About Me
I was born in India and moved to the United States in my late 20’s. My journey has been unusual, in that I had the opportunity to live two separate lives, each incorporating it’s own cultural challenges and experiences.
By the time I left India, I was fluent in two Indian languages, had completed a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and was immersed in all the traditions of the sub-continent. The transition from there to here required adjusting to new norms, battling immigration, and minority-race issues, etc.
I have lived in the United States for several decades now and am happily immersed in the culture here. It has been wonderful to be able to straddle my different worlds, embrace myriad identities, and share a unique understanding of immigrant issues with the population I serve.
I started my private practice in 2017 in Washington DC and work with adults coping with life stressors, anxiety, depression, grief, transgenerational trauma, and mental illness. Before that, I spent a decade working with community mental health organizations in DC and MD, serving individuals suffering from severe mental illnesses, addiction, homelessness, etc.
Certifications & Training:
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional I am able to offer a wide range of services to assist individual in coping with PTSD, and grief and loss.
Illness Management & Recovery (IMR)
Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) is a curriculum that a specially trained mental health practitioner uses to help people to develop personal strategies for coping with mental illness and moving forward with their life. As people gain more mastery over their symptoms, they gain more control over their lives and become better able to realize their vision of recovery.
Mental Health First Aid specialist is able to offer timely and critical care to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The specialist helps the person identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Trauma Informed Care involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. It also emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety for both consumers and providers, and helps survivors rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.
Education
- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
- Master of Arts in Applied Clinical Psychology
- Spalding University, Louisville, KY
- University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
Memberships
- American Counseling Association
- DC Mental Health Counselor Association