Bhavya Batra, Mental Health Fellow

Bhavya (She/her) is a mental health fellow at Joy.

Bhavya is a mental health fellow of Joy Mental Fitness, which has locations in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Boston, Massachusetts. Bhavya also provides telehealth services to patients throughout New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and New York.

Personal Journey and Inspiration

With a broad smile on my face, I stared at the slightly crumpled note. “Thank you for saving my life” it read. During a part of my internship experience, I had received this message from a young boy who had come in for an initial counseling session. At that moment, I hadn't fully grasped the impact I was having on his life. I was simply carrying out the routine of an initial consultation call. But upon receiving this note, a realization sparked within me: if just spending 15 minutes with someone could bring about such significant change in their life, how many others around the world might be in need of professional support? With that thought, I embarked on a journey to become a mental health counselor, hoping to break down myths and stigma surrounding seeking help. It proved to be a pivotal moment in my life.

Understanding Human Experience

I understand human experience as an opportunity for us to find authenticity within ourselves and to make meaningful change in our lives. By understanding an individual's relationship with past events, unresolved emotions, and patterns, we can gain insight into their current functioning. Every person possesses innate strengths and goodness, which they can harness to create the life they desire. As a therapist, I aim to foster connection with my clients' past relationships and tap into their innate goodness to improve their present functioning.

Embracing Multiculturalism

As a migrant living in the US for a while now, I became fascinated with the diversity of cultures and soon began to feed my curiosity to learn and understand from people of all walks of life. This fascination led me to actively engage in multiculturalism, ensuring that I create a supportive and inclusive space for my clients where their individual differences are respected. As an Asian, cis-gender woman of color, I'm particularly attuned to the importance of multiculturalism. My proficiency in English and Hindi further enables me to cater to the needs of the majority of my clients.

Clinical Approach

Drawing from a rich tapestry of experiences, I weave them together in my clinical practice which informs my therapeutic approach. I do not believe in a cookie cutter, ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and hence integrate multiple modalities to best serve my clients. My foundation lies in a psychodynamic approach, helping you delve into your unconscious mind and past experiences to uncover patterns that may be impacting your present life. As a result of it, I also help my clients to identify and challenge their negative thought patterns using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Additionally, I incorporate Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy techniques to further enhance your emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and experiencing the here-and-now skills. By holistically tailoring a treatment plan according to each client's unique needs, I strive to create a brave space, free of judgment and provide a comprehensive and personalized therapeutic experience.

Commitment to Clients

Being a client in therapy, I understand how difficult it is to take the first step and book a session. It requires courage to seek help and start the journey towards healing and self-discovery. Think of therapy with me as a journey where you are the driver, and I, as your therapist, am in the seat of a co-driver. As your co-driver, I am here to help navigate the complex terrain of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. While you are in control of your driving, I offer support, compassion, and tools to navigate the road ahead and eventually empower you to take on this journey independently.