My first exposure with the existence of mental health concerns was through a visit to a psychiatric hospital in my hometown, Jammu. Realising the state of affairs in a place that brought in a lot of taboo and shame around mental health made me realise how things were different when they were institutionalized. Apart from that, I grew up with a parent who lied on the psychotic spectrum but I remember there to be so much shame and vagueness around it. These two lived experiences have surely been a catalyst to my journey as a therapist.

The value that outshines the most for me as a therapist is enabling someone and I believe being on the receiving end of therapy as a client myself, I have felt that enabling at a time when I thought myself to be too “disabled”. The limits of this profession (and surely that of myself) also keeps me in check and that experience in itself is often humbling. Honestly, I wouldn’t have imagined myself being someone else but a therapist.

What I really appreciate about being a therapist is drawing from lived experiences and the learning and unlearning that happens almost everyday. I wouldn’t also shy away from the fact that making an impact (whether big or small) is also a very rewarding experience and keeps me passionate enough to work. It is really exciting as I find it to be a very value laden profession and most importantly, it enables me to grow.

The first thing that comes to my mind is safety. I’d probably want my clients to experience or take back with them an imagination of a space that can hold them or make them feel seen and safe. Sure sometimes these ideas can sound stretched because there’s only so much we can do in our first session, but I’d want them to feel the presence of someone they know they can try taking a leap of faith.

I’d first want to let them know that even wanting to consider it in the first place is a huge step in the process. I’d want them to know that they have the right to be treated with respect, to ask questions about the counselling process, to understand confidentiality and its limits, and to decide whether a therapist feels like the right fit for them. I’d also want them to know that therapy is more like a collaborative process and I do not function as an expert as they themselves are an expert of their life story; I am more like a fellow traveller who helps them navigate their way through a sense of agency and safety. I think clients also often come up with this idea of “how long will it take for me to be better” and I’d want them to know that instead of being “better” it’s more a matter of being aware and in turn empowered with that knowledge. I really like to put across the metaphor of therapy being a gym for the mind and that it takes time to “exercise” and reflect upon/modify ways of relating to oneself and others.

I hope to build a relationship with my clients that is based on safety, respect and being genuinely heard and seen. I see therapy as a collaborative process and a space where we work together to understand what’s important for my clients, set goals that feel meaningful, and move at a pace that feels comfortable. I value openness, curiosity, and honest conversations, and I welcome feedback throughout the process so we can shape therapy in a way that best supports their needs.

I think I have believed that my clients have been a major source of learning :) my trainings and upskilling have often resulted from both my love of learning but also sometimes keeping in mind if something can benefit my clients. I have learned to use my own self (the therapist as the tool) in sessions more as for the longest time, I remember shying away or being on alarm if my clients asked anything about my life. Partly owing to my own experiences and also what I often read (therapist being a blank slate, therapist not self disclosing at all), I often maintained a distance when it came to sharing about myself. I knew my limits but my clients taught me that I was being too rigid about them. One of the biggest learnings has to be about being human in the therapeutic space as well (of course keeping in mind that I have to be intentional about it and not really make the session about myself).

I’d like to say I am self aware and if not, then I am always deeply reflecting both as a person and as a therapist, and also as a client (though that is for my therapist to decide). Another strength that I consider about myself is being able to learn but also unlearn. I know I have really worked upon myself in both my own therapy and supervision and there is still a long way to go but I really appreciate that I have never, even for once taken this profession for granted. I value being passionate about mental health as a field :) I also appreciate that I am always willing to put in the work for my own self first before asking my clients to do so. I do believe that I can reach someone through the depths of how much I have reached mine but having said that, I am also open to reaching where my clients are but being transparent about the time it would take for me to reach them.

In my free time, you can find me reading, taking a sip of coffee or trying to explore the world around me on my own.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that our past experiences, relationships, and life circumstances shape how we see ourselves and relate to others in the present. Sometimes we find ourselves repeating patterns, feeling stuck, or struggling with emotions that don’t fully make sense. Together, we’ll gently explore these experiences to better understand where they come from and how they may be influencing your present life. I am also queer-friendly, anti-caste and a neurodivergence affirming therapist. I don’t believe our emotional lives exist in isolation. Our identities, relationships, histories, communities, and the wider social, cultural, and political worlds we live within shape how we experience ourselves. Therapy with me can then be a space where these parts of your story are explored with care, rather than separated from your emotional experiences. I try to be mindful of being a psychosocially attuned therapist, keeping in mind both you and the society you live in and its influence on you.

Creating a safe and affirmative space for queer and trans clients is an ongoing commitment in my practice. I strive to create a non-judgemental environment where clients feel respected, affirmed, and free to explore their identities without fear of stigma. My practice includes using clients’ chosen names and pronouns (I do provide a section to answer it in my intake form), avoiding assumptions, and recognising the impact of discrimination and minority stress on mental health. I prioritise continued learning through queer-affirmative trainings, reading work by queer and trans clinicians and scholars, supervision, and regular self-reflection to challenge my own biases.