Adhunika Naithani

Care taker, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Foodie, Musician, Parent

Adhunika Naithani is a school counsellor and psychologist with over 14 years of experience working with children and adolescents. Passionate about emotional well-being, mental health, and empowering young people, she works closely with students to help them navigate the challenges of identity, relationships, self-esteem, academic pressure, and the rapidly changing world around them. Through her work in schools, Adhunika creates safe spaces where young people can pause, reflect, express themselves, and develop the emotional tools needed to thrive. She strongly believes that emotional well-being should not be treated as an afterthought but as an essential part of education. Her work focuses on helping young people build self-awareness, resilience, healthy relationships, and the confidence to make thoughtful choices. Adhunika is particularly passionate about starting meaningful conversations around mental health and creating school environments where every child feels seen, heard, and cared for.

I am passionate about supporting the emotional well-being of children and young people and creating spaces where they feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment. I believe that being genuinely seen, heard, and understood can be the beginning of healing, resilience, and meaningful growth.

Young people don’t always need someone to fix their problems; sometimes, being truly seen and heard is where healing begins. When a young person shares their struggles, adults often instinctively move into “fixing mode,” offering advice, solutions, or reassurance. While the intention is often to protect them from pain, what they may need most is someone who simply listens without judgment. Being heard does not make their problems disappear, but it reminds them that they do not have to face them alone. Just as Kintsugi teaches us to acknowledge rather than hide the cracks, perhaps we need to create spaces where young people feel safe enough to show their struggles without fear of being judged or immediately fixed. Before we try to heal their cracks, we must first be willing to see them.

Adolescent Development and Identity, Child and Adolescent Counselling and Therapy, Emotional Regulation and Resilience, Friendship and Boundaries, Group Work, Life Skills and Social-Emotional Learning, Mental Health Awareness and Prevention, Mindfulness and Wellbeing, Positive Parenting and Parent Guidance, Psychoeducation., Relationships, School Wellbeing and Mental Health, SEEL/PSHE Curriculum Development, Self-Esteem and Body Image, Sexuality Education and Adolescent Sexual Health and Development, Student Support and Safeguarding, Teacher and Parent Wellbeing Workshops, Wellness Curriculum Design

For the last 14 years, I have had the privilege of working with children and teenagers from different nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds, across varied educational and professional settings. Each experience has given me a different perspective on the ways young people understand themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. I have had the opportunity to sit with them through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I have met young people dealing with pressure, friendships, relationships, academics, body image, family issues and sometimes things they could never talk about with anyone. When I started working as a counsellor, I thought my role was to help them find answers and solutions. But with experience, I realised that it is not always about finding the right answer. Sometimes, a child just needs to heard. A young person can walk into a room saying “I’m fine” and slowly, when they realise they are not going to be judged or told what they should feel, they begin to open up. That has stayed with me! We expect young people to be strong all the time. We celebrate their marks, their achievements and their successes, but adults are generally uncomfortable when they struggle. They are told to move on, to be positive, to stop overthinking, or to simply be stronger. I think young people don't need to be perfect. They don't need to have everything figured out. And they certainly don't need to hide every struggle they are going through. Sometimes, the most important thing we can say to a young person is simply, “I see you. I'm listening. You don't have to go through this alone.” We may not always be able to fix what they are going through. But we can make sure they don't feel invisible while they are going through it.

People don’t know that I am trained in Hindustani classical vocal music and that I love singing. I also really enjoy cooking and baking. I love trying new recipes, experimenting in the kitchen, and making food for the people I care about. There is something very satisfying about creating something from scratch and seeing people enjoy it. One of the things I think I’m really good at is talking to strangers. I can hold a conversation with almost anyone, irrespective of their age or background. I genuinely enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories. Some of the most random people I have met have ended up sharing their stories, experiences, and sometimes even their deepest thoughts with me. I practise mindfulness and love being around children. I am also a mother to a toddler, which has taught me a lot about patience, living in the moment, and finding joy in the little things.