MEET YOUR COUNSELOR

Hi, I’m Ramya Balapa LMHC

I’m a licensed mental health counselor.

My life’s work is helping people make their lives work.

People have an inherent desire to be the best versions of themselves —  to be strong and capable, to rise up to challenges, to cope with loss or setbacks, and to support their loved ones. For those struggling with a mental health diagnosis or difficult circumstances, this notion can often seem impossible to achieve.

A lifetime of personal experience and years of professional study have reinforced my core belief that with the right amount of empathy, honesty, and professional expertise, everyone — including you — can reach the point where they aren’t simply surviving their life, they are actively thriving in it.

My passion for mental health began when I was just 12 years old: The results of an internet personality test lit the spark of curiosity, causing me to question who I am and why I behave the way I do. This process of introspection, which began there and continues to this day, led me to immerse myself in psychology at my very first opportunity. 

I opted to study psychology in the final two years of high school and then went on to major in the same subject during my undergraduate degree. The education I received was incredibly valuable, but it was my first time working directly with clients that truly changed my perspective.

I spent a year working part time as a Special Educator in an institute that provides remedial classes for children with learning disabilities. I was able to build rapport with children quickly, which helped me understand them better. For many of them, their low self-esteem hindered them more than their learning disability. This was a problem that could be dealt with: It was just a matter of being aware of it and finding the right person to help. This was the point that I decided to dedicate my life towards mental health and advocacy for the same.  

It was while enrolled in a Masters’ degree in Psychological Counseling at Montfort College, Bangalore University, that my studies and my life started to overlap. These two years were a period of great personal struggle, but the university’s emphasis on personal growth along with skills training helped tremendously — I began applying all the things I was learning in class to my personal life and firmly believe that this was the only reason I was able to cope.

I decided to pursue my second master’s degree at the University of Central Florida. Soon after graduation, I began working in a community mental health setting. I had the opportunity to work with individuals with many different mental health conditions, from depression and anxiety to schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and personality disorders. 

I volunteered as a grief counselor for the one-year anniversary of the pulse massacre and received a medal of appreciation from the mayor of Orange County. The pulse tragedy made me reaffirm myself as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

While working as an outpatient clinician, I also began providing mental health services within the school district of my community: 

• I work with children and teens for issues related to impulsive behaviors, stress related to academic performance, trauma, substance use and abuse, depression, and anxiety-related issues. 
• I work with adults suffering from depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, substance abuse, interpersonal conflicts, grief, postpartum depression, infertility and women’s health issues. 

My belief as a counselor is that all individuals must be received with empathy, honesty, and a nonjudgmental attitude. People have the innate desire to thrive but sometimes struggle due to the unique experiences they have endured. I work to provide a safe and compassionate environment along with the tools necessary to move from surviving to thriving.