I like to think of the practitioner I am today as being a culmination of different parts of my journey in studying Psychology for over a decade and a half. The end of my postgraduate journey left me feeling enriched and yet, somewhat disillusioned about the manner in which mental health care is systemically dispensed. Today, that experience shows up in my practice as a commitment to go beyond labels and deeply honor the client’s subjective experience. 

 

My doctoral work in the context of cancer caregiving helped me see words like stress and coping come alive in people facing a life-altering yet universal experience - a loved one being seriously unwell. This foray into research brought in a sense of criticality, reflexivity and humility with which I approached the landscape of psychological change. It also introduced me to frameworks such as intersubjectivity, salutogenesis, narrative medicine, nuances of psychotherapy, and the role of spirituality and community in coping - all of which have made their way into my work with clients and caregivers. 

 

The experience of continued training in therapy reveals how much complexity exists behind a person’s story of psychological pain as well as the purpose it serves. Therapy, to me, is a collaborative journey into looking at these parts, their origins and purposes with discernment and compassion. My therapeutic framework is person centered and holds utmost respect for the person and their story. It also involves building greater awareness of the bodily experience that is evoked when we work with our feelings. 

 

Some of the therapeutic lenses I work with are attachment and trauma work, mindfulness, existential psychotherapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and family therapy. The gendered nature of our experiences as well as the formative ways in which patriarchy, heteronormativity, caste and class supremacy show up in sessions is something I strive to be accountable for. I work with adults across the lifespan - Indians residing in India and overseas who seek a therapeutic space that is in alignment with their values and culture.