Pooja Lakshmin

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, a distinguished psychiatrist, merges her medical expertise with a passionate advocacy for rethinking wellness, particularly as it pertains to women and marginalized communities. As a board-certified clinician, her career has been marked by her dedication to unraveling the complex interplay of mental health and gender dynamics. Her voice resonates powerfully through her contributions to the New York Times, where she addresses the nuanced challenges faced by individuals navigating the often oppressive landscape of self-care. In 2020, she founded Gemma, a groundbreaking mental health education platform that prioritizes impact and equity, reinforcing her commitment to fostering accessible mental health support. Among her notable works, "Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness" stands as a beacon of her philosophy. This book critiques the superficial trappings of mainstream wellness culture, offering instead a profound exploration of genuine self-care practices. Lakshmin's writing dismantles the allure of quick fixes like juice cleanses and gratitude lists, advocating for deeper, more sustainable approaches to mental well-being. Her insights have garnered critical acclaim, positioning her as a transformative thinker in the realm of mental health literature. Lakshmin's literary style is characterized by its incisive clarity and empathetic depth, with each sentence crafted to challenge and inspire. Her thematic focus on the deconstruction of wellness myths and the advocacy for authentic self-care has significantly contributed to contemporary discourse on mental health. Through her work, she continues to illuminate pathways towards healing and empowerment, establishing herself as a pivotal figure in redefining how society perceives and practices wellness.