SUSHAMA KIRTIKAR
MA, LMHC, CMC, PCC
Coach, Counselor, Speaker, Presenter
Sushama is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by International Coach Federation (ICF), Life and Leadership Coach, with 32 years of clinical, 10 years of entrepreneurial, and over 10 years of coaching experience.
Current:
At Turning Force Coaching she offers individual and group coaching, applying principles of Positive Psychology, the science of human flourishing. She partners with clients to identify their pain points, activate personal power, shift mindsets and overcome obstacles to lift their visions to reality,
She presents webinars and workshops to organizations on topics of thriving, resilience, neuroplasticity, character strengths, leadership, navigating uncertainty, science of happiness, while drawing robustly from the science of Positive Psychology.
She is a Premier Fellow Coach at Better Up a Professional Coach Community “bringing together world-class coaching, AI technology, and behavioral science experts to deliver change at scale”. She engages in a dynamic and collaborative process to elevate sense of self fulfillment and scale organizational impact.
She volunteers as Coach Facilitator at University of Tampa MBA Fast Start Program. She offers group facilitation for first year graduate students on leadership, team dynamics, communication skills, decision making, public speaking and presentation skills.
She volunteers as Patient and Family Advisor at Moffitt Cancer Center, to enhance patient, caregiver and survivor experience for best possible outcomes.
She is currently a member of the ICF- Central Florida Charter Chapter.
Previous:
As Leadership Coach at How Women Lead, CA, (2021-2024) a virtual leadership program for Women Leaders for the World, she guided entrepreneurs to identify work styles, problem solve, lead teams effectively, expand influence, and engage self-care.
As Advisory Council Member for Command Purpose Foundation, DC (2021-2023), a values-based community of women and veteran leaders, she offered program guidance to facilitate veteran women in life transitions, entering civilian life, rediscover their identity and purpose.
As Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice, in Tampa, FL (1987 – 2020), for 32 years she counseled clients with acute and chronic mental disorders, trauma recovery, life transitions, psychosocial stressors in family and work environment.
As member of the professional mental health community, she was President of the Tampa Bay Association for Women Psychotherapists, Chairperson of the Tampa Bay Study Group for Dissociative Disorders, and was a member of the Suncoast Mental Health Counseling Association.
As Co-founder of PEHCHAAN, (Providing Educational, Humanistic & Cultural Hope for the south Asian American Network)a psychosocial, nonprofit organization for South Asian Americans in Tampa Bay (2006 – 2015), she served as President for 4 years and as a Board member for 10 years. The vision was to create multicultural awareness, enhance mental health access and acceptance across cultures. She currently serves as a consultant.
She wrote a monthly mental health column, for a regional newspaper ‘Khaas Baat’ (5 years), on multicultural issues of immigrants. She has offered psycho-educational workshops and support groups for professionals, organizations, service agencies, educational institutions and the community.
She was recipient of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, 2010, and the Power Stories Opening Hearts and Minds Award, 2011.
Education:
She is credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation (2024) and Associate Certified Coach (2021). She is a Certified Mentor Coach (2017), at Mentor Coach, a leading Coach Training Institute, in Bethesda, Maryland.
She has an M.A. in Counseling from Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI, and B.S. in Psychology from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
