Gourabh Sen, 35, is a Senior Technical Lead at a software firm in Bangalore. Originally from Kolkata, Gourabh has spent most of his life moving across cities due to the nature of his father’s job. He has lived in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, all of which helped shape his unique perspective on life.
All the moving around during his childhood did have its silver lining because Gourabh remembers his family being his safe space throughout his formative years.
Gourabh moved to Bengaluru about a decade ago and has lived there ever since. During his free time, he tries to catch up on reading and gardening and occasionally dabbles in music. He is also a huge cricket fan.
After working for a few years, Gourabh decided it was time for him to settle down and get married. During that time, he met his wife, and they married within a year. While their relationship had a happy transition, they had to navigate a few challenging circumstances as a couple.
“My wife’s mother passed away in April 2020, and she was in a very bad space. I stood by her, and we came out of the situation stronger”.
While the first months of their marriage were filled with bliss, soon, some misunderstandings erupted between his wife, mother, and sister, which he was not able to deal with properly.
“It felt like I was caught in the middle, between my wife and my mother and sister. I didn’t know who to believe or who to side with. I felt completely torn.
Feeling overwhelmed by constant emotional friction at home, Gaurav knew he needed guidance. During that time, he came across a few resources on the YourDOST dashboard. His company, Birlasoft, had a tie-up with YourDOST, which gave him access to therapy, self-help tools, e-modules, and resources for emotional wellness.
He took a self-awareness quiz on the platform, which led him to his first therapy session. Both he and his wife started speaking to the same counselor, and seeing the results, he also opted for individual counseling.
He started joint sessions with Ms Sudipta Mitra and individual ones with Ms Ishita. With Ms Ishita, there was an instant connection, which helped him open up better.
“I felt like I was finally being heard. These sessions weren’t about deciding who was right or wrong; it was about understanding perspectives.”
The counselors helped him and his wife pause, reflect, and rebuild communication from a space of empathy rather than blame. They introduced him to therapeutic music, calming exercises, and, most importantly, reframing techniques that helped him focus on healing.
He was also encouraged to reconnect with his passions, like playing guitar or going for a walk, to make space for himself during tough situations.
With each session, the cloud of emotional confusion began to lift. He started noticing subtle changes in himself and his relationship. From feeling stuck to learning to respond with kindness and clarity, Gaurav slowly found his rhythm again. He now rates himself a 3.5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better.
Gourabh’s Warrior Tips:
1.“The body goes to a doctor when it’s in pain. Why not the mind? The sooner you accept this, the better.”
2.“You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re emotionally drained, it’s not selfish to ask for help; it’s necessary.”
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