Team ManoRaksha (ManoRakshak)
Our Team
Dedicated Professionals. United by Purpose. Driven by Impact.
At ManoRaksha, our greatest strength is our people, our ManoRakshaks. We are a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, engineers, data and AI scientists, Biotechnologists, psychotherapists, researchers, legal professionals, behavioural scientists, leadership consultants, educators, policy strategists, and community development experts committed to transforming human health and psychosocial wellbeing.
Bound by a shared mission, our professionals combine scientific expertise with compassion, innovation, and integrity to deliver evidence-based solutions across clinical care, schools, universities, healthcare institutions, corporations, communities, and public systems.
Together, we are shaping a future where wellbeing, human potential, and institutional excellence go hand in hand.
Our Leadership
Get to know the minds behind the mission, driven by depth, discipline, and real outcomes....!!
Dr. Vivek Kumar
(SMIEEE, Fellow-SCRS)
Co-Founder & Assoc. Director: Research & Development
(Behavioral AI)
Dr. Vivek Kumar is one of the few distinguised "International Marie Curie Fellow". You will find him speaking at the world’s top conferences, shaping the future of AI and mental health, and then choosing to return to a quiet village with clean air, silence, and peace. Simple life, serious work.
An internationally recognized researcher, experienced as a Research Scientist at the ADAPT Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin. His core strength lies in Natural Language Processing and Generative AI, with a deep focus on integrating machine learning into mental health systems. His work spans empathetic AI, responsible and safe AI in behavioral therapy, bias-aware systems, sentiment analysis, and psychology-informed language models.
Beyond academia, he has served as an aide to multiple embassies for India, contributed to United Nations health programs in Africa, and travelled across nearly the entire globe. From EU Horizon leadership roles to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, and collaborations across Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, and India, his work carries both global scale and human intent.
This person is not a résumé. This person is a passion.
Dr. Ankita Singh (IIT-Roorkee)
Co-Founder & Assoc. Director: Research & Development
(Bio-Tech & Bio-Engineering)
Dr. Ankita Singh is a specialist in Biotechnology and Bioengineering from IIT Roorkee, with interdisciplinary expertise spanning protein science, neurobiology, biochemical mechanisms, and mental health–related hormonal pathways. Her research explores the biological foundations of brain function, NMR, stress response, and mental wellbeing, contributing to integrative and translational approaches to mental health.
At ManoRaksha and its partners, she is the scientific brain behind bioengineering and man–machine operations. She works at the intersection of biology, psychology, neuroscience, engineering, and technology, helping shape biological systems, research frameworks, and technology-enabled human applications.
Her vision is to connect human biology with intelligent engineering, building systems that are scientifically grounded, innovative, and human-centred.
Biology meets engineering. Mind meets machine. That’s where Dr. Ankita builds.
Urvashi Mishra
(Ex. Clinical Psychologist, National Health Mission, Govt. District Hospital, Vidisha)
Assoc. Director & Advisor: Clinical Intervention
Ms. Urvashi, an RCI-licensed Psychologist, brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, supervised care experience, and a deeply human perspective to mental health. With extensive experience as Clinical Psychologist at District Hospital, Vidisha (NMH), Madhya Pradesh, and professional exposure across Kendriya Vidyalaya and the NCERT Centre, Bhopal, she has worked across clinical, educational, and community settings.
Her core expertise includes SLD and ID assessment, psychological assessment, rehabilitation planning, developmental support, and evidence-based intervention. Trained by NIMHANS and the QPR Institute, along with specialized training in Art Therapy and Rehabilitation, she combines science with creativity.
But what truly sets Urvashi apart is her belief in empathy, gratitude, dignity, and humanistic care.
At ManoRaksha, she also contributes to an ambitious frontier: making team more emotionally intelligent, helping envision systems capable of understanding human emotions, responding with empathy, and interacting in more compassionate, human-centred ways.
Because intelligence without empathy is incomplete.
Shivangi Vyas
Chief Wellbeing Officer (CWO)
Ms. Shivangi is a clinically trained psychologist known for precision, presence, and decisive clinical judgment. QPR certified from the USA, she delivers timely, high-impact interventions in situations that demand clarity, calm, and accountability. With a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Astrology, she integrates evidence-based therapy with a nuanced understanding of emotional patterns, inner dynamics, and human behaviour.An active member of multiple mental health boards, she is respected for rigorous clinical supervision and grounded leadership. In school mental health programs, she has designed and executed interventions that move beyond theory into measurable change. Quietly consistent and deeply committed, her work demonstrates a clear principle: when insight is supported by structure, healing becomes sustainable.
She supervises programs addressing developmental disorders and brings extensive hands-on experience in Occupational Therapy–led ASD care. Leading multidisciplinary teams of special educators and rehabilitation psychologists, she has managed complex ASD cases with structured, outcome-driven approaches.
Aditi Katoch
Staff Psychologist (OSO-III), ManoRaksha & PartnersMs. Aditi brings an interdisciplinary foundation in Psychology, Sports, Counselling, and Leadership to the evolving ecosystem of ManoRaksha and its associated ventures.
Aditi also holds an NCC ‘C’ Certificate, reflecting her grounding in discipline, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and service.
A SGFI State-Level football player, she brings the mindset of competitive sport into her professional work, resilience, composure, teamwork, strategic thinking, and performance under pressure.
At ManoRaksha’s & other companies, Aditi takes on a distinctly strategic role, overseeing overseas operations and serving as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Director General of Operations.
She operates at the intersection of people, coordination, leadership, and execution, supporting international engagements while helping translate organisational direction into disciplined action.
From the football field to global operations, Aditi brings the mindset to lead, coordinate, and deliver.
Anuva Saxena
Staff Psychologist
(A/D Probationary),
ManoRaksha & PartnersAnuva Saxena is a Staff Psychologist and A/D Probationary at ManoRaksha & Partners, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to mental healthcare through Clinical Psychology, Psychology of Arts, Neuroaesthetics, Creativity and Art Therapy. With professional experience across India and the UK, she has supported adults with complex mental health needs through rehabilitation, recovery-oriented support, independent living and interdisciplinary collaboration.
A trained visual artist with expertise in Art Therapy, Anuva explores the intersection of creative expression and evidence-informed psychological practice to support meaningful engagement and wellbeing.
At ManoRaksha, she contributes to our projects and wider psychological and psychosocial programmes, research, innovation and institutional initiatives. Her work reflects ManoRaksha’s commitment to developing human-centred, creative and evidence-informed approaches to mental health, while contributing to the organisation’s growing ecosystem of psychological services, research and behavioural innovation.
Meet Our Qualified Professionals
Dedicated professionals driving our success as part of operational support, research and leadership
Adv. Pooja Singh Rana
Psycho-legal Counsellor (OSE – II)
LL.B., MA(Psychology), PGD(Guidance & Counselling)
Adv. Pooja Singh works at the intersection of psychology, law, and social advocacy, bringing together professional expertise and deep empathy to support women and children. Trained in both psychology and law, she is committed to protecting rights, dignity, and safety while helping individuals navigate challenging personal and legal circumstances. Her work extends beyond counseling to legal advocacy, awareness initiatives, and community engagement. With a survivor-centred and rights-based approach, Pooja strives to create safer spaces where people feel heard, supported, and empowered. Her commitment to justice and meaningful social change reflects a strong belief in compassion, accountability, and accessible support.
Neha Shrivastava
Special Educator (OSE – II)
Neha Shrivastava is a Special Educator at ManoRaksha, committed to making learning more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful for every learner. With a background in Special Education, she brings a learner-centred perspective to supporting children with diverse educational and developmental needs. Her work focuses on understanding individual strengths, identifying learning needs, and creating supportive pathways that help children participate, learn, and grow with confidence.
At ManoRaksha, Neha believes that every mind learns differently, and that difference deserves understanding, not limitation. Through compassionate support, inclusive practices, and individualized approaches, she contributes to creating environments where children feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Her work reflects ManoRaksha’s vision of making mental health, education, and wellbeing more human and inclusive.
Ms. Ashina Arora
Psychologist (OSA – I)
Meet Ms. Ashina Arora. A passionate psychology scholar from Panjab University, Ashina brings a strong foundation in clinical understanding, counselling, mental health advocacy, and community engagement.
She has worked with individuals across diverse backgrounds, assisting in psychological assessments, understanding therapeutic approaches such as CBT and MBCR, supporting case discussions, and learning the nuances of evidence-based mental healthcare.
Beyond clinical spaces, Ashina has actively contributed to NGOs, mental health awareness initiatives, and de-addiction awareness programmes, reflecting her belief that mental health support should reach every corner of society.
Ms. Yukta Bansal
Psychologist (OSA – I) & Resource Person
Yukta Bansal is a Psychologist, Career Counsellor, and Emotional Well-being Specialist, and a valued member of the ManoRaksha team. With over 1,000 hours of counselling, training, and facilitation experience, she specialises in adolescent mental health, career guidance, emotional resilience, and evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Her expertise includes CBT, REBT, SFBT, trauma-informed care, psychological first aid, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), helping individuals and institutions build healthier, more resilient communities.
Her experience spans schools, universities, coaching institutes, national crisis helplines, and preventive mental health programmes. A QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, Career Counsellor, and Child Safeguarding professional, she combines clinical knowledge with practical, research-driven approaches to promote accessible and impactful mental healthcare.
Palak Parashar
Psychologist (OSA – I)
Palak Parashar is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, researcher, and mental health professional with experience spanning clinical practice, psychological research, rehabilitation, and community mental health. She holds an M.Sc. in Clinical & Counselling Psychology from Gautam Buddha University and has worked across hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and research organizations. A UGC-NET qualified psychologist, Palak has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and actively contributes to research on psychotherapy, resilience, digital mental health, and emerging psychological issues.
At ManoRaksha, she serves as FLOS-PSY, contributing to psychological services, research, mental health promotion, and evidence-based interventions to strengthen individual and community wellbeing.
Tanya Bansal
Psychologist (OSA – I)
Tanya Bansal is a Psychologist at ManoRaksha, contributing to our mission of delivering ethical, evidence-based, and holistic mental healthcare. She brings a strong academic foundation in Clinical Psychology along with experience in counselling, developmental coaching, psychological training, and hypnotherapy.
At ManoRaksha, Tanya works towards promoting psychological well-being through compassionate, client-centered interventions, empowering individuals and communities with research-informed mental health services. Her commitment to empathy, professional excellence, and continuous learning strengthens our vision of making quality mental healthcare accessible, ethical, and impactful.
Through her dedication and expertise, Tanya contributes to ManoRaksha's commitment to Protecting Minds. Transforming Futures.
Our Operational Support Interns (OSIs)
Noopur Bhatkar
Research Intern 2.0- 2026 | MPFRCC 2.0 Participant
Noopur Bhatkar is an aspiring psychologist and Research Intern at ManoRaksha, currently pursuing her M.Sc. in Psychology at the Indian Institute of Psychology and Research. She is committed to advancing ethical, evidence-driven mental health practices through research, counselling, and lifelong learning.
Rishita Bhatia
Community Development Intern 2.0- 2026 | MPFRCC 2.0 Participant
As an emerging mental health professional, she is strengthening her skills in psychological assessment, counselling support, research, programme implementation, and evidence-based mental health practices while gaining practical exposure to diverse community settings.
Shriya Sharma
Field Intern | OSI 2026
Shriya Sharma is contributing to field-based psychological interventions, community mental health initiatives, research, and psychosocial support activities. She holds an M.A. in Psychology from the Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (IEHE), Bhopal.
Esther Ayanbode
Community Development Intern 2.0-2026
Ms. Esther Ayanbode, our International Research & Community Development Intern, bringing a global perspective and a passion for advancing health through science, research, and collaboration. A microbiology graduate with a strong foundation in pharmaceutical quality control, laboratory sciences, and research practices, Esther combines analytical thinking, precision, and innovation with a deep commitment to creating meaningful social impact.
Event Manager- MannCafé
Meet Ms. Arushi Garg, Event Manager of ManoRaksha’s MannCafé, the person who keeps the vibe grounded while everything else feels like a perfectly unfolding story.
With real-world experience from the film industry (yes, actual IMDb credits 👀), Arushi brings cinematic-level coordination and people skills to Macafé. She has worked in the casting department on projects such as Dhadak 2 (2025) and is associated with film and OTT environments where precision, creativity, and handling diverse personalities are everyday essentials. (IMDb)
Projects Done Earlier:
Feature Films —> Janhit Mein Jaari, Dhadak 2 (Casting Assistant), Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, Ulajh, Dr G, Stree, Stree 2, Selfiee, Fukrey 3.
Web Series —> Sixer, Gullak, Guturgu, Patna Shukla, Panchayat, What A Kismat.
Structured yet spontaneous, calm yet fun, she’s the one ensuring that your forest immersion, stargazing nights, and deep conversations actually happen without you noticing the thousand tiny details being handled in the background.
So when you see her around, say hello, share a laugh, maybe raise a toast together, and who knows… perhaps we’ll see you in the next movie 😉
Ms. Arushi Garg
Event Manager- Macafé
(ManoRaksha- OSA)