Through Balance Is The New Green (BTNG), Janvi Sikaria is working to address this gap between recognising the need for support and actually accessing it. The initiative focuses on making mental health and wellness services easier to understand and approach. Rather than expecting individuals to independently navigate every part of the process, the platform aims to provide guidance that helps them make informed decisions.
Over the past year, BTNG has facilitated more than 500 sessions. These sessions have involved conversations around anxiety, relationships, emotional exhaustion, career transitions, difficult personal decisions, and individual growth. Each of these experiences highlights how differently people understand and approach their emotional well-being. There is no single reason why someone seeks support, and there is no universal path that works for everyone.
Janvi Sikaria recognised an important pattern through these experiences. The biggest barrier to accessing mental healthcare is not necessarily a lack of awareness or the financial cost alone. Sometimes, people simply do not know how to begin. Someone may understand that they are feeling overwhelmed but remain uncertain about whether therapy is appropriate. Another person may want to improve their confidence or make a career decision but may not know which professional could guide them.
This uncertainty can delay meaningful action. People who are already dealing with emotional difficulties may find it exhausting to research professionals, understand specialisations, compare experience levels, and evaluate different services. Janvi Sikaria believes that the process of finding support should not place this additional responsibility entirely on the individual
To address this challenge, BTNG has introduced a free 30-minute conversation with a BTNG Care Coordinator. This initiative creates an accessible starting point for people who are interested in understanding their mental health and wellness needs but are unsure about the next step
During this conversation, the coordinator works to understand the individual’s current circumstances, concerns, and personal goals. Based on these requirements, the individual receives guidance about suitable professionals, their qualifications, and areas of specialisation. The conversation also explains available experience levels and transparent session pricing, allowing people to understand their options before making a decision.
Janvi Sikaria’s approach places considerable importance on informed choice. People should have the opportunity to understand what they are considering before committing financially. A person exploring therapy for the first time should not feel pressured to book a session simply because they have expressed an interest in receiving help. Similarly, someone with questions about affordability should be able to understand the available options without feeling uncomfortable.
The free introductory conversation addresses this concern by separating the process of understanding support from the decision to purchase a service. Individuals can ask questions, explore possibilities, and leave with a clearer understanding of their next steps without any obligation to book an appointment
This approach also reflects a broader change in how mental health and wellness are being understood. Traditionally, many people associate seeking professional support with experiencing a serious emotional crisis. However, emotional well-being involves much more than responding to difficult situations. It also includes developing confidence, improving relationships, managing career changes, understanding personal behaviour, and making thoughtful life decisions.
Janvi Sikaria’s vision for BTNG recognises this wider perspective. People do not need to wait until their circumstances become overwhelming before considering professional guidance. Sometimes, they simply want to understand themselves better, improve their communication, work through uncertainty, or develop healthier ways of approaching everyday challenges
This broader understanding requires access to professionals with different backgrounds and specialisations. A person dealing with anxiety may have different requirements from someone navigating a relationship concern or seeking career guidance. Matching individuals with suitable professionals is therefore an important part of making the experience meaningful
BTNG is developing an ecosystem that brings together professionals across different experience levels and specialisations. The platform also emphasises transparent pricing, online sessions, and an in-person centre in Kolkata. These elements are intended to give individuals greater clarity and flexibility when choosing the kind of support they want
For Janvi Sikaria, building such an ecosystem involves addressing practical difficulties alongside the larger conversation around mental health awareness. Encouraging people to prioritise their well-being is important, but awareness alone cannot solve the problem if the available support remains difficult to navigate. Accessibility, professional suitability, affordability, and clear communication must work together.
The introduction of the Care Coordinator conversation is therefore more than a new service feature. It represents an effort to simplify the first interaction between an individual and the mental health support system. Instead of beginning with complicated decisions, people can begin with a conversation about what they are experiencing and what they hope to achieve
There is also an important message in making this first step free. Understanding one’s options should not require an immediate financial commitment. When people have access to clear information, they are better positioned to decide what kind of support is appropriate for their circumstances
Janvi Sikaria’s work through Balance Is The New Green highlights a practical lesson for the wider wellness industry: accessibility is not just about making services available. It is also about making them understandable, approachable, and easier to choose. A service can have qualified professionals and multiple options, but if individuals cannot identify where they fit into the system, an important barrier remains.
As BTNG continues to develop, its focus on guidance, transparency, and different dimensions of personal well-being offers a direction worth exploring. The initiative acknowledges that people have different needs, different financial considerations, and different starting points
Ultimately, Janvi Sikaria is working towards a model in which asking for support feels less complicated and more approachable. The first step does not have to involve having all the answers. It can begin with a conversation, a question, or simply the willingness to understand oneself better
Mental health and wellness should not be approached only when life becomes difficult. They deserve attention as part of everyday personal development. By making the starting point easier, Janvi Sikaria and Balance Is The New Green are working to create an environment where more people can explore support with clarity, confidence, and the freedom to make their own decisions
