Hello, I'm Dr. Sriya Bhattacharyya, the founder of Lotus Fire Healing. I wear many hats - including being an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Diversity Director in the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program, co-founder of Luna Bodhi Retreats, and member of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's Lived Experience Advisory Committee at SAMSHA. I'm a South Asian, mixed-caste, 2nd generation immigrant, Queer, mental health activist, who is guided by Earth-based spiritual systems. Beyond titles and labels, I'm a psychologist with a deep commitment to blending social transformation and creative healing.

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With over 15 years of international experience in community development and healing arts, my focus lies in teaching, hosting retreats, designing programs, researching, and providing individual services. My aim is to dismantle systems of oppression, amplify community voices, and liberate all beings, especially those marginalized by inequitable social structures.

 

Background

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Counseling & Psychotherapy

I completed my PhD and MA in Counseling Psychology at Boston College, following my BS in Psychologyat the University of Florida. My journey took me through a pre-doctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Health Equity at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Before that, I trained at several institutions like The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Project REACH National Human Trafficking Program, Brookline Community Mental Health Center, Physician's for Human Rights Asylum Network, Simmons College Counseling, Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Shands Arts in Medicine, and Alachua County Crisis Center. I have developed numerous therapeutic arts curricula and programs, like the STARS Experiential Arts Group for Trauma Survivors, Mending Broken Pieces Community Arts Group, and The Crane Project to Honor COVID-19 Losses. My approach blends feminist psychodynamic techniques with expressive arts and somatic embodied methods, often grounding my practice in the elements and Indian chakra systems. I hold a certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from van der Kolk's Trauma Institute and am a certified 200-hour yoga instructor through Shivakali School of Yoga. 

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Curriculum Development & Teaching

Teaching isn't just a profession for me— I descend from a long lineage of teachers and spiritual guides from India and the Himalayas. I've crafted critical education curricula like the Orbis Millenium Development Global Leadership Curriculum, the Popular Education Know Your Rights ESOL Toolkit for Undocumented Migrants, and the Liberation Tank Workshop Series at Columbia University for Healthcare Providers. My teaching journey has taken me across different educational levels and institutions, from high schools and community art centers to universities and medical schools. At places like the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in India, Boston College, and Columbia University, I've taught diverse courses such as Global Leadership & Development, Multiculturalism & Social Justice, and Counseling & Advocacy Skills. One of my teaching highlights was as a National Trainer for The Trauma Center at JRI's Project REACH Human Trafficking program. There, I had the honor of training community coalitions and government agencies across the country on trauma identification and treatment. I hold certificates in Human Rights and International Justice, and an Apprenticeship in College Teaching, both from Boston College.

 

Community Activism

My belief is that to heal, we must address the root causes of injustice. Inspired by my grandfather, a recognized freedom fighter in India, I've been involved in various social action initiatives - including Don't Meet Hurt With Hate, Eradicate BC Racism, and the Muslim Justice League - and trained with Momentum Social Movement Training Institute in 2016. I stand by and support community action organizations like Equality Labs and Fireweed Collective, and offer healing justice and strategy mapping sessions to movements and community organizations.

 

Research

In my research endeavors, I prioritize community-based participatory action research and arts-based inquiry. From exploring the experiences and needs of marginalized communities to studying the impact of arts-based interventions on healing, my work spans diverse settings, including Rwanda, India, and exploring resistance and resilience within communities in Boston and the Bronx. See a list of my published works on the resources page.

 

Media and Awards

My work has been featured in The Boston Globe, NPR, Al Jazeera, and The New York Times. I've been honored with awards like the Outstanding First Year Course Award from Columbia University students and the Excellence in Campus Leadership Award from the American Psychological Association.

 

Guided by anti-oppression, community collaboration, creative healing, and social liberation, I'm dedicated to doing my part in making a difference in the world through Lotus Fire Healing. I look forward to exploring how we can work together.