‘Mentalism is used for therapeutic process’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 8

From being India’s first test tube baby in 1984 to being Asia’s first female mentalist, Dr Kruti Parekh’s life has been eventful, mostly due to her series of achievements and accolades.

As a child magician, she received several awards for her talent. Years later, she introduced the concept of mentalism, a concept of human psychology that is also considered as magic. While the subject has been understood mostly with skepticism and mystery, Dr Parekh clears the air.

“Mentalists are people with highly intuitive powers and an ability to understand the nuances of human mind. While many think that we perform tricks, it is mostly about understanding the individual’s psyche and responding through our mental bond,” she said. During a workshop organised by FICCI FLO, she made people aware of her work.

An engineering graduate, Kruti’s first-ever mentalism project was her mother. “She never sat and thought in front of me after our experience,” she joked. “But mentalism is used for therapeutic process, mostly with mental health patients. So, it is not about magic or any other supernatural element, but a mind control tool that is used to help people,” she said. Most of her patients vary from children to elderly people. “Around 60% of people today are suffering from depression and are not aware about it. Through our techniques we understand their problem and help find solutions through mind tricks and activities.”

She has held lectures and workshops across the globe and said more professionals in the field was the need of the hour. “There are no limitations to what you can do except the limitations of your mind,” she said.

Apart from her session, Dr Vinod Hasal, who has innovated the concept of de-stressing by opening a chain of Drum Cafés across the world, also conducted a workshop. With an experience of 18 years working in South Africa, Dr Hasal opened his first drum café with the aim of introducing a different concept, combining music with mental well being. Owning over 5 lakh drums of different shapes and sizes, he and his trained team of professional drummers, conduct drumming workshops.