Ms. Kohli has engaged with leading schools in the Delhi/NCR region such as Step by Step, Shiv Nadar School, Pathways, The British School, New Delhi, Welham Boys, and Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun and N.H Goel School, Chattisgarh.

In the role of a consultant, she helps schools/institutions/organizations develop robust mental health programs. She started an NGO, (SAIL) along with two colleagues to support and assist young adults with special needs on independent living.

Currently in private practice she works with adults, children and adolescents and conducts group sessions, webinars and workshops with parents, staff, management and other stakeholders.

She worked at a prestigious school in Delhi/NCR for a few years before embarking on an exciting African adventure for the next 8 years! Living a culturally diverse life and being exposed to the workings of International Schools, Anesha’s portfolio enriched at understanding the role of cultures in child rearing and interpersonal interactions. She curated various fundraisers and developed community outreach programmes as an expat spouse before returning to India to join hands with Connect. Her professional background in education and a vast exposure to multiculturalism brings forth a fresh perspective to child development and parent-child relationships. She seeks to continue evolving as a learner while she shares with the community her experiences!

Her area of expertise lies in  developing life skill modules for children and adolescents to enhance self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, social skills, and emotional regulation.

She focuses on issues related to gender and sexuality, grief, depression, behavioral difficulties, and emotional dysregulation.

She is a Masters in Applied Psychology (with specialization in Clinical Psychology) from BALM, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and has completed her Bachelor's in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women.

In May 2012 She established the Indian Institute of Psychotherapy in New Delhi, to provide clinical workshops to psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and educators. In August 2018 she established the Indian American Psychoanalytic Alliance to provide a two-year psychodynamic psychotherapy training program for therapists in New Delhi, India.

She has edited two books. One titled Play and Playfulness and the other titled Identities in Transition. She is the editor-in-chief of a peer reviewed journal “Institutionalized Children: Explorations and Beyond,” which she helped launch in May 2014. In September 2019 the journal was acquired by Sage publications for international distribution. This journal presents papers from the SAARC region on issues pertinent to children and adolescents who are orphaned or in need of care and protection. She is on the editorial board of the Psychoanalytic Inquiry and Psychoanalytic Study of the Child and Adolescent as well. She is a recipient of the Ticho Award and presented a paper titled ‘Psychic Space, Structural Space, Cyber space, Desire and Intimacy in a Digital World,’ in Chicago, 2016, during the spring meetings of the American Psychoanalytic Association.

She specializes in trauma and working with borderline and dissociative disorders.

Dr. Akhtar in collaboration with Connect provides the following services to Indian clients:

1. Individual psychotherapy (using Skype and in person)
2. Consultations (Skype and in person)
3. Couple counseling
4. Family counseling
5. Adolescent psychotherapy
6. Workshops

Dr. Akhtar is in private practice and has offices in Wynnewood and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She sees patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Dr. Nayar-Akhtar has presented workshops in the following areas:

1. Ego resiliency
2. Affect modulation
3. Ego development
4. Working with multiple caretakers
5. Working with Traumatized Adults, Adolescents and Children and their families
6. Psychoanalytic Process
7. Attachment
8. Working with Adoption
9. Socio-cultural and political implications in the analytic process
10. Psychoanalytic Perspectives on the Internet and Cyberspace
11. Issues related to Sexuality and Gender

She specializes in trauma and working with borderline and dissociative disorders.

Dr. Akhtar in collaboration with Connect provides the following services to Indian clients:

1. Individual psychotherapy (using Skype and in person)
2. Consultations (Skype and in person)
3. Couple counseling
4. Family counseling
5. Adolescent psychotherapy
6. Workshops

In 1993, she joined The Shri Ram School, Gurgaon, the founding Principal of the Senior School, she served the institution for over a decade. In 2005, she got the opportunity to set up an international (K-12 A level) school in Dubai. Post her stint in Dubai, she worked as an Advisor and consultant to The Scindia School, Gwalior and reported directly to the Board comprising Joytriaditya Scindia, Mr Rajendra Pawar and Harpal Singh amongst others. She worked closely with them on various initiatives.

She served as Head of Education at The Aga Khan Education Service India, which works in the Development Sector in formal K -12 and non-formal education spaces in both rural and urban areas. Her last formal assignment was as Executive Director of The Shiv Nadar School, in the NCR.

In her capacity as a consultant, she worked with Ahvaan, an NGO that worked in areas of professional development of teachers of select Delhi Government schools and she conducted a situation analysis for The Sir Ratan Tata Trust in Gujarat. She audited select Delhi Government schools in 2004.

In 2007 she audited the Aga Khan Schools at Mundra and Hyderabad to help them reposition themselves. In 2009 she audited the Aga Khan School Dhaka and helped them in transitioning to an IB School. In 2012 she audited the ITC schools Tribeni Tissues in Hooghly and ITC School in Bhadrachalam. In 2019 she audited the SSMI School in Delhi. She is on the Advisory Board of schools and organisations that work in the field of education

Happy chance led me to find my true calling as a teacher four decades ago. I danced along this joyous path of learning and exploring whilst engaging with students and communities from diverse backgrounds across India and overseas

I enjoy working with schools and communities to weave a fabric unique that is rich, distinct and takes into account their circumstances and is embedded in their ethos. I realize a common thread runs through schools and systems that allow students and teachers to actualize themselves and lead happy, fulfilled contributive lives.

My passion and forte is in helping children navigate their way from carefree childhood to young adulthood. At times however, they give in to societal expectations and pressures and give up on their dreams. Assisting young peoples between the ages of 13 to 18 unravel the intricate threads that constitute their being and chose subjects or pursue careers that are aligned to their interest and aptitude, is a sure formula for a happy life. To unpack their passion and remain true to themselves their beliefs which allow them to cope with the vicissitudes of life gives me the great joy.

Along with other educators I would like to create a space where conversations give rise to infinite possibilities. Also create customized best practices drawn after a wellness assess that allow schools to fulfill their mission of each individual finding their unique path.