DRUM CIRCLE FACILITATOR

Akshata
Parekh

Arts & Health Professional / Expressive Arts Therapist /
Drum Circle Facilitator / West African Dance Teacher /
Art Talks Facilitator

Akshata Parekh is an expressive arts therapist, mental health counselor, and arts and health professional. She is currently practicing at The Sahyadri Hospitals and Jehangir Hospital. With a vision to integrate the arts into the healthcare system, she works toward establishing arts as a formal component of patient care. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in Expressive Arts Therapy, from Lesley University (USA), and is currently pursuing her Doctorate at De Montfort University (UK). In addition to her clinical work, Akshata serves as an Arts in Medicine Fellow and a Research Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Research lab, University of Florida. She is also a Mental Health Consultant at Tenerity India Pvt. Ltd. and a Drum Circle Facilitator with Taal Inc. She holds a Postgraduate Certification in Counseling Psychology from Fergusson College, Pune, an International Diploma in Human Rights, Mental Health, and Law, and has completed various certifications, including in Queer Affirmative Counseling Practice, Dance Movement Therapy, Visual Art Therapy, Neuro- Linguistic Programming (India), and Rhythm-to-Recovery, as well as Drum Circle Facilitation (USA and India).

Her professional journey includes valuable internships and work at the Muktangan Rehabilitation Centre, Aman Setu School, Artsphere (Pune), and organizations like the Franciscan Life Process Center, Music Settlement, and Ronald McDonald House (USA).
A firm believer in the transformative and healing power of the arts, Akshata is passionate about advocating for the integration of arts into healthcare. Through her work, she aims to spread awareness and inspire change, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being in India.

Services:

  • Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions: Using various art based modalities for health and wellbeing. These one on one sessions are online or in-person in Pune and are for people looking to connect with a mental health professional to address issues related to the self, identity, emotions, relationships, and other mental health problems.

  • One on One Counselling Sessions: These counselling sessions in Pune are for anyone who is looking to reach out to a mental health practitioner or counsellor to address concerns such as anxiety, prolonged feelings of sadness, relationship issues and other perceived mental health problems. Sessions are online or in person in Pune.

  • Organisational Mental Health Counselling: Support Services | Mental Health Consulting Services | Mental Health Counsellor Services for Corporates: The use of traditional talk-based therapy, art therapy and other experience based interventions has increased in the field of mental health awareness building. During this post COVID phase, the emphasis on the health and wellbeing of our workforce is of utmost importance. That is where we come in. We will be on call for your employees and provide mental health counselling services for those who choose to opt in for it. Needless to say, we maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, ethics and documentation through this process.

  • Expressive Arts Therapy Group Sessions: Expressive arts sessions are for one and all. ‘The earth without art would just be EH’. If you are a group and would like to understand and experience the therapy / therapeutic benefits of the arts, please get in touch with us and we would be happy to work with you over a one-off session or build an ongoing schedule of sessions for you or your team. These creative art therapy sessions will help you whether you are an organisation, a team of employees, a school, a group of teachers or a private group among others.

HAVE A LOOK AT AKSHATA IN ACTION