Meet the women of Nuffield Health - Gurshinder Mann

Name and role

Gurshinder Mann, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

What do you do at Nuffield Health?

“I work as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) therapist. CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviors are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle.

“My role involves seeing clients face to face daily as well as carrying out telephone triage assessments. I see members of the public, Nuffield Health members and Nuffield Health staff.

“The conditions I work with as a CBT/counsellor include, depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD, panic attacks, GAD (generalise anxiety disorders), eating problems, suicidal ideation, just to mention a few. 

“I also work with clients to help build skills in areas such as assertiveness, communication, anger, sleep, low self-esteem, self-harm, and stress management.” 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

“To me, International Women’s Day is not only about supporting and celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, but women in general. For me it’s also about appreciating the women in your life; appreciating and being thankful for what they bring to your life, be that in the work place, at home, in a relationship or in a friendship. It’s about respecting women.”

What do you think it the biggest challenge for women today and what has been your biggest challenge?

“I think in today’s society women’s biggest challenges is still about being treated equality to men. 

“Women are still fighting for equal opportunities within the work place, pay scales, job opportunities and senior positions. 

“My biggest challenge has been trying to open the doors to mental health within the Asian community. Mental health is still regarded as a taboo subject in the world and very much so within certain cultures. Mental health within Asian societies is still not understood well and often dismissed. I think, as an Asian woman, it’s not only important to reach out to other Asian women, but to women of all races and cultures, as well as men.” 

Which woman has inspired you and why?

“I would say it’s probably not a woman but a quote about women. It’s from the Sikh holy scripture (Sri Guru Grant Sahib Ji) which illustrates so beautifully the respect a woman deserves.”

‘From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.’

Last updated Tuesday 3 March 2020

First published on Tuesday 3 March 2020