Aaroh means to ascend, to move forward. It does not denote any speed or urgency it just denotes the act of going forward from wherever we are. When we are confused, we feel stuck. We desperately look for a way forward. Even thinking of seeking guidance or help is actually a step forward. A step ahead no matter how small or big it is. To me that’s the essence of counselling—to be able to understand ourselves and figure out a path, a direction, a sign, a signal or any such thing which helps us move forward and assures us that we can undertake this journey.

"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop."

- Confucius

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How it began

When my daughter was stepping in her teens, she had varied interests and talents and tons of curiosity related to different professions. Environmentalist, forensic anthropologist, drama therapist, author, product designer, architect…. like the phases of the moon, it was ever-changing! I could clearly see the need for guidance and counselling in helping her choose the path which ‘best fits’ her skills and interests. This was one of the driving forces which made me dive into the world of counselling. Then during the pandemic I saw teenagers as well as adults going through several mental health issues. It was agonizing to see my daughter go through the most difficult phases of her life. It took months of patience, support and counselling to help her come back to normalcy. This personal experience further fueled my passion for counselling. Apart from the professional credentials, I have repeatedly earned the equally precious and heart-warming credentials of ‘Agony aunt’ and ‘Coolest aunt’ from friends, colleagues and my daughter’s friends. All of us look forward to validation and these tags provided me oodles of validation to embark on this journey.