Tell us a little about you.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, mostly, as I did spend a couple years of my childhood in India. Being bicultural has played a major role in my life and development as it has shaped the way in which I learn information and make connections with others. I received my Bachelors in Psychology from San Jose State and my Masters in Counseling from Santa Clara University. At the moment I work with individual adults and couples to manage anxiety, trauma, and relationship concerns.
What inspired you to work as a therapist?
I have a great affinity for writing and initially pursued a degree in literature but shifted my focus to psychology after having a great experience in my own personal therapy. I also have always had a strong desire to reduce human suffering and believe that the space that is created in therapy allows for this to happen.
What’s one personal value you hold dear as a therapist and why is it important to you?
Being nonjudgmental is a value that I hold close both personally and professionally. I feel it is essential to this particular space because it takes courage to be vulnerable and explore emotions like pain, anger, and shame. Sometimes the ways in which we learn to go about our lives are flawed, sometimes for reasons out of our control, which is part of the reason why I feel that being nonjudgmental is a vital part of the human and therapy experience.
What is your approach to making change in therapy?
I believe making change comes from a desire to persevere. For one to want to make a shift in the therapy space, there is often an underlying desire to persist and push through what is challenging so that we may find ourselves somewhere lighter and better prepared. I recognize the difficulty that can come with making a change, and my role is to help clients through this process.
After a long work week, how do you de-stress and unwind?
To physically de-stress, I enjoy going on long walks and doing yoga. To unwind I like to watch films, listen to music, dance, go thrift shopping, and spend time with close friends and family.
