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Mansa Clinic offers specialist child and adolescent psychiatry in Aundh, Pune. Dr. Vidya Ganapathy - trained at NIMHANS Bangalore and certified in early autism intervention - assesses and treats ADHD, anxiety, ODD, depression, school refusal, and developmental disorders in children and teenagers through play therapy, CBT, and structured parent counselling.
The WHO estimates that 50% of all adult mental health conditions have their roots before the age of 14. Yet in India, fewer than 3% of children who need mental health support actually receive it (UNICEF India, 2021). The gap is not simply one of availability - it is one of awareness and stigma.
Parents in Aundh and across Pune are increasingly perceptive. They notice when a child's school performance drops without an academic explanation, when tantrums last beyond the age they should, or when a teenager withdraws from family and friends in ways that feel different from typical adolescent moodiness. Acting on that instinct - by seeking a proper assessment - is not an overreaction. It is the single most protective thing a parent can do.
At Mansa Clinic, we see children as young as 18 months and teenagers up to 17 years. Our approach is never alarming and never rushed. A child's first appointment is built around their comfort, their language, and their perspective.
ADHD is one of the most commonly misunderstood conditions in Indian school settings. Children are frequently labelled as 'naughty', 'careless', or 'lazy' when the underlying issue is neurological - a difference in the brain's ability to regulate attention and impulse. Dr. Ganapathy conducts thorough diagnostic assessments using validated tools, provides schools with structured reports, and designs management plans that combine behavioural strategies, parent coaching, and where appropriate, medication.
Anxiety in children rarely looks like adult anxiety. A child who refuses to go to school, clings to a parent at drop-off, or complains of stomach aches every morning before class may be experiencing genuine anxiety - not manipulative behaviour. We differentiate clinical anxiety from normal developmental stress and provide age-appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Persistent defiance, aggression toward family members, and rule-breaking that crosses the line into property damage or harm to others requires a different lens than standard discipline. ODD and conduct disorder are assessable, treatable conditions - and addressing them early prevents far more serious outcomes in adolescence.
Depression in teenagers often presents as irritability, social withdrawal, or a sudden loss of interest in activities they once loved, rather than the tearfulness more commonly associated with adult depression. Given the pressures of Pune's competitive academic environment, teenage depression is underdiagnosed and often attributed to 'exam stress'. We do not dismiss what a teenager feels. We assess it properly.
For families concerned about developmental delays or autism, Mansa Clinic offers formal ASD assessment and - uniquely - the Comdeall early intervention programme through Dr. Vidya Ganapathy's certification from the Comdeall Trust, Bangalore. See our dedicated Comdeall programme page for full details.
Children do not sit across from a therapist and talk through their problems the way adults do. Effective child psychiatry requires tools that work within a child's natural mode of communication - play, drawing, storytelling, and movement. Dr. Ganapathy uses structured play therapy sessions alongside parent counselling with specific at-home assignments, so that progress made in the clinic is reinforced in the child's real world.
For older adolescents, we use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) adapted for teenage developmental stages, as well as motivational interviewing for teenagers resistant to engaging with therapy. Every plan is reviewed and adjusted based on how the young person responds - not on a rigid timeline.
Dr. Ganapathy's MD in Psychological Medicine (USAIM) and DPM from Nair Hospital (Mumbai University), combined with her specialised child psychiatry training at NIMHANS Bangalore, place her among the most thoroughly qualified child psychiatrists in western Pune. She is a certified Comdeall therapist, conducts play therapy for children with a range of behavioural difficulties, and runs the 'Smell the Roses, Beat the Thorns' resilience programme in Pune schools. Her approach - described by parents as soft-spoken and deeply empathic - means children relax and engage even in a first session.
When medication is recommended, we explain what it does, how long it typically takes to work, what side effects to watch for, and how we will monitor your progress. We do not hand over a prescription and ask you to come back in three months. We stay in the process.
Before the session, we will ask you to fill in a short developmental and behavioural history form. This helps Dr. Ganapathy arrive at the appointment with important context. The first session typically involves time alone with the parents, time with the child (using age-appropriate activities), and a closing conversation where Dr. Ganapathy shares her initial impressions and next steps.
Depending on what emerges, follow-up could involve a standardised assessment battery, a school report request, or the start of a therapy plan. We will never recommend an intervention without explaining clearly why we believe it will help.
