Mindful Mesmerisms: How Dr. Sonia David is using Film and Art Therapy to Heal Bharat
In a country where mental health has long been a "taboo" dinner-table topic, Dr. Sonia David is changing the vocabulary of healing. As the Founder of Mindful Mesmerisms and the holder of India’s first PhD in Film Therapy, Sonia is moving therapy beyond the clinical couch and into the world of expressive arts. By leveraging film, art, and music, she is providing millions of Indians with a safer, more intuitive way to navigate emotional distress. This is the story of how an academic pioneer turned entrepreneur to prove that when it comes to mental health, "it's okay to not be okay."
Dr. Sonia David’s journey is a rare intersection of deep academic research and pandemic-fueled entrepreneurship. While pursuing her PhD at Jain University—specializing in the transformative power of cinema—Sonia realized that the traditional Indian mindset was often resistant to "formal" therapy. In March 2020, as the global lockdown triggered a mental health crisis, she launched Mindful Mesmerisms. Today, while serving as an Assistant Professor at CHRIST University and MIT WPU, Dr. Sonia continues to lead a team of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, offering a unique blend of creative therapies and community support groups.
The Expressive Arts Buffer
For many, talking directly about trauma is terrifying. Dr. Sonia’s core insight is the "Buffer" provided by art. "Sometimes, you can't find the words. But you can find a scene in a film or a color on a canvas that explains exactly how you feel. By using expressive arts, we give the individual a safe medium to externalize their distress before they even have to speak about it."
The Problem: The "Shame" Filter in Indian Mental Health
Despite growing awareness, a massive segment of the Indian population still views mental health support through a lens of shame or "madness." Many families discourage seeking help, labeling emotional distress as something that should be handled "internally." This cultural filter prevents people from accessing help until they reach a breaking point. Furthermore, the clinical nature of traditional psychology can feel alienating to first-time seekers who need a more empathetic, human-centric approach.
"We saw that people were afraid," Sonia explains. "Afraid of being judged, afraid of being labeled. We wanted to build an organization that says mental health is just like physical health. We needed to create non-clinical entry points—workshops, art sessions, film discussions—where people could feel comfortable starting their journey."
The Solution: The Mindful Mesmerisms Healing Stack
Mindful Mesmerisms acts as a holistic mental health hub, combining traditional clinical expertise with modern expressive techniques.
The Mindful Mesmerisms Approach
- Psychoeducation: Weekly workshops to educate the public on identifying signs of distress and normalizing mental health.
- Expressive Arts Integration: Using film, art, and music therapy to help individuals explore emotions they cannot yet verbalize.
- Support Groups: Creating peer-led communities where individuals realize they are not alone in their struggle.
- Clinical Counseling: Providing one-on-one sessions with licensed clinical psychologists for deeper therapeutic work.
- Multi-Disciplinary Team: Ensuring that psychiatrists are available for cases that require medical intervention, creating a seamless care loop.
Breaking the Taboo: The Pandemic Pivot
Sonia shares the challenges of launching during the lockdown. While the demand was high, the ability to build trust through a screen was a major hurdle. She emphasizes the importance of "humility" in entrepreneurship—realizing that even with a PhD, you must be willing to learn the "admin and clerical" side of running a business. For Sonia, the shift from being a "Psychologist" to a "Founder" meant managing social media, accounting, and team dynamics while maintaining the emotional energy to help her clients.
"Entrepreneurship is humbling," she reflects. "You go from a structured corporate or academic environment to a place where you are the secretary, the manager, and the visionary all at once. But that flexibility is what allows us to create a culture that is truly empathetic to the people we serve."
Mindful Mesmerisms Impact
- India's 1st Film Therapy PhD: Pioneering a new therapeutic discipline in the Indian context.
- Pandemic-First Growth: Scaled since March 2020 to meet the national mental health surge.
- Expressive Arts Focus: One of the few Indian initiatives specializing in Art and Cinema-based healing.
- Multi-City Reach: Operating out of Bangalore with a global digital footprint.
Lessons in Leadership: Knowing When to Pivot
Sonia is refreshingly honest about the concept of "Giving Up." She challenges the popular startup mantra of "Never Give Up," suggesting that "Smart Quitting" is a vital entrepreneurial skill. She believes that if an idea isn't working after extensive research and testing, it’s smarter to take a step back and find a new direction than to keep "pushing a wall." For Sonia, leadership is about the "Right Attitude"—a combination of hard work, humanity, and the wisdom to seek a second opinion.
"Patience is key," she advises young founders. "Don't rush to scale. Do your market research. Understand the psyche of your audience. If you build a plan based on real-world needs, the success will be sustainable, not just a spike."
Founder's Lesson: The Power of Presence
Sonia believe founders must be present in the details. "Don't wait for things to happen. Be there in the training sessions, be there on the social media, be there for your team. Your energy is the organization's greatest asset. But also know when your energy is low, and have the courage to ask for help."
The Future: Cinema as a Healing Tool
Sonia’s vision for Mindful Mesmerisms is a future where every Indian has access to "Rejuvenative Therapy." She aims to expand the use of Film Therapy across educational institutions and corporate offices, showing how stories on screen can help resolve internal conflicts. For Sonia, the goal isn't just to be a therapy provider—it's to be a movement that dismantles the filter of shame. She sees a future where mental health check-ups are as common as a routine blood test.
Mindful Mesmerisms is proving that the next generation of mental health giants will be built on "Creative Empathy." By giving Bharat the tools to heal through art and film, Dr. Sonia David and her team are ensuring that for the future of Indian well-being, the truth is finally seen and heard.
About the Guest
Dr. Sonia David is the Founder of Mindful Mesmerisms. An academic powerhouse and a compassionate therapist, Dr. Sonia holds the distinction of earning India's first PhD in Film Therapy from Jain University. She is a certified Art Therapist and an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Alongside leading Mindful Mesmerisms, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at CHRIST (deemed-to-be University), Bangalore. She is a recognized thought leader in the mental health ecosystem, a published author, and a vocal advocate for the integration of expressive arts in psychological healing.
Mindful Mesmerisms is a mental health initiative that helps individuals rejuvenate from emotional and psychological distress. By combining traditional counseling with innovative expressive arts like Film Therapy and Art Therapy, the organization provides accessible, empathetic, and research-backed support to thousands of people navigating the complexities of modern life.