Psychologist’s Journey: From Peer Counsellor to Mental Health Advocate

Dr Krystal-Jane Verasammy, a psychologist from Santa Cruz, was shaped by her strong community ties from a young age. Her passion for mental health was ignited early on as she trained as a peer counsellor in secondary school. Her path was further shaped by personal experiences, witnessing her mother’s struggle with depression in an era when mental health was heavily stigmatised in Trinidad and Tobago. After studying Psychology and Sociology at the University of the West Indies, she furthered her studies in the UK, focusing on developmental challenges, abuse, and neglect in children and adolescents. She worked in various ministries upon her return home, focusing on young offenders and broader social issues. After completing her doctorate in the UK, she joined the Psychiatry Department at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where she developed a high-stress relief clinic. In 2019, she opened her private practice, Therapeutic Spaces Counselling and Psychotherapy, using a non-traditional home-like setting. She also serves as a Commissioner with the Equal Opportunity Commission and is an advocate for national policies that support people with physical and mental disabilities.