Minal Mahtani
Founder And CEO
Minal Mahtani is the CEO and Founder of OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong. Her personal experience with anxiety and passion for psychology was the driving force behind her work with adults who struggle with mental health issues such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety Disorders. Minal is truly committed to creating change in the perception of mental health issues viewed by others, breaking stigma and sharing the tools that she has learnt to others.
Minal currently runs support groups for individuals with Anxiety Disorders and OCD , delivers educational workshops, organises and promotes Mental Health and OCD Awareness week activities, runs advocacy campaigns and offers OCD and Anxiety coaching. In addition, Minal is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a certified Stress Management Yoga teacher (RYT500). She believes that we all have a responsibility to look after our mental health as mental illness can affect anyone throughout our lifespan and negatively impacts our thoughts, behaviour and emotions.
Minal possesses an honours degree in Psychology from the University of Nottingham and holds a post graduate degree in Education. She has received training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders from renowned practitioners from The Beck Insitute, Harvard Medical School and the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, USA.
She is an advocate of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Exposure Response Prevention. Minal incorporates techniques from Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness Based Compassion Focused Therapy and Yoga in her daily practice. She has attended several workshops and conferences in the area of mental health in Hong Kong and overseas. Minal has had the privilege of meeting and learning from renowned professors, therapists and researchers in the field of Cognitive Therapy from USA and UK. This includes Dr Judith Beck, David A Clark, Adam Radomsky, Jacqueline Persons and Cory Newman.
Minal is the pioneer of the Green Ribbon and Stamp Out Stigma campaigns in Hong Kong, which runs in October each year during World Mental Health Month and is an integral member of the mental health community. Minal was a nominee for the Women of Hope 2018 award (HK Tatler and HKAF) and Women of Influence 2018 award (AmCham Women). She received ‘The Hong Kong’s Woman Leader 2019’ award from CMO Global for the work she does for the mental health community .
Intensive Acceptance Commitment Therapy Training with Professor Stephen Hayes (March 2016)
Minal Mahtani with Professor Stephen Hayes – Founder of Acceptance Commitment Therapy
8th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy Hong Kong (24-27 June 2014)
A humbling, enriching an opportunity to learn from and meet renown professors, therapists and researchers in the field of Cognitive Therapy from USA and the UK. The congress gave participants exposure to these notable individuals through training workshop days, keynote speeches, in congress workshops, sharing research papers and round table discussions of key area in Cognitive Therapy.
Minal Mahtani with Jacqueline Persons learning about 'Case Formulation in CBT'. Jacqueline is a clinical psychologist and a professor in Psychology at the University of California, Berkley. She is well known for her work in CBT and case formulation.
Minal Mahtani with Adam Radomsky enjoying learning about 'Cognitive Frontiers in the Treatment of OCD'. Adam Radomsky is a recognised leader in the field of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He is the director of the Anxiety and OCD Research Laboratory and is also involved in clinical practice. Adam is a professor at the University of Concordia.
Minal Mahtani learning about 'Expert Supervision in CBT' with Cory Newman. Cory Newman is a professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the director of the centre of Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania School of medicine.
Minal Mahtani attended a workshop training day with David A. Clark on 'Targeted Cognitive Behaviour Interventions for Obsessions, Rumination, Worry and Other Highly Toxic Anxious Intrusions. In addition, she attended several sessions of research sharing and cultural issues with OCD. David is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. He is renowned for his work in the areas of CBT and OCD and has released countless publications.
Minal Mahtani with Judith BECK after a keynote speech on 'The Therapeutic Alliance in CBT for patients with Axis 2 disorders'.Judith Beck is the president of the Beck Institute, Philadelphia. She is the daughter of Dr. Aaron T Beck who developed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in the 1970s. She is a CBT Trainer at the Beck Institute and a Clinical Associate Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Judith Beck is a fellow and past president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. To learn more visit about the programs offered at the Beck Institute, click here www.beckinstitute.org
Cognitive Behaviour and Acceptance Commitment Training for Anxiety Disorders (March 2014)
Minal Mahtani with Throstur Bjorgvinsson, director at Behavioural Health Partial Hospitalisation Program at McLean Hospital and Director at Houston OCD Program
Minal collecting her certificate in CBT and ACT for Anxiety Disorders with other trainees
Minal with Dr. Jeff Szymanski and Lisa Coyle wearing OCD Awareness T-shirts