Coaching and therapy both have their pros and cons.

The world of therapy is regulated by educational prerequisites, licensing, and evidence-based practices. This ensures the help you receive is standardized and most likely to be effective. But when people train as a therapist, not much emphasis is put on their personal growth. This can lead to therapy sessions where you receive dry, theoretical responses from a person who has more college education than life experience. You might even get a therapist who hasn’t figured out how to have a healthy relationships and habits themselves.

The world of coaching is open for anyone who wants to help others based on their organic abilities. Some people use this opportunity to craft a unique offering based on their informal training and life experience. Others take advantage of this industry by becoming slick salesmen without an offer that’s actually worth the price.

The bottom line is that every therapist and coach is an individual. It’s important to verify that they have actually mastered their craft and made a difference in people’s lives. Simply having a college degree or a wish to help others does not guarantee that.

But my aim is to bring the best of both worlds. As a former monk of 7 years, and an ongoing student of the wisdom traditions from ancient Greece and India, I draw from sources many coaches and therapists aren’t aware of. I also have a working understanding of modern psychology and therapeutic practices. I’ve had a lot of experiences that taught me patience and compassion, like 3 years working in Alzheimer’s care and my volunteer work at a suicide hotline. Most importantly, I draw from the realizations I’ve gained by getting my own act together.

If at any point you choose to end coaching, I offer a full refund for all unused sessions and services—no questions asked. Your comfort and progress come first; simply let me know, and I’ll process your refund right away.

Your success is my priority. That’s why I listen attentively, customize my approach to your nature and goals, and stay transparent by not imposing my own agenda or bias—this journey is about you, not me.

To help you determine if we’re a good fit, I invite you to join my Mentorship Community on WhatsApp. It’s a place where you can experience my coaching style, see how I interact with others, and decide if we’re aligned before making a commitment.

As long as I have spaces available, I don’t turn anyone away because of financial limitations. Simply reach out to me, and I will help you find a coaching option that works for you.

If you’re not sure about the value of coaching, I invite you to read some of the testimonials from my clients. They’ve been able to significantly improve the quality of their lives, and make changes they were unable to realize for years on their own. For example:

“When I started coaching with Damodar, I was holding on to a lot of blame and anger, both towards and myself and other people. I often felt overwhelmed with anxiety while interacting with people. And I was struggling with addiction on almost a daily basis.

But what’s amazing is that now it’s hard to even relate to that condition I was so absorbed in before. I’ve become more self-controlled, accepting of my situation, and confident in myself. I think the core of what helped me was the safe space Damodar provided to talk about sensitive matters, and the gentle grounding of the journaling exercises we did. This coaching process really helped me to understand my own feelings, and find the path forward to heal and grow from my experiences.

I've rekindled friendships, relationships, and experienced a new sense of grounding, focus, and creativity. I was able to build a strong morning practice of yoga, mantra meditation, and exercise, which has boosted my overall well-being in a big way. Journaling became a strong habit for me, even though I had tried before without much success. Overall, Damodar inspired me to be more honest and to pursue greater integrity in my life.

I feel like Damodar’s genuine care for others was the driving force behind my transformation. And I would recommend him to anyone who’s struggling with difficult emotions, addictions, or even anyone who wants to explore and more deeply understand their own life and feelings.” — Chris

Your privacy is of the utmost importance to me. Everything we discuss remains strictly confidential, with only two exceptions:

1. Harm Prevention: If you share plans involving violence or harm to yourself or others, I am obligated to inform appropriate authorities, such as law enforcement or emergency services, as well as potentially your family or friends, to ensure safety.

2. Professional Guidance (With Your Consent): In certain cases, I may seek advice from experienced mentors (e.g., therapists, pastors, or mental health professionals) to enhance the quality of our sessions. This would only occur with your explicit permission, and your identity would remain completely anonymous.

For more information about my policies, click here.

I’ve been coaching others since 2015, starting with my certification in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. My coaching is deeply informed by my experiences in Alzheimer’s care and mentoring delinquent teenagers. These roles challenged me to develop great patience, adaptability, and an understanding of how to communicate effectively with different personalities in complex situations.

I also bring a unique perspective from my time as a monk, where I learned the importance of leading a values-driven life, developing self-control, and committing to daily spiritual practices.

My training includes:

• Empathic Communication: Comprehensive training from the Center for Nonviolent Communication and the Satvatove Institute.

• Mindfulness Meditation: Formal training that I integrate into my coaching approach.

• Ancient Wisdom and Philosophy: Extensive knowledge of Sanskrit, and classical texts like the Bhagavad-Gita and Shrimad-Bhagavatam, as well as a deep understanding of the Hellenistic philosophy of Stoicism.

I’ve been married since 2021 and continue to live a balanced life that includes a daily spiritual practice, writing, regular exercise, and ongoing studies in psychology. Throughout my coaching career, I’ve helped hundreds of people connect with a deeper place in themselves and make significant changes in their lives.

For instance, one client shared:

“I used to feel completely stuck in my own head. Every time I had a negative emotion—whether it was doubt, resentment, or jealousy—I’d feel guilty for even feeling that way. I was trapped in this loop of overanalyzing everything but never really knowing how to deal with it. On top of that, my perfectionism made it even worse, because I expected myself to be in total control of my emotions all the time. If I wasn’t calm or 'spiritual' enough, I’d beat myself up for it. It was exhausting. I was resorting to some pretty unhealthy habits to cope, but I didn’t even realize that overwhelm was the driving force.

That’s when I started working with Damodar. One of the first things he told me was to stop running from my emotions and just accept them. It sounds simple, but for me, it was a game-changer. For so long, I had been trying to ‘fix’ everything about myself, and Damodar helped me see that the first step was to actually stop trying so hard to be perfect. Instead, I needed to accept my challenges and focus on my response. With his help, I was able to start untangling the emotions that had been weighing me down for so long. It wasn’t about getting rid of them but about understanding and letting them be. I realized I didn’t have to feel like a saint to move forward.

Once I stopped expecting perfection from myself, everything started to shift. I wasn’t so overwhelmed by guilt or pressure anymore. I could focus on my daily tasks and spiritual practices without constantly comparing myself to some ideal version of who I should be. That sense of calm that came with accepting where I am—right here, right now—was huge. And honestly, it’s made everything easier. I’m still working on things, but with Damodar’s guidance, I finally feel like I’m making real progress.” — Gary