Ciao, I’m Ishana

Holistic Psychologist in Leiden, The Netherlands

Pronouns: She/her, they/them

Languages: English, Italian

Specialties:

Psychological Approaches

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/Mindfulness-based CBT
Expressive Art Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT)
Somatic Therapy
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Transpersonal Psychology
Family Systems
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Psychedelic-Assisted Experiences
Schema Therapy

Areas

Trauma
Discrimination
Emotional-Processing
Anxiety
Depression
Addiction
Codependency
Eating disorders
Self-esteem & self-identity
Relationships
Grief & Loss

Affiliation: Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP) Psychologist – Number #236055, EMDR Europe, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, American Psychological Association (APA) – Number #C2304403487

Clinical Practice Supervisor for Clinical Psychology MSc’s Clinical Practice Internship

My Approach

Who Am I?

Education

M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University (Cum Laude/ Distinction), Master’s Thesis – Suicide Risk in Depression: Longitudinally Investigating the Role of Cognitive Reactivity [in peer-review for publishing in a scientific journal]

B.Sc. in International Psychology from Leiden University, Bachelor’s Thesis – How do Parental Personality Traits Relate to Family Functioning?

A Levels from Dubai College, Extended Project – The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Autoimmune Functioning in Adulthood

Trainings

Clinical Trainings

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Level I & II from Dottssa. Isabel Fernandez, EMDR Italia (President of EMDR Europe)

Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Externshipfrom Sarah McConnell, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)

Compassionate Inquiry (240 CE/CME credits) One Year Somatically-Orientated Training, by Gabor Maté

Sessions, Clinical Training for Relational Intelligence by Esther Perel

Facilitating Psychedelic Experiences from MAPS of The Mind

The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy (NIP Body Oriented Working Psychologist: 13.5 credits) from Deb Dana, via Uitgeverij Mens!

Treating Trauma (10 CE/CME credits) from the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM)

Working with Shame (6 CE/CME credits) from the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) – Currently Undergoing

Expressive Art Therapy (Creative Response Therapy™) from Cyntha Gonzales

Holistic Trainings

Surrendered Leadership Training (Supporting presence, authenticity and intimacy), by Ellen Waenink, in Amsterdam

Contact Improvisation Training (Embodied attunement and relational presence) by Irene Sposetti in San Agustinillo, Mexico

One-Month Silent Meditation Retreat (Vipassana Meditation, of the Mahasi Tradition) at Vipassana Meditation Centre in Belgium

Therapeutic Yoga Teacher (YAA 200/hr) from Kaya Yoga

Who Am I?

I’m Italian, Indian and English. I grew up in Dubai and have been living in the Netherlands for the past 5 years. I’ve made peace with my cultural confusion by allowing it to evolve into appreciation of cultural nuances. It’s in this world of interpersonal nuance that I thrive. Nothing is black or white, because binary structures are restrictive. This is what draws me to therapy – honouring the complexity of being human.

A little more about my background…

Against the Middle Eastern status quo, I was raised by a (brilliant) single mother & our household was interracial. Fun fact: all the major religions are covered when combining my ‘modern’ family
As a kid: I was bright-eyed, quirky, passionate & very curious (some things never change)
I grew up questioning my sexuality in the Middle East (*where being queer is still considered a crime)

I immensely value the freedom of being oneself. Can you tell why?

I’ve put in the hard work in unlearning my shame, and reclaiming my life, by addressing intergenerational cycles of trauma, manifesting in addiction, emotional suppression and eating disorders. It has been the most liberating thing I have done for myself. This is what I share with my clients – empowerment, by letting go of what reduces us.

Therapy is a healing journey that we embark on together. Can you imagine a world where we all listened, cared & held space for one another? I realised early on that the change I wanted to see in the world begins one person at a time. That’s why I am a psychologist – individual healing for collective wellbeing.

Psychology Speaker & Facilitator

November 2022: Speaker at Leiden University’s Wellbeing Week – Leiden, The Netherlands. ‘How to Calm Your Nervous System’, to 50 Leiden University students

August 2022, August & December 2021: Guest Lecturer at Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College – Tamilnadu, India. I offer lectures on psychological wellbeing to around 150 college students in rural India (setting boundaries, active listening & healthy coping mechanisms etc.)

October 2021-March 2022: Co-facilitated Proud Vulnerabilities – Leiden, The Netherlands. As a team we created monthly immersive workshops, with the focus on connection by working shame into a proud vulnerability. Topics included: ‘Embody Your Best Self’, ‘Nurture Self-Love’ & ‘Befriend Your Body’

July 2021: Retreat Facilitator at ChiaroScuro: Connect & Create – Sciolze, Italy. A 10-day holistic retreat for artists from around the world, who gathered in Sciolze to create a powerful piece of art together

December 2017: Guest Speaker at VSK Duraiswamy Nadar School – Tamilnadu, India. Speaking about & sharing personal experiences on the value of education and empowerment to around 300 girls in a rural area

Community Service

Educating, empowering & enriching our communities is important to me. We need to support one another.

Weekly Guided Group Meditations, at Rap100 Student Wellbeing Center Leiden

Yearly Lectures Advocating for Mental Wellbeing, at Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (India), Leiden University (The Netherlands)