Student Spotlight: Rajika Mehra

“I envision a future where our collective efforts foster a more equitable and compassionate society, and I'm committed to being part of that change,” explained Rajika Mehra, a fourth-year student in the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology program. “Growing up in India and now training in the U.S., I’ve had the opportunity to work across diverse populations and systems, which has instilled in me a profound sense of cultural humility and a deep commitment to social justice.”

Rajika was born and raised in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, where she lived with her parents, younger sister, and extended family. “Everyone in my family is very accomplished and I come from a highly privileged background,” she shared. “I’ve always been surrounded by people who are overachievers and that transcended into my own experience.” Rajika attended all-female English-speaking schools where she received an excellent education. “My parents were always very supportive and I was free to make mistakes and find my own path,” she reflected. “However, it’s a very conservative society full of patriarchal norms and challenging them has always been a very pivotal part of my journey.”

For her undergraduate studies, Rajika attended Sophia College for Women at the University of Mumbai. Moving from her small town to the big city was a major shift for Rajika and her university had strict curfews designed to keep the students safe. “The field of mental health in India has loads of stigma even today and even more so ten years ago when I was stumbling into the field,” she explained. “When I said I wanted to study psychology, that was a huge shift.” Although it may have been a surprise for her family, Rajika had been interested in mental health from a young age, watching her peers struggle with the high pressure to excel. “It was like a personal flaw if you had a mental health condition or were battling with anxiety or depression” she reflected. “So my journey has been figuring out how cultures, systems, individual factors, and community factors all affect mental health.” Rajika graduated in 2016 with her BA in Psychology, but she knew this was just the first step on her path.

That same year, Rajka enrolled in Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology. “It was not a decision I had to think about a lot,” she recalled. “India is a very degree-oriented country and I knew if I wanted to learn a living, I needed to have a higher degree.” Rajika chose this university in particular because of its focus on assessment and third wave CBT, which she was very interested in. For her practicum, she had the opportunity to work with students with disabilities at a local school. Rajika will never forget these first students she worked with, doing a type of exposure therapy to help them prepare for traveling via airplane for the first time to a baking competition. “Being a BA student was about building community in a new city, making friends, and gaining experiences,” she reflected. “Being an MA student was about finding my voice as a psychologist through in-depth training.”

Rajika volunteered as a psychologist at the Hunar Foundation, a non-profit in her hometown of Lucknow, from 2019-2021. In this role, she provided therapy to women facing domestic violence and worked with the police to facilitate legal cases when necessary. “As a woman, it was very important for me, once I got the degree, to be able to go back and address the intersection of mental health, gender-based violence, and systemic support in the community,” she shared. “I provided pro bono therapy to women facing domestic violence, many of whom had never received psychological support before, and by creating a safe, non-judgmental space, I helped them process trauma, build self-agency, and explore coping strategies.” As part of this role, she also led mental health workshops and held support groups to raise awareness about domestic violence.

At the same time, Rajika co-founded Mental Health Today, a website modeled after Psychology Today, geared towards the Indian audience. “Working in the field made me see the stigma and misinformation that was present around mental health,” she shared. “The stigma was so ingrained in the fabric of the society that it was very difficult to even start that conversation with a lot of people.” Rajika partnered with a colleague and created the Mental Health Today website, which they envisioned as a “one-stop shop” for credible mental health resources, including blogs, podcasts and webinars with professionals in the field, and a directory of mental health professionals in each area. The website still exists today, but Rajika stepped away in 2021 when she moved to the United States.

In the fall of 2021, Rajika enrolled in the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology program, pursuing her PsyD. She initially planned to enroll the previous year, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her plans. “It felt important to me to get that higher degree in order to have a seat at the table,” she recalled. As she began to think about where in the world she wanted to study, the United States, and Berkeley, CA, in particular was front of mind. As the center of many political and social movements over the years and the setting of many television shows and movies, Rajika had formed an image of Berkeley as an inclusive place where everyone was accepted and respected. She was drawn to the Wright Institute in particular because of the focus on community mental health. “It felt like, given my trajectory, I wanted to continue that work with marginalized populations in the US,” she reflected. “This time I was a part of the marginalized community and that was a big shift.” As an international student, Rajika was also attracted to the Wright Institute’s small cohort sizes and emphasis on collaboration.

Rajika’s first two practicum experiences were at the Wright Institute Clinic and the Wright Institute Recovery Clinic. She made a conscious decision to work with adults during these first two practicum experiences while she learned more about American culture. “I didn't know the importance of football and the 49ers,” she laughed. “I felt like I always had to learn more culturally than my peers and then show up for my clients full of curiosity and humility around what's bringing them into therapy at that point in time.” During those first two years, Rajika faced many challenges, including a client who asked not to work with her because of her accent, and really learned the importance of building a supportive community and taking time for self-care. “My lived experience of being both a minority and majority across different geographical and professional contexts have given me a dual perspective: I understand the weight of being marginalized and the privilege of occupying spaces where your identity is centered,” she reflected. “This duality has instilled in me a deep empathy for clients navigating intersecting identities and a commitment to honoring their lived experiences without assumptions.”

During her third year and this year, Rajika has been a practicum trainee at WestCoast Children’s Clinic (WCC) in Oakland, CA. After two years of working with adults, she decided that working with children and families would allow her to learn a new perspective. “At WCC, I’ve learned how assessments can transcend diagnostic purposes to become therapeutic interventions,” Rajika explained. “The opportunity to create supportive environments for neurodivergent youth and system-impacted families during assessments has shown me the transformative potential of this work.” Her time at WCC has also taught Rajika the importance of flexibility. “You can't be the expert in every living situation and you have to be flexible and adaptable, keep an open mind, be humble, and let them take the lead,” she shared. “They are their experts in their family and you're just there to support them and see a different perspective, with the aim to change the narrative eventually.” Rajika has had a phenomenal experience at WCC and her work there has only reinforced her passion for providing holistic care to underserved populations. Recently, Rajika found out that she matched with WestCoast Children’s Clinic for her doctoral internship next year and she’s excited for the opportunity to continue working with their amazing team.

Rajika’s dissertation is titled “Unveiling the Evolutionary and Ecological Underpinnings of People-Pleasing: An Exploratory Study,” a topic inspired by her own journey. Coming to a new country at the age of twenty-five, she had felt compelled to say yes to every opportunity at first. “I was living in San Jose at the time and I would drive to Berkeley just for coffee dates or to go hiking with friends,” she recalled. “You don't usually climb mountains in India - that's not a thing, so I was like ‘Why am I doing this? Why am I torturing myself to go in the sun and climb a mountain?’” When her therapist suggested that Rajika may be people-pleasing, she began doing some research on the topic and realized that there are gaps in the current literature. “The biggest finding of my dissertation is that people-pleasing is not just about self, but it's also about the other,” she explained. “So it's not like I have a problem saying no or setting boundaries, it's the context and the importance that I've given to others that affects my ability to not say no.” As with most things, Rajika learned that culture and context matters.

Looking back on her time as a student at the Wright Institute, Rajika has many accomplishments to be proud of, from getting exemplary on her Case Competency Exam to matching with her top choices in BAPIC, but her happiest moments have been spending time with her community. “I'm very privileged to have a good community of friends who I can really rely on and good professional relationships with some of my professors who I really look up to and value,” she reflected. “Being able to engage in discussions and see different perspectives has been very, very substantial to my growth as a clinician!” In addition to providing her with diverse perspectives, her community has been there to hold her up and support her at every turn.

Rajika’s biggest challenge as a graduate student and a life-long overachiever has been learning when to stop. “You only have 100% to give in a day, so you can’t give 100% in your morning class, 100% at your evening class, and also give 100% at home with your partner,” she explained. “I had to learn to prioritize self-care and stop people-pleasing!” Fortunately, Rajika has learned to give herself grace and immerse herself in the experience. “My advice to students entering the field is to enjoy the process,” she shared. “There will always be more to learn, but the power to simply be with your clients is irreplaceable. Trust yourself, and when in doubt, just act human!”

During her time at the Wright Institute thus far, Rajika has formed strong bonds with several of her professors. Her Case Conference leader, Dr. Diane Kaplan, helped Rajika build her voice as a clinician in training. Dr. Deanna van Ligten at WIC and Dr. Calla Belkin at the Recovery Clinic helped to guide her through showing up authentically despite facing microaggressions. Her dissertation chair, Dr. Lynn O’Connor, has pushed Rajika with strict dissertation deadlines that have left her ahead of the curve. Dr. Kinshasa Bennett taught her a love of assessment and how to think of assessment from a culturally-informed, anti-racist lens. “Dr. Bennett has been very pivotal in my journey and I loved learning from her as a student,” she shared. “I feel like each and every interaction with all of my professors and peers has had a deep impact.”a

Above all, Rajika has a deep passion for advocacy and sharing her knowledge with others. “My opportunities today exist because others before me fought to create space for people like me, and I feel a responsibility to continue that work for future students,” she explained. Rajika founded the Support Group for International Students at the Wright Institute during her second year with the aim of providing the support she had so desperately needed as a first year international student. Rajika co-led the group for two years and was able to establish a separate orientation for international students moving forward. For those same two years, she was also a student body representative for her cohort on the Wright Institute’s Diversity Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Becky Pizer. “As a woman of color from the Global South, I’ve personally experienced exclusion, misrepresentation, and the need to constantly prove my belonging,” she reflected. “When elected to the Diversity Committee, I knew this was an opportunity to push for systemic changes that would improve the experience of future students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.”

Rajika has also taken on several additional leadership roles and responsibilities during her time at the Wright Institute, eager to experience new things and gather more knowledge. She worked as a research assistant to Dr. Lynn O’Connor and Dr. Hanna Levenson, helping them with various aspects of preparing for publication. During her third year, Rajika was a TA for Dr. Kinshasa Bennett's year-long assessment course. Looking back, Rajika admits she’s not sure how she found the time.

Last year, Rajika served as a Sessions Committee Member of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), helping to organize their annual convention in Atlanta, GA. She has also been the membership chair for their Division of International Students and Professionals (DoISAP) for the past two years, leveraging the knowledge and experience she gained from founding the Support Group for International Students at the Wright Institute to build community with others in her position. “Global perspective has always been very important to me,” Rajika explained. “I want to ensure that diverse voices are centered in psychology and we all have a seat at the table.”

In her limited free time, Rajika enjoys spending time with her partner and playing with her dog, Dobby. She also loves cooking and hosting others in her home. “If you ever ask anybody about me, that’s what they’re going to say,” she laughed. “I love feeding people - that’s my love language!” She also enjoys reading for pleasure and especially enjoys Harry Potter fan fiction. Most of all, she’s looking forward to having financial stability in the future so she can pursue more of her interests.

After she graduates from the Wright Institute, Rajika’s primary goal is to continue growing and advocating for the marginalized. “The Wright Institute has been very foundational and has opened a lot of doors for me,” she reflected. “I’ve learned the power of building connections and networking with peers and professors and it’s great to have that support.” Once she leaves the Wright, Rajika plans to make a name for herself based upon the quality of her work as a culturally-informed clinician, an assessor, and perhaps, one day, a professor. “I wasn’t born into the world I wanted, but I’ve spent my life building the one I deserve,” she shared. “As an early-career psychologist, my hope is to actively participate in shaping an ever-evolving profession that prioritizes diversity, inclusivity, and equality for all individuals.”