Madhavi Hettiarachchi

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka. After completing high school, I moved to Russia to pursue higher education. I graduated with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Faculty of Psychology at St. Petersburg State University. Following my studies, I relocated to Ethiopia after marrying someone who was born there. In the year 2000, I began my professional journey as a clinical psychologist at Amanuel Mental Health Hospital in Addis Ababa. During my five years at the hospital, I had the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary team that included psychiatric nurses, physicians, psychiatrists, and the sole psychologist on staff at the time. I supported individuals facing a range of emotional and psychosocial challenges, such as anxiety, OCD, depression, and PTSD. My work also included participating in-patient visits with individuals experiencing severe mental health conditions. My time there was both rewarding and challenging. I often grappled with how to integrate Western psychological theories into the Ethiopian cultural context. At times, I felt a disconnect between the depth of support people were seeking and what I was capable of offering. In 2003, I was offered a position as a consultant psychologist at the UN Health Care Center (UNHCC), a role that significantly broadened my exposure to a diverse, multicultural population. Since then, I have been providing individual counseling and psychotherapy to clients dealing with a wide range of psychosocial challenges, including work-related stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. My therapeutic approach is holistic, integrating supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and elements of psychoanalysis, complemented by bodywork and art therapy. In collaboration with fellow staff counselors, I also conduct awareness-raising sessions on various mental health topics and facilitate ongoing referrals to external mental health services within the country, ensuring that clients receive the most appropriate and comprehensive care. In addition to my role at the UNHCC, I have also served as a consultant psychologist at a private facility, and other institutions, including the Ethiopian Airlines Medical Facility and the African Union Medical Facility. The year 2007 was particularly difficult for me. The inner conflict – between pursuing my career and understanding deeper meaning in my work – I had been experiencing took a toll on my energy and left me feeling deeply frustrated. It was during this time of physical and emotional exhaustion that I think life itself reached out to guide me. In 2008, I found myself in India—a land long associated with healing inner search. My journey culminated in 2009 in a quiet, remote village by the sea. In a gathering filled with unconditional love and acceptance, I posed a heartfelt question: “What should I do with my work?” The answer I received was simple yet profound: “Earn some money and be independent; whatever you do, do it with love.” Since then, I have continued my professional journey with a renewed sense of understanding. I see psychology not as an end in itself, but as a stepping stone—an important, valuable path toward something much deeper. I work with the trust that healing is possible for every human being, and that just as life extended a helping hand to me, it will also reach out to those who come to me in search of support as Life cares. Note - Narrative was refined by AI. Thank you.