Q&A with Madhuri Narayan, Clinical Psychologist

Interview completed by Ashleigh Cohen, UNSW psychology undergraduate on a 3-month internship at Inlight Psychology.

Madhuri is a highly reflective and insightful clinical psychologist, with a strong focus on body-mind connection and holistic approaches. Madhuri has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and works at Inlight Psychology in Bondi Junction.

Madhuri utilises Mindfulness-based approaches, as well as CBT, DBT, and ACT, and has a highly relational approach with a strong attunement to her therapeutic relationship with her clients. Madhuri is a wonderful addition to our team at Inlight, and brings a wealth of wisdom and compassion to her work.

Q: What sparked your interest in becoming a clinical psychologist?

Madhuri: I have been curious and drawn to understand people around me and their behaviours for as long as I can remember. My interest also comes from a yearning to make sense of my own internal experiences and the workings of my mind. I was raised in a culture that emphasises introspection and exploration of the mind, for example, through disciplines such as yoga, which I was introduced to early on. So, I guess an inherent interest, coupled with an environment that encouraged examination of mind and behaviour, led me down a profession in Psychology.

Q: What was your journey like from studying psychology to actually practicing it?

Madhuri: My professional journey has been quite straightforward —I completed an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in psychology and eventually specialised in clinical psychology. My training in clinical psychology took place in a large public health hospital, which was both rigorous and hands-on. Working with a multidisciplinary team in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings was a great opportunity to understand various aspects of the mental health care system.

I later transitioned into private practice, where the focus shifted to core psychotherapy processes. This allowed me to delve deeper into the nuances and complexities of therapy, and to develop an understanding how the therapeutic process unfolds in the room. It has been a very rewarding journey and I’m lucky to be doing work I truly love.

Q: You’ve worked in both India and Australia—how does psychology differ in these cultural contexts?

Madhuri:  It’s tough to generalize culture in either India or Australia, as both are incredibly diverse. For example, the way people approach mental health care varies significantly between urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. In India, while stigma can still be a barrier for many, I've also worked with individuals who, despite not facing any major mental health challenges, simply wanted to reflect on their emotional lives and live in a more aligned and attuned way.

In Australia, people’s openness to therapy can differ based on factors like demographics, affordability, and their personal motivations. However, what stands out to me is the commonality of the human experience—regardless of culture, the nature of our minds and emotions is more similar than it is different. That’s been one of the most rewarding discoveries in my work.

Q: Your Master’s dissertation explored attachment theories in Western psychology and Eastern philosophy. What were some key insights?

Madhuri: Attachment theory focuses on the relational bonds between child and caregiver, and in adult relationships—essentially, how individuals respond to connection versus distance, or dependence versus independence. On the other hand, the concept of non-attachment, as described in Eastern philosophies, refers to a broader mindset or quality of the mind, and how it relates to various aspects of life—such as material possessions, events, ideas, and even relationships.

In my research, I found that individuals who were better at practicing non-attachment experienced lower levels of negative mood states. This is likely because non-attachment cultivates higher psychological flexibility and a greater tolerance for separateness and, change or impermanence. In this way, it resembles the way securely attached individuals operate in relationships—able to engage with connection and healthy boundary. In essence, non-attachment allows one to engage with the world safely, without the cravings or clinging, as seen in anxious attachment, or without aversion and escape as seen in avoidant attachment. The key difference though is that, non-attachment is a conscious practice, whereas attachment styles are conditioned dispositions.

Q: What does a typical therapy session with you look like?

Madhuri: There’s really no such thing as a "typical" therapy session, as it varies depending on the client’s story, their process, the pace, and their emotional state at the time. My approach is to meet clients where they are, allowing the session to flow from the present moment. We regularly check in on both the emotional and physical levels, which helps build awareness and understanding of their experiences. Therapy, for me, is very much an experiential process—not just an intellectual one—and I aim to guide clients through it in a way that connects with them on multiple levels.

Q: You emphasise the mind-body connection. How does that influence your work?

Madhuri: The inseparability of the mind-body is foundational to my work. Personally, I no longer see them as distinct entities; they are part of one system—whether we call it the mind, body, or nervous system, it’s essentially the same. I try to help clients cultivate deeper awareness of how emotions are felt as physical sensations in the body, how physical states can influence emotions and thoughts, and vice versa. We also track the origins of behavioural reactions to understand where they are coming from in the nervous system. In the therapy session, I may often focus on building breath awareness, using simple exercises to shift nervous system states, or gently tending to areas of the body that might be signalling distress—like tension in the neck or shoulders, clenched jaws, or restlessness. By paying attention to these cues, we can foster a more integrated and holistic approach to healing.

Q: For someone nervous about starting therapy, what would you say?

Madhuri: Bring the nervousness in! It’s completely okay and very common to feel that way—after all, talking to someone new about deeply personal matters can feel daunting or awkward. There’s plenty of space in the room to hold all your experiences, no matter how big or small. What can be helpful is approaching it with a sense of curiosity, especially about the parts of yourself you might want to wish away or reject. In therapy, we create a safe space to explore and understand those feelings, and it’s all part of the process.

Q: Are there any common misconceptions about therapy?

Madhuri: One big misconception about therapy is the expectation of quick fixes. Real transformation takes time, practice, and ongoing reflection. Another myth is that psychologists give advice or "tell people what to do." In reality, therapy is about deepening self-awareness and helping clients repair their connection with themselves. It's about facilitating them towards finding their own insights and empowering them to make choices that align with their well-being.

Q: You use a range of evidence-based approaches in therapy. How do you decide which approach is best for each client?

Madhuri: I integrate different techniques based on what feels most relevant for each client's story or stage in the process—it’s a flexible and dynamic approach rather than a fixed one. Evidence-based models like CBT, Schema therapy and psychodynamic approaches are incredibly valuable for developing a deeper understanding of ourselves - our lives, and minds. That said, I really try to stay grounded in the here and now during our conversations, which is essentially a mindfulness approach. I also incorporate somatically informed techniques to help clients become more aware of their bodily and emotional states, deepening that mindfulness and enhancing the therapeutic process.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?

Madhuri: One of the challenges in this work is that moving from awareness to meaningful change isn’t always as straightforward or quick as many might hope. It takes time, consistent reflection, and practice, and that process can feel slow at times. However, with the right tools and a supportive, nurturing relationship, it becomes an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling journey.

Q: What do you hope your clients take away from therapy?

Madhuri: I hope clients leave with a deeper understanding of themselves—of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and how these are connected to their life story. My goal is for them to feel a greater sense of freedom and to shape their internal world in more conscious, less conditioned ways. Ultimately, I want them to leave with a more authentic connection to themselves and to others in their lives.

Q: If you could share one key piece of wisdom about mental health, what would it be?

Madhuri: The parts of our mind that don’t serve us aren’t our fault, but it is our responsibility to work through them. It can be tempting to label certain aspects of ourselves as just "personality"—things shaped by our past. However, much of how we experience life is often a result of adaptations to environments we once lived in. Taking care of our mental health means moving from automatic conditioning to conscious awareness, and the amazing thing is that our brains are incredibly plastic, making it possible for us to make that shift.

Q: If you weren’t a psychologist, what would you be doing instead?

Madhuri: I think I’d be a storyteller of some kind—maybe through writing, reporting, or even acting out characters. I’m deeply intrigued by the human experience, and I believe stories have immense power – both the ones we live through or create, and the ones we tell ourselves in the privacy of our minds. 😊

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INLIGHT PSYCHOLOGY | BONDI JUNCTION

Madhuri is offering therapy at Inlight Psychology, located in the heart of Bondi Junction. She sees clients from all over Sydney, the eastern suburbs and surrounds, and more remotely via telehealth. Madhuri sees clients with a variety of presentations, including anxiety, mood disorders, relational and family difficulties, health issues, sleeping difficulties, grief and loss, trauma, etc.

Our team has a very strong relational and attachment focused approach. This means that we place great importance on having a strong attunement to the therapeutic relationship and client sense of safety in the therapy room, which we believe is key to a positive experience in therapy.

All our psychologists have tertiary qualifications in Clinical Psychology, as a minimum.

Inlight Psychology offers therapy in-person or via telehealth/video call.

If you would like to learn more about the team at Inlight Psychology, click here.

If you would like to book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact Inlight Psychology on (02) 8320 0566 or contact@inlightpsychology.com.au.