Dr. Shabnam Rahman, is the first MPhil trained Rehabilitation Psychologist in West Bengal. After her masters in Psychology from Aligarh Muslim University, she has completed her MPhil in Rehabilitation Psychology from National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Secunderabad and awarded Gold Medal for her outstanding academic performance. She has also done B.Ed in Special Education from Jadavpur University. She has been trained in Narrative Practices and Ideas from Ummed Child Development Centre, Mumbai and Social Role Valorization from Keystone Institute, India.
She has been working as a consultant Rehabilitation Psychologist and Special Educator at Crystal Minds from the last 11 years. She always had a desire to do things differently and realized very early that well-being plays a significant role for the development of children and young people who are experiencing developmental disabilities. Her work includes consulting with individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities, children, adults, caregivers and families in responding to a range of issues that include emotional issues and school related challenges. She also works with deaf community as a Sign Language Educator. She loves to work with children and their families. She believes children are the living symbol of Hope. She conducts support groups and group therapy sessions as well as workshops for neurodiverse community and their families.
During pandemic she has been running an on-line self-help support group for young individuals with diverse needs. The idea of creating this group has emerged from narrative ideas that she practices in her work. The concept of this project has been acknowledged by Dulwich Centre of Narrative Practices, Adelaide, Australia. Shabnam has presented papers and posters in UGC sponsored National conferences and International Conferences.
Shabnam has completed her PhD at Applied Psychology Department, University of Calcutta. She believes that all the problems in this world are rooted in the oppressive structural system rather than in our bodies or identities. Drawing, craft, colours, family albums, children story books, poems, and ‘fun’ are the scaffolds to co-create emotional safe spaces with people to explore preferred identities, possibilities and Hope. She also believes that devalued people can experience good things in life and lead a meaningful life in their community by engaging them in valued social roles.