I chose to become a counsellor because of my natural inclination towards understanding people and how they become who they are. My own experience in therapy and seeing the mental health struggles of people around me made me believe in the value and importance of counselling. .

I enjoy connecting deeply with people and I find it fulfilling to bear witness to the growth of another individual. Working closely with different clients also helps me develop a broader framework through which to understand the world around me- I am always challenged, and always learning

I hope a client will take back a sense of being held and truly seen. I also hope that they have been able to ask whatever questions they may have and gain a better understanding of what therapy with me will look like.

I would tell a client that therapy is collaborative; I will not be telling you what to do but we will work together to address the concerns that have you led you to begin counselling. I would also emphasise the importance of open and respectful communication between us

I would want my client to feel safe and feel seen in our sessions. The relationship I would like to build would involve transparency, trust and an openness to giving and receiving feedback (even the things that usually go unsaid!) Part of this would involve us reflecting together on the work of therapy and the dynamic between us as client and therapist

My work so far has served to reinforce my internal belief in the resilience and capacity for self reflection that we all possess. I also have a greater appreciation of the way that human struggles present differently in each of us based on the specificities of our lived experience.

I think one of my strengths is my ability to listen closely and ‘read between the lines’ to gain a sense of the client’s personality and struggles. My openness to feedback is something I try to communicate to clients because self reflexivity and continuous learning are core values that I hold as an individual.

I enjoy reading, watching true crime documentaries, playing with my dog and spending time in nature. After a long day of work I can usually be found drinking tea and watching birds on my terrace.

My therapeutic approach is psychodynamic-this means we will work to understand both your present and your past in therapy. Looking at and understanding the underlying patterns and experiences which have led you to where you are is part of this approach. I also take a psychosocial lens which takes into account locations of caste, class, sexuality and gender since these systems and our place in them have a profound impact on our lived experience.

I have experience working with queer folx and have undergone peer training in queer-affirmative counselling practice using a manual developed for and in the Indian context. I have been interested in queer-feminist writing since my undergraduate days; my background in literature sparked this interest and is one of the reasons I chose a psychology Masters program which took a psychosocial approach.