Bhaktiveda Dhaul Taragi – eShe

Bhaktiveda Dhaul Taragi is the founder of Praanah, a Bengaluru-based organisation that harnesses expressive arts therapy to nurture emotional wellbeing across ages. What began as her dissertation project – while she was pursuing a double major in psychology and performing arts, and playing squash for her college team in the US – has evolved into a movement that unites science, creativity and healing.

Her research at university revealed the profound psychological and physiological benefits of spontaneous artistic expression such as dance therapy, and underscored its ability to transcend cultural and linguistic divides. Today, she integrates neuroscience, art and spirituality to create a holistic approach to mental health – one that values movement, play, and presence as much as conversation.

The mind-body connection

Art therapy emerged in the 1950s after World War II in refugee camps, explains Taragi, where children traumatized by war were unable to speak but could express their experiences through drawing. “They drew what was on their mind – the guns and blood… It gave them an opportunity to speak about the situation and to separate themselves from getting overwhelmed by the emotion. This provided a safe, non-intrusive way for them to process trauma,” she says.

Taragi’s first research study compared children with HIV in a Mumbai NGO with a child in the US who had behavioural issues but responded well in dance class. This confirmed her belief that engaging in dance and movement can improve mood and attention regardless of one’s condition. “There are many other benefits, but this was my initial finding when I was in college,” she says.

She went on to create her own expressive arts therapy curriculum at Praanah, encompassing multiple healing arts including movement, visual art, poetry, journaling, crafts and clay. “Different modalities work for different people, but a combination works beautifully for everyone,” she states.

Praanah’s approach to healing is a holistic one that integrates science, art and spirituality. “Science focuses on physiological aspects of curing disease; art addresses the human experience of illness; and spirituality provides meaning, hope and connection,” says Taragi.

She explains that integrated care recognizes that healing is influenced by biology (science), emotional state (art), and belief systems (spirituality). “This approach addresses root causes rather than just symptoms,” she says.

The artist in all of us

Taragi believes everyone has the ability to create, but societal conditioning – including structured, traditional educational systems – can suppress this primal form of communication. She quotes Pablo Picasso who said, “Every child is born an artist. The problem is staying one as he grows up.”

This is where teachers and parents play a crucial role in either nurturing or hindering artistic expression in children. Taragi emphasizes that parents should lead by example rather than forcing children to engage in art. “I think the best way for a child to learn is through observation. We can only lead by example,” she says.

She believes that children have the natural ability to express themselves, and parents just need to listen and observe. For example, when young children create abstract art, parents should give them the opportunity to explain their creations, as this reveals their inner world.

Not just talk

Unlike talk therapy which is led by cognitive processes, expressive arts therapy engages the entire body. “When verbal communication reaches its limits, expressive arts can take people deeper into emerging emotions,” avers Taragi, noting that many therapists are now integrating arts into their practice to access deeper issues.

“This approach is particularly effective for those who struggle with verbal expression, such as children on the spectrum,” she says.

She recommends creating a personal ritual with art, focusing on process over product. “Even a five-to-10-minute daily doodle can help check in with emotions. The key is to let go of expectations about creating something that ‘looks good’ and instead use art as a way to connect with emotions,” she says. This practice creates a “safe container” for self-expression and validation.

“By incorporating creativity into daily life, people can find joy and potentially prevent serious issues later in life,” she advises.

Besides workshops and individual sessions, her organisation also designs tailored expressive arts sessions for diverse groups – from helping cancer patients process their diagnosis to facilitating creative interventions for corporate teams managing stress. It also offers a professional certification in expressive arts therapy for psychologists, therapists and educators seeking to enrich their practice beyond conventional counselling frameworks.

In the latest episode of eShe’s podcast, Taragi talks to host Aekta Kapoor about her journey from exploring the mind-body connection through sport and dance to becoming one of India’s pioneering expressive arts therapists. Listen on Spotify or watch on YouTube.