I became a therapist to be a part of the process of change in people’s lives. The idea of change brings me hope, and it’s very fulfilling to facilitate parts of the change that people want for themselves. While growing up, I was always curious to listen to people’s stories and support them in whatever way I understood back then. I see the immense power in sharing stories as I practice more in the field of mental health. I hope the act of sharing these stories itself dissipates some of the burdens of shame we carry.

Extending empathy, creating safe spaces and empowering people to stand up for themselves and slowly remove themselves from oppressive conditioning are all a part of my therapeutic approach. These themes show up in almost every session and in the process my client(s) and I build an understanding and acceptance about different perspectives; that helps me unlearn, learn and hence grow as a person, and that is the most exciting part of being a counsellor

I hope clients feel heard and seen after the first session. I hope to create a non judgmental and accepting space for our conversation in the first session. I believe that the foundation of therapy is the rapport between the therapist and client. Typically the first session is about getting to know the context and background about the client so that I get a better understanding about what they are going through. The first session is also dedicated for the client to ask questions and build awareness and understanding of the process of therapy and the therapeutic approach(es) I use in therapy. This helps in building trust in the therapeutic space and process.

Therapy is an empathetic and non judgmental space for clients to gain perspectives and skills to deal with certain challenges or mental health concerns that they are dealing with. The client has the right to choose a therapist, hold them accountable, give feedback and ask questions through the therapy process. In therapy you don’t have to talk about things that you don’t feel ready to talk about. It is supposed to be a safe space where the therapist understands your circumstances and experiences without judgment and goes at your pace.The client is also free to terminate sessions if they if they feel uncomfortable.

I hope to develop a professional relationship that has a deep sense of trust, connection and safety; and has space for feedback. The working relationship that a client and therapist develop is the foundation of all the work that happens in therapy. I work together with clients in a collaborative and non-prescriptive manner to build awareness and create insights.

The greatest learning from clients and my therapy practice is the amount of hope clients carry with themselves even in the toughest times in life. While I hear narratives of struggle and pain, I also see the skills, creativity and strength they had that got them through/ is getting them through such a difficult time. The fact that clients show up for therapy and for sessions reflects their deep hope and willingness to change something - within or around them. And having the privilege to be a part of the therapy process has given me the chance to witness this.

In my therapeutic practice, I deeply value empathy and compassion. Along with empathy, I hold a systemic and rights-based approach to therapy. This means that I actively point out the rights of the client and the people in their lives in an empathetic and safe manner. I also have an understanding about how our environment, socio-cultural and systemic factors can impact an individual’s mental health. This allows the therapy to be space safe and empowering at the same time.

I am passionate about art and specifically drawing mandalas and learning more about them. I find it very relaxing, and it helps me unwind.

I use an approach to therapy in which I value the person the most in the process. My approach to sessions is non directive, and I like to explore different aspects of a person’s life story that might have been impacted by the concerns they are dealing with. I also use a strength based approach, which means acknowledging the clients strengths and skills as we explore the discourses of struggle. My approach to therapy is primarily rights based, feminist, LGBTQ+ affirmative, and trauma informed. This means that I will take an active stance in therapy by pointing out when a person is in being treated unfairly due to systemic factors.

I inform myself about several therapeutic and personal discourses of queer and trans folx available in literature to educate myself. I also take supervision from queer therapists so that I can be aware of the unique challenges that queer and trans people experience in their lives. I take an active and affirmative stance about exploring or accepting one’s sexuality and gender. I attempt to constantly acknowledge my privilege given my gender and sexuality.