“Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.”
―Cherrie Moraga
WHAT LED ME TO PSYCHOLOGY
I am an Indian American, queer cisgender woman identified psychologist. I am also a person who stutters. My personal passion for psychology stems from a lifelong quest for my own self understanding and liberation. Whether through my relationships with others, work, or in quiet moments with myself, I am continually striving toward greater self awareness, growth, and freedom. I believe every human being has an innate capacity for growth, and that with the right support and at the time that we are ready, we are able to deepen self awareness and transform even the most difficult patterns, beliefs, and life experiences into sources of wisdom and power. We are able to live a life aligned with our deepest desires and sense of purpose. I bring this heartfelt passion to my work with each and every client.
Prior to coming to the field of psychology, I spent 9 years working in the fields of public policy/human rights advocacy, domestic violence prevention/response, international development, and direct social services with refugee and U.S. born disenfranchised Black American youth. In the course of doing this work, I met many incredible grassroots leaders moving their communities toward positive change. My decision to pursue psychology professionally was precipitated by a deep desire to understand, support, and foster the resilience that enabled these individuals to do their work.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Prior to pursuing this practice full time, I held a position for 4 years in the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center (GLA VA), West Los Angeles (WLA) campus. I also co-created the GLA VA Transgender Care Team. At the VA, I provided individual and group psychotherapy for people struggling to heal their traumas and addictions within the context of significant mental, socio-economic, and physical challenges. I also provided clinical supervision and training to postdoctoral psychology fellows, as well as multiple trainings/presentations on culturally responsive, social justice informed, client-centered care for transgender and gender expansive individuals to psychiatry, psychology, and primary care staff members and residents/trainees at GLA VA.
In addition, I held a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor position at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine in 2018-2019, and I have periodically served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at the University of Southern California (USC)’s Rossier School of Education since January 2018. I was awarded Faculty Member of the Year by the Rossier Graduate Student Organization in April 2019. I also served on the Advisory Board of the National Queer and Transgender Therapists of Color Network (https://www.nqttcn.com/) from 2018 - 2021 and on the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity within the American Psychological Association from 2021-2023.
With respect to formal education and research background, I have a PhD in Counseling Psychology from New York University, a Masters degree in Public Policy (MPP) with a concentration in Human Rights from Harvard University, and a Bachelors degree in English with a concentration in Feminist and Gender Studies as well as a minor in Dance from Bryn Mawr College.
TRAINING BACKGROUND
I have trained and/or worked at the following sites:
Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center: West LA campus and Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, Los Angeles, CA
Bellevue Hospital Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY
VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, NY
Pace University Student Counseling Center, New York, NY
New York Foundling (Foster Care Division), New York, NY
International Institute of St. Louis (refugee resettlement agency), St. Louis, MO
CHF International, Silver Spring MD (international development organization)
Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, Washington DC
I also have a certificate of training completion in MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). https://maps.org/ and completed training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) with the Polaris Insight Center in 2023-2024 https://training.polarisinsight.com/ .