I interned at the Healing Nest Foundation (June 2024), a child developmental therapy centre, where I supported neurotypical and neurodivergent children from under-resourced backgrounds through expressive arts workshops during their summer program Titli. By first observing and then co-designing modules that combined movement and music, I learned how rhythm, repetition, and sensory play could become tools for communication and emotional regulation. Working alongside therapists, I helped adapt sensory prompts and choreographed movement sequences to encourage self-expression and social engagement. One of the most transformative moments was witnessing how subtle cues - eye contact, gesture, and rhythm - could elicit response and connection in a non-verbal child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, demonstrating how neural responsiveness can be gently awakened through art.
To extend this learning, I participated in the Brahmaviharas Workshop on Dance Movement Therapy (May 2025), which introduced the principles of Buddhist Psychology specifically mettā (loving-kindness) and karuṇā (compassion). The workshop revealed how mindful movement can cultivate empathy, awareness, and inner balance - values that continue to guide my engagement with expressive arts.
I also co-led an Art Therapy session at The Shri Ram School, Moulsari (Nov 2024) for 150 sixth-graders, assisting a professional therapist from Fortis Hospital in facilitating visual-based activities that encouraged self-expression and emotional literacy within a classroom setting. Their initial task was to visually convey what they thought a superhero looked like and, in doing so, to externalize their understanding of strength and courage. What began as sketches of capes and masks gradually transformed into understanding how children perceive their reality.
At the Mental Health Foundation India program at AIIMS (Oct 2024), I participated in an applied demonstration that examined how dance movement therapy intersects with psychological theory to shape evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
Together, these experiences solidified my belief that art is not just a creative outlet but also a profound medium where psychology, mindfulness, and empathy intersect to foster psychological well-being.