition, and when this is done, it means that logic has ended and belief has come in." - Kamla Bhasin.

"We are being educated. We are being told you should get a career, you should get a profession, you should be financially independent. But nobody is teaching men and their families to…create a culture that sustains this for women. So there is a conflict…A lot of women get diagnosed as borderline or bipolar because… they're filled with rage, and after talking, get people to mediate or communicate their needs. Nobody is hearing them. So they get these diagnoses. And a large part of my work is helping them peel off the labels and look at what's beneath it." - Mansi Poddar

"Beliefs that hold women back: 1. Sacrifice is love. 2. Family honor is more important than personal happiness. 3. Good women don't say no." - Mansi Poddar

"Shame is a very strong thing in this culture. Constant comparisons, body shaming, humiliation. I meet adults who are 60 years old who are still being humiliated by their parents." - Mansi Poddar

Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mansitherapy?igsh=MWxvdTRmanprenlk&utm_source=qr

FB: https://www.facebook.com/psychologistmansi