At The Banyan, Dr Archana Padmakar, Co-director, has worked for 14 years with homeless individuals facing severe mental health challenges. As director of programs and faculty at the Banyan Academy, she mentors teams in delivering acute care, long-term support, and alternative pathways for those without family support. br br She applies clinical expertise with trauma-informed care, recognising the varied manifestations of severe mental health conditions within cultural contexts. She emphasises the role of small daily interactions, humour, and shared activities in building resilience and sustaining therapeutic relationships. br br Through her practice, she has observed the impact of consistent support, trust, and unconditional presence on recovery, noting that hope can emerge even where options and resources are limited. She underlines the importance of integrating service delivery, ethics, and value-based practice, mentoring younger professionals to maintain a care culture that supports both clients and teams across complex mental health contexts.