I remember being strongly drawn to the field of counseling & psychotherapy as a graduate student. I felt fascinated by how our relationships impact the way we think, feel, and behave. We are relational beings, so it only made sense that the emotional scars we get through relationships; are healed through relationships. Psychotherapy allows me to co-create this nurturing relational space with many people.

Coming into work every day I feel particularly excited to be a witness! I get to be a close witness to people’s challenges, innermost thoughts, emotions, beliefs, values, goals, the people in their lives, and their resilience. I believe that this is a privilege and an honor that one must respect.

First sessions can often be tough; whether you are walking into your first-ever therapy session or have been in therapy before. I hope that my clients feel heard in the first session. I want them to know that the space we co-create is their space where they feel heard, understood, and eventually safe.

If you are thinking of seeking counselling, try not to minimize that voice. This voice asking you to seek professional help knows your innate needs. But there will be another voice that seeks comfort in the ongoing disturbing familiarity. In this tug-of-war between two voices, know that seeking help when needed, is a sign of strength & resilience.

I wish to build a relationship based on trust, respect, and care. A relationship that is not all-knowing or all-perfect, but rather a relationship that is ‘good enough’ to be a secure base for the duration of counselling.

That the way we talk to ourselves matters and it matters a lot! Having a compassionate relationship with ourselves is essential to building resilience and moving through life.

I am eager to learn for and learn from my clients. This curiosity for knowledge and skill-building allows me to be adaptable in a variety of cases. Through supervision, personal therapy, and training programs I like to maintain and upgrade the standard of mental healthcare I can provide my clients.

I enjoy spending my free time engaged in some form of movement. Be it weights at the gym, yogasana, or going for a hike! The rest of my free time is spent in cooking lip-smackingly rewarding post-workout meals, petting cats, reading academic books, and listening to podcasts/audiobooks about true-crime or fictional mysteries!

I use an integrative approach in my therapy practice. My therapeutic lens draws from Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and the Existential School of thought. I try to look at the client’s past experiences which have left a lasting impact, and understand how that impact manifests in the present challenges, while also understanding their meaning-making mechanisms to facilitate the therapy process. I include the standard care practice of being queer affirmative and trauma-informed while keeping myself updated about the impacts of various socio-cultural-legal systems on the individual.

Constant learning & unlearning! Through regular training programs, client feedback, self-reflection, and reading I like to stay abreast of inclusive practices in mental healthcare. I keep in mind how culture, socio-economic landscapes, and legal limitations impact the individual. This helps me to provide an informed inclusive space where the person doesn’t have the burden of educating the therapist or feeling invalidated for their lived experience.