Aarya Godse

  Beyond the Therapy Room Aarya Godse When I first reached out to Natascha Thomson, a therapist with a background in counseling psychology, I wanted to learn more about what it is like to work in therapy and the different career paths within psychology. What I did not expect was to learn how much her career had evolved from her previous experiences in marketing and how those experiences  led her to pursue a career helping others.  From Marketing to Mental Health From working in Silicon Valley marketing for many years and earning an MBA to studying counseling psychology and building her own therapy practice, Natascha offered valuable insight into the realities of being a therapist: the importance of research in clinical practice, and the emotional demands of working with clients. I would like to thank Natascha Thomson for taking the time to share her experiences and perspectives with me. Here is what I learned. Exploring the Different Paths Within Psychology One of the big...

  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 ...