Mumbai doctor turns life coach for struggling LGBTQI members

Dr Prasad Dandekar has started a one-of-its-kind special professional coaching for LGBTQI members

The pandemic has left several members of the LGBTQI community in the confines of their house, compelling them to live a dual life in the presence of their family, and this has resulted in high levels of stress and anxiety. Dr Prasad Dandekar, a part of the LGBTQI community, has started a one-of-its-kind special professional coaching for those affected to celebrate the pride month.

"One of the people I am coaching is a PhD scholar. Because of the pandemic, like many, he is stuck at home. There is immense pressure on him to get married and he is unable to focus on work and complete his PhD. The pandemic has precipitated the crisis in his life and resulted in him feeling stuck and not knowing what to do. That's where I am guiding him to find solutions," said Dr Dandekar, a well-known radiation oncologist who also runs an NGO for the health of the LGBTQI community.

A certified coach from the International Coaching Federation, the city-based doctor had himself undergone coaching when he felt stuck professionally. "It is often confused and misunderstood for psychotherapy. While psychotherapy looks at the past, finds the trauma and heals it, professional coaching is just the opposite. It helps you reach your goal in life."

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Dr Dandekar explained that the coach engages with the person in a way that is thought provoking. "It helps and inspires the person to find creative solutions and help to move forward in the direction of your goals and bloom in life in spite of the adversities. I am coaching another researcher who lost her job, as the grants dried up during the pandemic. She feels stuck not knowing how to move forward. Each one of us goes through this phase of life at least once," he said.

Dr Avinash De Sousa, the president of Bombay Psychiatry Society, said everyone requires coaching in today's time. "Coaching plays a crucial role in the current scenario. It improves your resilience, it makes you feel secured, confident and toughens you to face the situation ahead. It helps overcome the uncertainty."

But the LGBTQI community has been affected more, he said, adding, "Like many, they have also faced the stress and anxiety from events like, job change, job loss, pay cut, work from home, deaths in and around the family, etc. In addition, not many [LGBTQI members] have opened up to their family about themselves and are forced to stay and behave in a particular manner."