Meet Urmi Jani

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Urmi Jani a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Urmi, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

As a psychologist, my resilience comes from a combination of factors. Primarily, though, I would not be where I am without my support system. My relationships with my family, colleagues and friends have kept me motivated and moving during both the happy times as well as the difficult ones. And there have been very difficult times. But, I have lived to tell the tales, and that is my testament of resilience. I also fully beleive that my personal values are what fuels my sense of resilience. This includes my commitment to helping others and making a difference in people’s lives which provides me with a strong sense of purpose. Having purpose is what keeps my wheels of momentum rolling along on my journey. Finally, taking time to reflect on my experiences, both the good and the ugly, have given me perspective to know and truly beleive that the human spirit can overcome. This, to me, is resilience.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a clinical health and performance psychologist focused on promoting holistic well-being through evidence-based interventions and compassionate care.

I use a person-centered approach and utilize tailored interventions to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient. Grounded in empathy and respect, my therapeutic style fosters a safe and supportive environment where individuals can explore challenges, gain insight, and cultivate resilience.

With a focus on integrative and functional health, as well as optimizing skills to maximize one’s own potential, I am skilled at addressing the complex factors influencing health and wellness outcomes. I enjoy supporting individuals navigating life transitions, help them cope more productively, and achieve the best versions of themselves.

I recently left a 7-year tenure at a speciality cardiac hospital where I oversaw psychological services for the hospital to join a concierge performance psychiatry practice. It has been a very exciting transition and I am so happy to be in direct therapeutic services again. The concierge care model really allows us to be there for our patients and allows patients to have direct access to care on their terms.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1) Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: The ability to deeply understand and connect to my patients’ emotions is crucial. This has helped build trust and rapport, making therapy more effective and enhances our path to wellness partnership.

2) Reflective Practice and Self-Awareness: Regular self-reflection and awareness of my own biases, emotions, and responses has significantly enhanced my effectiveness as a psychologist. This practice not only improves my professional growth but also helps me to manage the emotional demands of the job, which fosters resilience.

3) Theoretical Knowledge and Continuous Learning: A strong foundation in evidence-based psychological theories, coupled with a commitment to ongoing education, ensures that I stay current with evolving practices and can apply the most effective interventions.

General Tips for Folks:

1) Find a Mentor: A mentor can provide guidance, support, and wisdom from their own experience, helping you navigate the challenges of the field. Seek supervision for areas of relative weakness.

2) Join Professional Communities: Being part of a professional community or network can offer valuable resources, support, and opportunities for collaboration and learning.

3) Be Patient with Yourself: Growth in these areas takes time. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I was not born in America. My parents moved to this country, with me in tow, when I was 6 years old. They knew my opportunities, as a female, would be different if we had stayed in our home country. So the first thing they’ve ever done for me, is to uproot everything they’ve ever known, to immigrate in order for their daughter to pursue the American Dream. Beyond that, and in my day-to-day, my parents encouraged me to never stop learning. My dad used to have a quote that he posted on my closet door that basically said, “If I try, and don’t get it, did I lose anything? If I try and I do get it, did I win anything? So I have everything to win and nothing to lose by trying.”

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Image Credits

Katie Levine Photography

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