Our Story

The journey towards NNATTI began in 2017 at Ashray Wellness, Kochi, under the visionary guidance of Fr. Chilton George Fernandez, Clinical Psychologist and Director. What started as a humble effort to train individuals in basic counselling skills soon evolved into a transformative mission in mental health care.

In 2017, Ruma Reju began her formal training in Basic Counselling Skills. A year later, she and Suresh Babu enrolled in the Diploma in Counselling Psychology at SRC, Kerala, further deepening their understanding of human behavior and psychological healing.

Following the devastating Kerala floods in 2018, the need for mental health support surged. Ashray, in collaboration with the Ernakulam District Mental Health Department, initiated Psychological First Aid (PFA) programs to offer immediate psychosocial support. Both Ruma and Suresh actively participated in this crisis response initiative, with Ruma joining as a volunteer in December 2018 and Suresh in 2019.

To build stronger foundations for mental health service delivery, an afternoon psychological study hour was introduced by Fr. Chilton. These sessions served as a platform for discussing DSM-based psychological disorders and in-depth case studies, encouraging collaborative learning among the growing team.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, mental health crises increased exponentially. Ashray adapted swiftly by launching "Telecare"—an online psychological support initiative based on WHO protocols. Volunteers received Tele-Counselling training and were assigned to reach those in psychological distress from their homes. This model ensured continuity of care and outreach to marginalized individuals during lockdowns.

In 2021, Suparna Antony joined the Tele-Counselling training and enrolled in the Diploma in Counselling Psychology. Following her Master's in Clinical Psychology, she began her 14-month internship with Ashray in 2022 and successfully completed it, becoming a valuable addition to the core team.

By 2022, Ruma, Suresh, and Suparna came together with Fr. Chilton to conceptualize a new framework for trauma healing. After three years of collaboration and research, their collective experiences culminated in the creation of T-SETT (THELO - Systemic Effective Trauma Therapy)—a holistic and integrative therapeutic model designed to address trauma through a multi-dimensional lens.

In 2025, this shared vision gave birth to NNATTI – Centre for Systemic Effective Trauma Therapy, located in Thammanam, Vyttila, Kochi. This research-based institute is dedicated to the development and application of systemic, person-centered, and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches, with a commitment to healing trauma and fostering psychological well-being.