Dr Vaisnvy Kapur, MPhil, PhD (NIMHANS) - Professional Bio
Dr. Vaisnvy Kapur is a dedicated and trained clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, with advanced degrees (MPhil and PhD) in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS. It is a top institute in India known for its academic-clinical rigour and tough entrance exams. She ranked 8th and 2nd in the All-India entrance exams for MPhil and PhD programs, respectively, and 27th in the national ICMR research fellowship exam.
Her research while pursuing MPhil focused on communication in couples therapy, while her PhD work examined suicidality with a severe mental condition such as Bipolar disorder in the Indian context. During her PhD work, she was awarded the ICMR International Travel grant for presentations based on her research at a scientific conference on Bipolar disorder in Washington DC, USA.
She has been trained in various psychological assessments and therapy modalities for individuals, couples, and families of all ages, addressing various mental health concerns and issues.
Her interests include whole health models of wellness, mental health awareness-promotion-and illness prevention, stigma reduction, suicide prevention, post-traumatic growth, reflective practice, psychotherapy processes and research, women’s and maternal mental health. Outside her work, she is a lifelong learner and work in progress- guided by “reset, restart, refocus, repeat.” She enjoys all things that make life glimmer.
Dr. Vaisnvy is currently based out of Bengaluru (India) and offers online psychotherapy via Respair Clinic. She speaks Tamil, Hindi, and English. You can learn more about her therapy approach or request an appointment with her.
Dr. Vaisnvy’s journey of working with people in need of mental health help began in 2011. As a junior consultant during her PhD, she has taught and supervised budding professionals in nursing, psychiatry, psychiatric social work, and clinical psychology streams. She has contributed as resource person in workshops such as work stress and mental health for Airforce Personnel and CBT workshops conducted by the Behavioural Medicine Unit at NIMHANS. Dr. Vaisnvy is deeply committed to supporting others and promoting their well-being.
She is a registered professional with American Psychological Association (APA- International affiliate) and Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI). Professional development through continuing education programs, undertaking supervision, engaging in peer consultation, and being in personal therapy are important to her and they enhance how she shows up for her clients ethically with their best interests in mind.
Education
- 2021, PhD, Clinical Psychology, National Insitute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
- 2013, MPhil, Clinical Psychology, National Insitute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
Test Scores
- 2015, 27th rank, Indian Council of Medical Research- Junior Research Fellowship Examination (Social Sciences)
- 2014, 2nd rank, NIMHANS National level Entrance Examination for PhD in Clinical Psychology
- 2011, 8th rank, NIMHANS National level Entrance Examination for MPhil in Clinical Psychology
Publications and presentations
- Kapur, V. (2021) Suicidality In Currently Euthymic Patients With Bipolar Disorder: Psychosocial And Clinical Correlates. PhD Thesis, National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences – NIMHANS (Bengaluru, India).
- Kapur, V., Nadella, R. K., Raghuraman, B. S., Saraf, G., Mishra, S., Srinivasmurthy, N., ... & Viswanath, B. (2019). Clinical factors associated with lithium treatment response in bipolar disorder patients from India. Asian journal of psychiatry, 39, 165-168.
- Bauer, R., Glenn, T., Strejilevich, S., Conell, J., Alda, M., Ardau, R., ... Kapur, V., ... & Bauer, M. (2018). Internet use by older adults with bipolar disorder: international survey results. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 6, 1-7.
- Kapur, V., Sudhir, P. M., & Kesavan, M. (2017). Current Suicidal Ideation and Correlates Among Persons with Bipolar Disorder: Preliminary Findings from India. Poster presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD), Washington DC, USA.
- Kapur, V., Sudhir, P. M., & Kesavan, M. (2017). Psychosocial Context of Suicidal Behaviour in Persons with Bipolar Disorder: Preliminary Results from India. Poster presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD), Washington DC, USA.
- Bauer, R., Conell, J., Glenn, T., Alda, M., Ardau, R., Baune, B. T., ... Kapur, V., ... & Bauer, M. (2017). International multi-site survey on the use of online support groups in bipolar disorder. Nordic journal of psychiatry, 71(6), 473-476.
- Bauer, R., Conell, J., Glenn, T., Alda, M., Ardau, R., Baune, B. T., ... Kapur, V., ... & Bauer, M. (2016). Internet use by patients with bipolar disorder: results from an international multisite survey. Psychiatry research, 242, 388-394.
- Conell, J., Bauer, R., Glenn, T., Alda, M., Ardau, R., Baune, B. T., … Kapur, V., ... & Bauer, M. (2016). Online information seeking by patients with bipolar disorder: results from an international multisite survey. International journal of bipolar disorders, 4(1), 1-14.
- Kapur, V. (2013) A Qualitative Study on Communication in Couple Therapy. MPhil Thesis, National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences – NIMHANS (Bengaluru, India).
Grant
- 2017- International Travel grant provided by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to present posters at the 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD), Washington DC, USA.
Continued Professional Development/ Continued education (Selected)
- Online symposium on Mentalization-Based Treatment: From Concept to Clinical Practice, organized by the Parc-Bengaluru and the MENTEM Division, Department of Clinical Psychology at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru on 17th May, 2025 & 18th May, 2025.
- Virtual Gatekeeper Training on Suicide Prevention- online mode, conducted by N-SPRITE (NIMHANS) on 3rd May, 2025.
- Foundation Course in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy conducted by The Parc- Bengaluru and Bower Place- Australia, from 5th January to 15th March, 2024.
- From Stigma to Compassion: Contextualising and Reconstructive Narratives around Suicide in India. Online workshop conducted by Neevmh on 8th October, 2023
- Mentalization based treatment- basic training, conducted by the Parc- Bengaluru and Professor Antony Bateman co-founder of Mentalization-Based Treatment and consultant with Anna Freud Centre, London – 5th April to 11th April, 2021.