Our Team

TALENT AT YOUR SERVICE

Our Team of Qualified Mental Health Care Providers

DR. SMITA DESAI

Dr. Smita Desai has been a source of inspiration in the fields of Psychology and Special Education since 1986. With degrees from the University of Mumbai (India) and North Carolina State University (USA), she has worked extensively with children, youth, families and educational institutions. As the Founder of Drishti, she has been an entrepreneur and a compassionate guiding force for its impactful work in Mental Health and Inclusive Education.

As a member of the Board of Studies of esteemed Colleges, she continues to significantly influence academic excellence and inclusivity. Her inspiring legacy resonates via numerous scientific and narrative publications over the past 3 decades. She served as the Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Psychological Association from 2012-2018. She currently volunteers her counselling expertise to prevent violence against women and children in the slums of Mumbai.

MADHURA PATHARE

Ms. Pathare, an RCI licensed Psychologist, has long served children with special needs, drawing from her qualifications and experience in the field of psychology. She leads with a commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and inclusivity. She has shown exemplary leadership in nurturing various teams and is currently the CEO at Drishti.

ANAND DESAI

Mr Anand Desai holds diverse degrees in science (MSc, Physics USA) and social science (MA, Psychology India) and even more diverse interests which includes sport! His role at Drishti is in working with the leadership team in helping create & execute strategy for the organisation, as well as ensuring Drishti has a culture of nurturing young talent. Anand is husband to Smita and made a mid career switch to join her to help grow Drishti.

Our People

Our Team

Anuja Kale, Head Admin at Drishti is a seasoned professional with 15+ years of experience in organisational administrative management. With a wealth of experience in overseeing administrative functions and commitment to excellence, she plays a crucial role in maintaining a positive and productive work environment.

Anuja Kale

Head Admin

Ms. Shah, a Special Educator with 30+ years of experience in the field of Special Education. She has provided tailored support and education to the students with diverse learning needs. She has collaborated with parents & colleagues and implemented effective strategies to foster academic and personal growth in students.

Darshika Shah

Consultant, SEN and Head T & D Operations

Ms Chandwadkar, a Counselling Psychologist and seasoned mental health professional with over 14 years of experience, leading the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Drishti’s psychology programs while ensuring quality, ethical compliance, and measurable outcomes. Provides clinical supervision and mentoring to multidisciplinary teams of psychologists and counsellors, delivers school-based, individual and group counselling interventions, and designs and facilitates workshops and training programmes, with expertise in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, psychometric assessments, inclusive education frameworks, and stakeholder engagement.

Namrata Chandwadkar

Program Director – Psychology

Ms Dixit, an experienced counselling psychologist and outreach professional with over a decade of experience in designing and delivering school-based mental health and life skills programmes. Leads and manages outreach initiatives across schools and institutions, including awareness programmes, structured counselling modules, and training interventions for students, parents, and educators. Oversees program planning, coordination, documentation, and impact tracking while delivering individual and group counselling sessions and facilitating workshops, with expertise spanning school mental health, art-based therapeutic interventions, career assessments, and stakeholder engagement.

Pratiksha Dixit

Head, Outreach Services

Ms. Ribea is a Counselling Psychologist and mental health professional with over 10 years of experience supporting child and adolescent well-being within educational settings. As Program Director – Psychology at Drishti Counseling Center, Bengaluru, she leads the planning and delivery of psychology programmes, ensuring quality, ethical practice, and meaningful outcomes. Her work includes school-based initiatives, individual and group counselling, mentoring counsellors, and designing workshops for students, parents, and educators. She brings expertise in socio-emotional learning, psychometric assessments, inclusive education frameworks, early intervention, and stakeholder engagement, and is committed to building supportive environments that promote holistic student development.

Ribea Golapalle

Program Director – Psychology

Ms. Elmy P. Eldho is the Program Director – Onsite (South Zone) at Drishti Counselling Services, promoted in 2025 in recognition of her exceptional leadership and commitment to student well-being. She oversees onsite counselling operations across schools in the South Zone, ensuring high standards of quality, professionalism, and care while working closely with school leadership teams and counsellors. With prior experience as Head of School Counselling – Bangalore, Ms Elmy brings deep expertise in managing complex academic, emotional, and behavioural cases, strengthening counselling systems, and building strong school partnerships. Known for her empathetic approach, calm presence, and effective communication, she has led impactful training and workshops for students, teachers, and parents, playing a vital role in creating emotionally safe, supportive, and thriving school environments.

Elmy P Eldho

Program Director – Onsite Services