Psychotherapy
Smitha Anandhan
BOT · MSc · PG (CAMH), Pathways · CBT Certified, Beck Institute
Occupational Therapy-Informed Psychotherapist
Calmer minds. Steadier bodies. Better days.
Emotions are not only felt in the mind. They show up in sleep, energy, attention, appetite, tension and behaviour. With more than two decades of clinical experience, Smitha Anandhan brings together occupational therapy, psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help children, teenagers and adults feel more settled and function better in daily life.
Our approach
Occupational therapy lens
We look at how a person lives, not just what they feel. Routines, sleep, school or work demands, sensory comfort and daily habits all shape emotional wellbeing, so we work on them together.
Nervous system-informed care
When the body stays on high alert, calm thinking becomes hard. We help you recognise what stress does to your body and teach simple, practical ways to settle it, so that talking and learning become easier.
CBT
We explore how thoughts, feelings and actions feed each other, and build skills to break unhelpful cycles such as worry, avoidance, self-criticism and anger.
One plan, built around you
These approaches are blended into a personal plan with clear goals and regular review.
Who we help
Children
Children express distress through behaviour, school struggles, sleep changes and physical complaints rather than words.
- School worries, fears and separation difficulties
- Meltdowns, anger and difficulty coping with change
- Attention, restlessness and sensory sensitivities
- Social and daily-living challenges
What to expect: play- and activity-based sessions, sensory-aware strategies, and guidance for parents to use at home.
Teenagers
Adolescence brings academic pressure, social strain, screens and big emotions, often hidden behind irritability or silence.
- Anxiety, low mood and exam stress
- Anger, mood swings and conflict at home
- Screen and gaming overuse
- Low confidence, friendship and peer difficulties
What to expect: a respectful, private space; CBT-based skills for thoughts and emotions; body-calming tools; and family sessions when helpful.
Adults
Many adults carry stress quietly while looking after work, family and everyone else.
- Anxiety, panic and constant worry
- Low mood, burnout and exhaustion
- Anger and emotional overwhelm
- Stress-related sleep problems, headaches and body tension
- Relationship strain, grief and life transitions
What to expect: an unhurried first session, practical regulation techniques, CBT tools for unhelpful thought patterns, and support to rebuild healthy routines.
How therapy works
- Understanding: a thorough first session (with parents, for children and teenagers)
- Planning: shared goals and a clear way forward
- Skills and practice: regulation techniques, CBT tools and routine-building, practised in session and at home
- Review: regular check-ins to track progress and adjust the plan
Therapy is through talking, guidance and skills practice, not medicines. When medication is needed, the clinic's psychiatrists look after that part, and the team works together.
Signs it may be time to reach out
- Worry, sadness or anger is affecting sleep, studies, work or relationships
- Your child or teenager has changed and you are not sure why
- Your body feels constantly tense, tired or on edge
- You keep repeating the same patterns despite your best efforts
Timings
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9 am to 5 pm, by appointment |
|---|
Call 93810 22113 to fix a time.
This page is for general understanding and does not replace a consultation. In an emergency, please go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
About Smitha
Smitha Anandhan is an occupational therapy-informed psychotherapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience working with children, teenagers and adults. She holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and a Master's in Psychology, and she is certified in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) by the Beck Institute and holds a Post graduate certification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (PG CAMH) from Pathways. She brings together occupational therapy, psychology and CBT in her work.
Her approach is nervous system-informed. She believes people think, learn and relate better once their bodies feel safe and settled. In sessions, she pairs practical regulation skills with a close look at daily routines, sleep, stress and thought patterns, so that change carries over into real life.
As Managing Director, she leads the therapy services at Dr Anandhan's MINDCARE in Medavakkam, Chennai, where she works alongside the clinic's psychiatrists whenever medication is part of care.
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