Hi! I’m Saloni Sawnani, rebuilding my blog since its crash in March 2021. 12years of posts just vanished and made me realize 2 things…

         I’m still tech challenged and have lots to learn… (Which is why the blog re-crashed in 4months of starting it again )

         It’s great to get a new start and yet another new start

So, for all of you who have visited me before the good news is there is going to be new content and for all of you who are getting to know me for the first time, here’s a bit about me.

Professionally, I’m a practicing psychologist since year 2000. Have worked in multiple set ups starting with Masina Hospital, followed by my longest stint by far at Unlimited Potentialities, a private practice set up run by one of India’s best psychiatrists. So grateful to those 12 years of clinical practice and more than grateful to Dr. Ashit Sheth for being one of the best mentors and guide I could have ever had. He not only shared the theoretical knowledge with us but led by example and taught me so much more than books ever can!

As a person I love change and always wanted to work with children. I started a franchise of Eurokids, (a playschool chain) in 2006 and enjoyed the toddlers for 3 years while also continuing practice. Actually, it started because I didn’t have a good playschool close by to send my son to… and once he was out of playschool, I gave up on it Had the courage to give up on my practice at Unlimited Potentialities only after my daughter was born 6 years later. That’s when I moved to working with child-centric NGOs in the social sector. Started with Kranti in 2013, an awesome NGO working with empowering daughters of commercial sex workers. Soon started helping Hamara Footpath, a motivated volunteer driven NGO which teaches street children basic English, Maths and Life skills. From there, met the 2 amazing co-founders of Rubaroo, and together we set up the organization to work on the awareness and prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. As my work with Hamara footpath reduced I had the privilege of working with the children living in Sharanam, a shelter run by CORP for girls coming from marginalized backgrounds, and Happy Feet Home, a hospice for children with life limiting illnesses. The more I interacted with all these children the more awestruck I was. The resilience and positivity they show can put any so-called privileged person to shame. I’m not sure if I helped them heal more or they helped me grow more!

I let go of Rubaroo in March 2019 because they were flying and I needed to devote some more time to my daughter who was struggling with her learning difficulties and remedial classes at that time. But I guess working on the cause of CSA is so dear to me that in December the same year I was offered a Directorial role at Arpan, India’s leading NGO in this space to lead their healing team. It was the first time in 19years of my work life that I was working a 9am to 5pm kind of job and handling a team of 16 counsellors. With the pandemic hitting us in March 2000, I felt so blessed to be a part of this organization where we could reach out and offer free mental health support to so many individuals and schools/institutions and children. It was wonderful and enriching to be able to innovate and create various ways to help in a time that so needed it.

However, as a person I realized I cannot be bound to a 9am to 5pm, 5 days a week set up no matter how awesome it is. So am back to my part time consultancies with spending some time with Arpan and some with Happy Feet Home

The only thing constant in all these years was me seeing my private clients. I have loved and love each and every moment of that personal connect with a client and seeing most of them heal, evolve and thrive. It is also gratifying to know that the therapeutic approaches like CBT, EMDR, Playtherapy, NLP, REBT actually show positive results.

Personally, as you must have gathered, I’m a mother of 2. A fine young almost adult son and a chirpy enthusiastic 8year younger sibling of his. We also have Snoopy, our beagle to enrich our lives and spread unconditional love. Having lived with my husband in a joint family for 17years, I moved out a few of years ago because of some differences. Yet, my husband and I continue to be best of friends and as a family we connect, laugh and enjoy like a perfect unit. Feel truly blessed to be married to such a mature and understanding spouse

I believe in living life by the moment. I love to play and have fun. I love to keep the kid in us alive. I love to connect. I love to learn and share. I love to grow. I love to Make The Most Of Life!

Do feel free to reach out if you want us to share a part of our life journey together