About Me
I am Chham Kumari Gurung, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) practitioner, currently based in Kathmandu.
Born and raised amidst the vibrant tapestry of Singapore, I was certainly a third-culture kid who questioned true belongingness. I am a mother to two wonderful, young women from whom I continue to learn so much about the world. With more than fifteen years of experience as a therapist, I bring a blend of compassion, practicality, and nurturing wisdom to my practice.
My approach as a therapist is a harmonious fusion of science and spirituality, honoring the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. In our sessions together, you’ll find me to be a compassionate ally and a trusted guide, focused on helping you navigate life’s challenges with new tools and insight.
Grounded in evidence-based CBT techniques, I am dedicated to constantly updating my knowledge and skills through attending mental health workshops, reading, connecting with other professionals, and constantly self-reflecting. In recent times, I’ve been drawn to the practice of forest therapy, recognizing the profound impact of nature on our mental and emotional well-being. Guided by the rhythms of the forest and the wisdom of the natural world, I incorporate elements of eco-therapy into my work, inviting clients to explore the healing embrace of the outdoors if it appeals to them.
Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions or simply seeking greater clarity and connection in your life, know that you’re not alone. If you’re ready to take the first step, I invite you to reach out to me. Together, we’ll embark on a journey of learning to create joyful connections, self-discovery, and transformation.
~ Chham
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications. It is important to emphasize that advances in CBT have been made on the basis of both research and clinical practice. Indeed, CBT is an approach for which there is ample scientific evidence that the methods that have been developed actually produce change. In this manner, CBT differs from many other forms of psychological treatment.
CBT is based on several core principles, including:
- Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
- Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
- People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.
CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:
- Learning to recognize one’s distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality.
- Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.
- Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
- Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one’s own abilities.
CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. These strategies might include:
- Facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them.
- Using role playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
- Learning to calm one’s mind and relax one’s body.
Not all CBT will use all of these strategies. Rather, the psychologist and patient/client work together, in a collaborative fashion, to develop an understanding of the problem and to develop a treatment strategy.
CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, patients/clients are helped to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.
CBT therapists emphasize what is going on in the person’s current life, rather than what has led up to their difficulties. A certain amount of information about one’s history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.
Source: APA Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology)
Chham’s approach to Forest Therapy is beneficial, regardless of one’s experience with nature. The program was serene, thought-provoking and comforting. Using nature as a tool to self-discovery is something that had never occurred to me, and I came away feeling refreshed and newly connected to the environment.
~
Alexis Ellicott, Chief of Party
Qualifications
- Master of Social Science (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.
- Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Professional Counselling) Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.
- Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.
- Counselling Certification (In-house training by Singapore Police Psychological Division), Gurkha Contingent, Singapore.
- Parenting Certification (Ministry of Family and Social Development) Singapore.
- Diploma in Choice Choice Theory Reality Therapy. William Glasser Institute, In Focus, Singapore.
- Diploma Narrative Therapy/ Practices (Narrative Practices), India.
- Wilderness Therapy (Qualia Outdoor Therapy) Dharamshala, India.
- Complex trauma-informed web workshops series (Youth Flourish Outdoors), Australia.