Karishma Badal

I have a strong commitment to supporting children and young people to feel seen, heard, and valued, particularly those navigating questions of identity and belonging. Much of my work has been with young people who have experienced isolation, cultural tensions, or difficulties in school, and I have seen how powerful it can be when they are given space to reflect on who they are and who they might become.

I have worked across a range of settings including schools, inpatient hospitals, and community youth services. As a Wellbeing Practitioner, I supported young people aged 16–25 through one-to-one therapeutic work and by creating inclusive spaces such as a Muslim women’s group and protected discussion groups around identity, race, and gender. My earlier experience in schools as an SEN Teaching Assistant deepened my appreciation of the challenges children face in education and the importance of emotional support alongside learning. I also gained valuable experience working in a CAMHS inpatient setting, which gave me insight into the realities of acute mental health care and the impact of systemic pressures on both patients and staff.

Alongside this, I have pursued psychoanalytic training at the Tavistock and Portman, completing the M7 Perinatal, Child, Adolescent and Family Work: a Psychoanalytic Observational Approach and the Advanced Work Discussion course (CPD 98). These studies confirmed my wish to train as a child and adolescent psychotherapist and gave me the foundations to think deeply about emotional life in children, families, and young people.

I am extremely grateful to the Stuart Hall Foundation for supporting me on this journey, enabling me to access opportunities within a profession that can be difficult for many to enter. This year, I am excited to begin the Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (M80) at the Tavistock and Portman, where I will continue to develop and hope to help contribute to making psychoanalytic work more accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive for children, young people, and families.