Sunday, April 26, 2026
In spring 2026, Ramya Priya Ravinuthala presented her reseach on "Intersections of Dharma and Therapy" at the Jain Society of North Texas. This poster session was sponsored by the Jain Education and Research Foundation and featured both undergraduate and graduate research.

This project discusses how dharmic principles can be incorporated into psychotherapy to improve mental well-being and personal growth. Concepts of mindfulness, compassion, self-compassion, non-attachment, and ethical sensitivity are presented in the context of structured therapeutic interventions. Research suggests that these practices can improve psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression, along with enhancing moral behavior, emotional control, self-kindness, and overall character development. The review posits challenges in introducing these practices into therapy in a respectful and successful manner and references empirical evidence for their use. Overall, the integration of dharma-based concepts into psychotherapy offers an avenue toward mental health treatment wherein healing incorporates not only the remission of symptoms but also the acquisition of the well-being and personal growth fostered via positive psychology.

People stand in a row around a poster presentation.

Ramya Priya Ravinuthala is an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Counseling and Religion. Her academic and research interests include intersections of mental health, culture, spirituality, and trauma. She has received training in neuropsychological assessments and has contributed to undergraduate research, conference poster presentations, and scholarly manuscripts. Ramya is passionate about mental health advocacy and culturally responsive, integrative approaches to psychotherapy.

Read Ramya's full essay in Volume 2, Issue 1 of Samyak: An Undergraduate Journal of Jain Studies (forthcoming in 2026).

Poster presentation file

Ramya's poster presentation