Frequently Asked Questions

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I’m committed to giving my clients the best care and experience possible, there’s no such thing as a bad question!

Check out the FAQs below and

feel free to reach out to me if you still have something on your mind you'd like to clarify or talk to me about

What does your approach to therapy look like?

There are many schools of thought in the field of psychology, many different perspectives and approaches to doing this work.

Therapy for me is a process of working together, of being seen and heard and held in safety and care.

It may involve talking and being heard, learning how our nervous systems function and how best we can support them, learning skills and tools to help understand and connect with our bodies, how to feel our feelings in a safe way, how to communicate our thoughts and our feelings assertively.

We are all neurodiverse, this means we all have unique nervous systems, kinda like fingerprints.

I believe therapy is most effective when tailored to fit with what your nervous systems need and I aim to explore this with you, if you'd like to do this work with me.

I work with trauma - personal, collective, intergenerational and ancestral. I believe it is possible to heal from the things that have happened to us and everything they evoked inside of us in an attempt to help us survive.

This work requires a lot of care, towards myself and towards the people I work with.

I believe a lot of our struggles are systemic. Larger systems like capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, patriarchy, casteism, racism etc. have caused deep harm to our bodies and to the planet. I reject the purely western approach to therapy and mental health, the medicalised, individualistic approach which attempts to place the burden of illness on individuals. Therapy does not happen in a vacuum, since we all exist within these systems, I believe it is extremely important to have a systemic and intersectional lens to any healing work we undertake.

I strive to use the best of western therapeutic approaches alongside indigenous wisdom, most of which has faced systemic erasure or ridicule. I also believe therapy is political, when policy dictates things like who we get to love and what kind of body (shape, size, colour) is ideal, that is political. I do not think therapy can be effective if it does not actively engage with politics because politics impacts us all.

Having said all I have, I feel the need to also point out explicitly that while my perspectives shape how I view the world and my approach to therapy. I make a conscious effort to focus on my client's views and perspectives, leaving room for healthy curiosity rather than imposing my beliefs on anyone.

Is therapy for weak or crazy people?

I'd like to lead with one of my favourite quotes here:

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"

- J. Krishnamurti

While therapy can be very helpful in times of crises, it works even better when engaged with in times of calm and safety. The idea that accessing therapy makes one weak or "crazy" is a myth usually coming from systems that are scared of change and therefore growth. These narratives often cause active harm.

The familiar feels known and therefore safer as compared the unfamiliar unknown, so we "keep things within the family" for example as our bodies scream or shut down instead of getting the help and support we need.

I would compare mental healthcare and therapy to going to the gym or exercising regularly. The "muscles" build when we use them, so do neurons and neuronal networks in our brains.

Taking a preventive approach means seeking support before "shit hits the fan" in order to gain support and work towards living our lives in alignment, whereas a responsive approach (usually more common) usually involves seeking support after a crisis or a major life event that leaves us feeling overwhelmed.

Do you maintain Confidentiality?*

Yes, anything spoken about in therapy including the client’s identity will be kept completely confidential. The session content and all relevant materials to the client’s process will be held confidential unless the client requests in writing to have all or portions of such content released to a specifically named person/persons.

*Disclaimer: Confidentiality may be breached under certain specific conditions in accordance with ethical guidelines, like ensuring the safety of the client, the professional or anyone else. The informed consent form will clarify such terms and conditions which will be discussed before beginning the therapy process.

What therapeutic approaches do you use?

I have a trauma informed lens and approach to therapy.

Simply put, this implies that the stuff we are dealing with at present may likely have its roots in our childhood experiences, both the good and the not so good. The things that went well in our developing years lead to more integrated and Interdependent ways of being whereas adverse childhood experiences commonly lead to more fragmentation.

The modalities that I have been trained in and often draw from in my practice are:

Brainspotting, Adventure and Nature Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Existential Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Psychoanalytic frameworks, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic work, Internal Family Systems and Narrative Therapy practices.

I use an eclectic approach towards psychotherapy based on my client's needs. I believe each individual is unique and what works for one person may not work for another, I therefore use techniques from different modalities in order to facilitate the therapy process.

I believe what is most important to the therapeutic process is attunement. Attunement to my own body and attunement to the client.

How long does each therapy session take?

A standard session is for 50 minutes and sessions are usually scheduled once a week. As per standard practice, once a week is a healthy frequency which allows time to reflect on the previous session as well as attempt any changes discussed. The frequency may vary depending on individual needs and a mutual understanding.

How long will I need to be in therapy?

It is difficult to ascertain a duration for therapy. Some people may find a few sessions helpful, after which choosing to discontinue. Some may wish to be in therapy for months or even years.

It would vary from individual to individual and what they are looking for. Usually, deeper work takes more time, effort, energy and commitment. e.g. It has taken (your age) years to make you, you. Attempting to change any patterns of thought or behaviour formed and reinforced over (your age) years will take some time. As stated above the duration would depend on the goals of therapy (mutually decided) and would vary between individuals.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?*

I offer sliding scale rates to those who cannot afford to pay full session charges. In case affordability is the only hurdle keeping you from accessing mental healthcare, please communicate the same to me.

*Disclaimer: I have a limited number of sliding scale slots which are subject to availability.

FAQ: FAQ