Where Science Meets the Subconscious: An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Sumita

The conversation about mental health is not merely a matter of sympathy, but of evidence, opines Edinbox Editorial Head, Nibedita Speaks. During an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Dr. Sumita on synthesis of science and sensitivity she brings together the scientific precision of neuroscience and the empathetic depth of therapy.

Dr. Sumita, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuroscientist (PhD, Postdoc), MA Clinical Psychology. She's rewritten the rules on how to "heal" today. She applied her research in her new practice where her integrated holistic approach combines Clinical Hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and body-based regulation techniques, working with individuals and couples through emotional barriers, anxiety, burnout, and relational disconnection.

While speaking on mental illness illnesses that are not just psychological, but are deeply rooted in the biology of the brain's functioning, Dr Sumita stressed on disorders such as depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Sumita, it develops out of imbalances of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, and altered activity in regions of the brain such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Explaining Burnout, she reflects chronic stress that dysregulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to cortisol imbalances and neuroinflammation. Understanding these mechanisms, she asserts, dispels stigma and allows for whole-person, mind-body interventions.

In the years to come, Dr. Sumita predicts we shall be living in the age of "precision mental health" as neuroimaging, genetics, and computational modeling come together to help tailor treatments for brain profiles. She mentions the promise of non-invasive brain-stimulating methods like TMS and tDCS, and the therapeutic implications of psychedelic-assisted therapy and gut–brain axis research. Artificial intelligence, she says, will soon be assisting early diagnosis and tailored treatment, long before symptoms become overwhelming.

Trauma and stress, Dr. Sumita goes on to say, neurologically rewire brain structure. "The amygdala fires too much, the prefrontal cortex loses control, and the hippocampus, which handles memory and context, gets smaller," she says. This rewiring disables individuals into hypervigilance and exhaustion cycles. Early trauma-informed therapies, mindfulness, and compassionate relationships can, however, rewire neural equilibrium and facilitate healing through neuroplasticity—the brain's capacity to rewire itself. Each repetition lays down new neural pathways for new practice, behavior, or thought, which will ultimately overwrite maladaptive patterns. "Healing is not fixing the broken," she underscores. "It's retraining the brain for new sensations of safety, connection, and calmness.".

Lifestyle, in turn, influences the brain directly and dramatically, states Dr. Sumita. "Sleep, diet, exercise, and mindfulness are the most accessible types of brain medicine," she adds. Adequate sleep clears the body of metabolic toxins, diet affects the gut–brain axis through microbiome activity, exercise spurs neurogenesis, and mindfulness aids emotional regulation and grey matter development. Put together, these become habits that yield increased emotional resilience and mental clarity.

Blending psychotherapy with neuroscience, she says, makes therapy more like an art with a biological basis. "If we understand how emotions are controlled in the nervous system, then we can use breath, body awareness, and cognitive reappraisal to aim at specific neural circuits," she says. Other integrative practices such as meditation and yoga work along with these interventions by modulating the autonomic nervous system and enhancing vagal tone.

Debunking popular myths, Dr. Sumita explains that mental illness is not a "broken brain." The brain, however, continues to be strong and self-healing throughout life. She also warns against dependence on willpower because emotional distress is complex—biological, psychological, and social. "Mental wellness isn't about controlling the mind," she reinforces. "It's about caring for the whole system—brain, body, and environment."

Even as technology and AI can aid in mental health—via mood monitoring, biofeedback, and stress detection—Dr. Sumita maintains that contact with another human being cannot be replaced. "Technology should supplement, not substitute, compassion and presence," she maintains. The future, she predicts, will belong to hybrids that incorporate digital assistance with compassionate care.

To stressed-out students and young professionals, Dr. Sumita invites to her rehabilitation center Ananta Alaya. She reminds us with a simple yet potent message: "Rest is not laziness—it's neural maintenance." She prescribes regular sleep, digital detoxes, exercise, and real human contact, citing that resilience develops from recovery and rest, not relentless work.

As a strong sympathizer, Dr. Sumita sees more uses of integrative neuroscience that integrates psychology, physiology, and contemplative science. Preventive psychiatry, she foresees, will increasingly be coupled with brain-based diagnosis and nutrition, behavioral guidance, and mindfulness. On the horizon are new fields like neuroaesthetics, gut–brain medicine, and meditation biofeedback, which are already on the horizon for broadening the definition of wellness. "Ultimately," she summarizes, "the brain doesn't heal by itself—it heals through connection, environment, and meaning. True mental wellness begins when we can learn to live in sync with all three.".

Rehabilitation vs. Preventive / Transformative Retreats

It’s important to clarify how what Dr Sumita’s venture offers are different from rehabilitation or mental health clinics.

Aspect	Rehabilitation / Clinical Model	Mental Health Tourism / Retreat Model
Focus	Recovery from diagnosed conditions; often after crisis or severe disruption	Early intervention, prevention, deepening of resilience and growth
Clinical oversight	Medical staff, psychiatry, pharmacology, day hospital structure	Trained psychotherapists, integrative tools, lower clinical risk (not for acute crisis)
Environment	Institutional, controlled settings	Natural, healing, immersive environments (nature, silence, spiritual context)
Rigidity vs. flexibility	Fixed schedules, protocols, safety constraints	Flexible flow, personal introspection, experiential modalities
Population	Individuals with serious mental health diagnoses	Individuals seeking inner growth, stress release, emotional balance before crisis

Ananta Alaya retreat is not a substitute for rehabilitation or crisis intervention. Rather, it is a preventive / regenerative space: a place to intervene early, before patterns become entrenched, and to integrate body, mind, soul in an aligned space.