Vinita Puri | Toronto | Open To Possibilities

Registered Social Worker | Mediator

Educator | Coach | Consultant | Professor | Clinical Director - Psychotherapy

"As a child, I knew I was different. I had difficulty opening my eyes fully, especially when there was any form of glare or light". As a young girl, Vinita Puri often found herself retreating from the world. While other kids raced through schoolyards and soaked in the sunshine, Vinita struggled to keep her eyes open in the light. Teachers noticed. Students stared. But no one truly understood. She had a rare congenital condition called Aniridia, which affected the development of her eyes. And in a world that didn’t make room for difference, that condition became her burden to carry. Vinita was quiet, not because she had nothing to say, but because speaking up often led to more pain. She couldn’t participate in sports, couldn’t make friends easily, and was the target of endless bullying. There were days she was mocked. Days she was pushed. And many days where the silence around her felt heavier than anything. Racism, discrimination, and exclusion became familiar, and the constant blows to her self-esteem made her believe what others said about her. Even teachers dismissed her, convinced she lacked the ability to succeed academically or socially. But hidden beneath the quiet, Vinita had something powerful—resilience. Her turning point came in her final year of high school, in 1986, when her ophthalmologist referred her for a low vision assessment. That referral changed everything. Through Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program, Vinita received a computer, scanner, and printer, and was introduced to a DAISY reader—a device that could literally read textbooks aloud to her. These tools didn’t just help her read; they helped her believe. For the first time, she could interact with her learning on her own terms. Magnifying text, listening to chapters, navigating digital documents—it all unlocked a new path forward. With the right support, Vinita didn’t just catch up. She thrived. The girl who was once told she might not graduate high school is now a leader, a teacher, a mentor, and a healer. Vinita became a Registered Social Worker, and later earned her PhD in Psychology. Today, she teaches in the M.S. Psychology program at Western State University in California, and the Masters in Counselling Psychology program at Adler University’s Vancouver campus. Her classrooms are filled with future leaders—and she’s helping shape each one of them.

Over the years, Vinita’s passion for education and justice has driven her to pursue knowledge across multiple disciplines. She holds a PhD in Psychology, a Master’s in Criminological Research from the University of Cambridge, a Master’s in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Specialized Honours BA in Sociology from York University. She also holds a Master’s in Ayurvedic Digestion and Nutrition, blending ancient wisdom with modern wellness practice. In 2021, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the American University for Global Peace, recognizing her efforts in bringing social change to the workplace.

For fifteen years, Vinita served as Clinical Director at Resilience Counseling and Coaching Services, providing psychotherapy, mediation, training, and coaching to clients from all walks of life. She continues to offer casual psychotherapy through Maple, a leading telehealth platform in Canada. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and she weaves in her knowledge of Ayurveda and yoga to support a holistic vision of healing.

Everything she does is rooted in a strength-based, anti-oppressive framework—always focused on empowering others to rise. But Vinita’s influence extends well beyond the therapy room. She sits on the Editorial Review Board for the International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences and contributes to the Patient Research Advisory Board at the University of British Columbia’s Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Centre. She’s a board member with the Criminal Justice Association of Ontario and represents the Diversity Advisory Committee for the Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology.

Alongside her academic and clinical roles, Vinita is deeply committed to community work. She mentors, coaches, and supports organizations such as Ontario Heroes, the National Collaboration for Youth Mental Health, LEA International Foundation, Pink Thursday, and Punjabi Community Health Services. Her impact was officially recognized by the City of Mississauga, who named her a COVID Hero in 2021 for her commitment to community-based initiatives during the pandemic.

Looking back, Vinita reflects on those early years with honesty. She admits there were moments when self-doubt felt overwhelming. But what she knows now is this—she was always more capable than she believed. Her family, especially her parents and grandparents, were her foundation. Their quiet encouragement kept her steady when everything else felt uncertain.

To young people around the world, Vinita shares a message forged through experience: “Stay open to possibilities. Don’t limit your own potential by doubting yourself. You’re capable of more than you realize.”Vinita Puri’s journey is more than just a personal triumph. It’s a reminder that no one’s story is defined by their limitations—but rather by what they choose to do with them. And today, the once-quiet girl who sat in the shadows is now using her voice to light the way for countless others.

Her story is far from over. In fact, it’s just getting started.

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