I realised in school, it was my psychology professor I’d admire the most and feel safe around and as a result I ended up not only taking her classes but loving it. I noticed I have a natural flare to hold space for everyone, understanding the nuances of knowing people and what they’re grappling with.

Stories and my interaction with people (not just with clients but other stakeholders as well). What excites me the most about my work as a counselor is silently celebrating people’s journey. Clients are far more than what textbook can ever teach us. They carry within themselves stories that has shaped them & also, what they can be. Witnessing & being a part of their journey is precious.

I hope that my clients feel seen & understood in the session. I hope they feel it’s a space where they can talk about anything without the fear of being judged. I hope they take back with them a sense of comfort & acceptance.

I would say that thinking of seeking counseling shows the immense strength they carry within and that healing doesn’t happen in isolation so, it’s good that they’re giving it a thought & might as well act on it. It’s okay to take time in finding a counselor for yourself who would be a better fit.

The relationship is build strongly on the basis of mutual respect and acceptance. I want my clients to know that while I am the professional, it is them who is the expert in their life and therefore, therapy with me is never suggestive or correctional. I also, create a space where we address each other by our respective names to foster a sense of equality & reduce hierarchical barriers. I encourage engaging in open communication if there’s any case of disagreements or misunderstandings. Last but not the least, I want my clients to know that this space reflects care & community and they can always show up as their unhinged selves where their lived experiences is going to be central to the therapeutic work. Also, client doesn’t have to talk about anything they’re not yet ready to talk about.

Acts of resistance from dominant norms of the society. As much as clients learn from therapy space, they also UN-learn narratives that may be stopping them from being their authentic selves and choosing what’s right for them. Everyday in my practice, I notice and learn ways no matter how big or small in which clients shape back their community, their society, workplace or any space in which they exist by simply showing up as authentically as possible in a world that tries to fit them in a box.

I appreciate and value my skills of compassionate listening and gentle curious stance that I hold as a counselor.

In my free time I like to watch the sky, take walks or stretch and share memes I come across. I also, like to click random photos of things less noticeable to the busy mind.

Therapy is a collaborative process where client is navigating their life journey, while the therapist acts as the passenger, providing guidance, directions, and support, but ultimately it’s the client making the choices behind the wheel and control the route. Whatever the journey may look like, we are in this together! In therapy, I use a client centred approach with a focus of bringing curiosity to the client’s inner world & their relationship with their socio-political environment. In my therapy practice, I engage with tools beyond talk therapy like use of expressive arts based modalities & mindfulness-based practices.

I use queer affirmative language in my practice. I have build pool of resources including data of medical professionals that are queer affirmative or atleast queer friendly and provide tools tailored to client’s need. Consuming lgbtq+ media, literature & my own experiences has shaped my understanding of power structure within the community which I like to unpack in the sessions as they show up. Engaging in self reflective work and acknowledging areas of privilege is how I hold myself accountable in ensuring safety for queer & trans folks.