Dr. Seema Girija Lal [Ph.D.]
Dr. Seema Girija Lal (Ph.D.) is a mental health, disability, and education consultant and trainer with over twenty-five years of professional experience across non-governmental organizations and private sector institutions in India and the United Arab Emirates. She currently offers online and in-person sessions, with a strong focus on family systems, schooling, and all stakeholders involved.
She holds a Doctoral degree from Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, along with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Psychology (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), and two Post Graduate Diplomas in Special Education and Social Entrepreneurship. Her doctoral research, titled “Making Lived Experiences Matter – Understanding the Journey of Mothers of Autistic Children in India,” forms the philosophical and practical foundation of her work—centering lived experiences, agency, vulnerability, and empowerment as key drivers of sustainable change.
With academic training spanning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in psychology, Dr. Seema’s mental health practice is deeply grounded in trauma-informed, non-pathologizing approaches. Her work emphasizes co-creation of knowledge with clients, collaborative skill-building, and the expansion of individual and family support systems. She does not subscribe to a rigid biomedical model of diagnosis and labelling, instead focusing on context, lived experience, and personal strengths.
She provides one-on-one and group sessions for individuals and families seeking support across a wide range of life challenges, including learning, relationships, careers, emotional wellbeing, and personal transitions. Her clients are based across India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Australia, and North and South America, reflecting the global reach of her practice.
Following Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)–approved coursework, Dr. Seema has been actively engaged with special schools, rehabilitation centres, private clinics, and mainstream schools for over two decades. Through both direct and online consultancy, she has supported educational institutions in developing inclusive, responsive, and sustainable learning environments.
Her doctoral research on the journeys of mothers of autistic children in India informs her education-focused work, bridging policy and practice to address long-term systemic gaps. She works closely with educators, parents, and institutions to strengthen inclusive schooling models, promote learner-centred practices, and build awareness around neurodiversity and diverse learning needs.
Dr. Seema has played a leading role in setting up inclusive education systems within mainstream schools, working extensively with school administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Her training programs and talks span a wide range of themes, including child development, classroom-based intervention strategies, and teacher support from preschool onwards.
For students of all age groups, her work addresses life skills, study strategies, child safety, sexual health and hygiene, and social and emotional wellbeing, among others. She also conducts parent empowerment programs and supports teachers and families in developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)—both at school and at home—ensuring continuity of support across environments.
Advocacy forms a core pillar of Dr. Seema’s professional identity. As the Founder of “Together We Can (TWC)”, an advocacy forum supporting social issues and causes, she has been instrumental in driving policy-level change through Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and formal petitions to child and disability rights commissions.
A PIL filed by TWC led to the formulation of guidelines regulating therapy centres in Kerala, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. Her ongoing PIL before the Supreme Court of India has generated critical legal pressure for States to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Her petition with the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) resulted in mandatory training and sensitization of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) personnel to better accommodate learners’ needs, particularly during examinations.
Through sustained engagement with print, visual, and social media, and by networking with fellow change-makers and organizations, her advocacy work has focused on making lived experiences matter, challenging stigma, and addressing social and economic inequalities related to mental health and disability.
Was very comfortable with Dr Seema as I felt she understood me perfectly.Though we only had a few sessions I started feeling better. A few days back was my father’s first death anniversary and I felt totally at peace. Thank you Dr Seema for giving me the support when I needed it most.
CLIENTThe opinions were very transparent and open. The communication was clear, and appreciated the openness of the consultant in expressing her views.
CLIENTThe honesty and care that Seema shows towards her patient. There is a very personal touch to her work where she really takes the effort to be genuinely help.
CLIENTSeema was kind and helpful. I felt at ease while talking to her and also hopeful that I can overcome my issues with her inputs.
CLIENTSeema Lal Ma’m put me at complete ease. Even though it was my first session, I felt like I was not meeting someone new. It was my first therapy session, and she helped me so much. I am very grateful to her for accommodating me at such short notice. I feel more grounded after the session.
CLIENTSeema is excellent at listening and understanding what one is trying to say. She gets a lot of things without me having to tell her what it is that I am really feeling. Sometimes, it is difficult for me to talk about things or give cogent reasoning and explanations, so it helps a lot.
CLIENT
