Aarya Godse

  Beyond Just Psychology Aarya Godse When I first reached out to Kyla Mitsunaga, a family constellations facilitator and life healer, I wanted to learn more about nontraditional approaches to therapy and the different career paths within psychology and behavioral health. What I did not expect was to learn how much her career had evolved through a combination of education, personal experiences, mentorship, and exploration of different fields. From teaching English in Korea and studying positive psychology and neuroscience to building her own coaching business and becoming a family constellations facilitator, Kyla offered valuable insight into the intersection of psychology, education, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. I would like to thank Kyla Mitsunaga for taking the time to share her experiences and perspectives with me. Here is what I learned. Success to Self Discovery In 2016, Kyla was living a life many people would consider successful. She was an award-winning ESL profes...

  How does the Placebo Effect alter brain function? Aarya Godse Introduction The placebo effect is an interesting phenomenon that shows the powerful connection between the mind and the body. It occurs when a person experiences real improvements in their symptoms after receiving an inactive treatment, such as a sugar pill or saline injection, simply because they believe it will help. Rather than being all in the mind, the placebo effect is associated with changes in brain activity, including the release of neurotransmitters and the activation of brain regions involved in pain, emotion, and reward.  Studying how the placebo effect changes the brain is important because it helps researchers better understand how expectations and beliefs influence health, improve the design of clinical trials, and develop more effective treatments for conditions such as chronic pain, neurological disorders, and mental illnesses. As neuroscience continues to advance and modernize, the placebo effec...

  Beyond the Numbers: What I Learned from a Mental Health Researcher Aarya Godse When I first reached out to Shruti, a Research and Evaluation Analyst for the state of Massachusetts, I wanted to learn more about the role research plays in improving mental health care. What I did not expect was to discover how much work goes on behind the scenes to shape the behavioral health programs that millions of people rely on. From interviewing patients and healthcare providers to analyzing large datasets and evaluating state-funded initiatives, Shruti offered valuable insight into how research influences policy and improves lives. I would like to thank Shruti for taking the time to share her experiences and perspectives for this interview. Here is what I learned. Discovering My Interest in Research Mental health research plays an important role in shaping healthcare programs and public policy. Through interviews, data analysis, and program evaluation, researchers help governments understand ...

  One Conversation, A New Perspective Aarya Godse 6/29/2026 When I first reached out to Audrey Ou, a therapist who works with young adults, I wanted to learn more about psychology and mental health. What I did not expect was how much of our conversation would resonate with experiences that many students, including myself, go through every day. I want to give a big thank you to  Audrey Ou for taking time and speaking to me for this interview. The Achievement Trap One of the most important lessons I learned through this conversation was how achievement and emotional well-being can become disconnected. Many children are raised to prioritize education, success, and outward accomplishments because those achievements can create opportunities and are visible. While these values come from love and sacrifice, they can sometimes leave little room for conversations about anxiety, stress, depression and feelings. As a result, many students learn to focus on grades and accomplishments whil...

  AI in Schools: Good or Bad A student sits down to start their homework but instead of opening up a textbook first, they open ChatGPT, type in a question and get a full explanation in seconds. What first took hours of researching and reading to understand topics and do an assignment is now done in just a few minutes. In many of my classes, teachers have been setting guidelines for when AI can be used and for what purposes. Nowadays, I've also noticed many of my online textbooks have a built in chatbox to help understanding.  However, while AI makes learning faster and more convenient, it always raises an important question: what are the effects of relying on AI on students and young minds?  Using AI as Support: One of the most powerful aspects of AI in education is its ability to act as a personalized tutor. Sometimes, classrooms often move at a fixed pace, which can leave some students behind while others feel bored. AI tools can adapt to each learner’s speed and unders...