Counseling Approaches
Root and Rise
I approach counseling more broadly as “emotional healing and holistic wellbeing”, from a culturally grounded framework that views the person in all the identities they bring. These identities and ways of being form the story of our lived experience which embodies heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit as well as the levels of familial/social/environmental contexts that we are immersed in. It is from this “centering of the client’s experience” that I then apply various therapeutic approaches. Over the years I have studied and practiced a variety of methods, which I now interweave, to best meet the needs of the client. I operate by centering the experience of the person in front of me, listening deeply, creating a warm, respectful, and welcoming space, and using a framework that understands the neuroscience of safety. While I have trained in Western-oriented approaches, my recent work involves connecting these approaches to ancient wisdom and practices, sometimes merging them, and other times, bridging one approach to the other. I also bring myself in my relationship with clients, to connect in a personal way, sharing about my own relevant lived experiences as a S. Asian Indian American, straight, able-bodied brown female, raised Muslim. Following are some of the approaches and techniques I have trained in.
Culturally grounded, systems based, social justice framework
Being of S. Asian Indian descent, I quickly recognized that many of the theoretical approaches I learned in counseling did not apply to my cultural context. Since then my educational and academic career has focused on counseling frameworks that incorporate many levels of identities (culture/race, gender, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, abilities, age, religion/spiritual, etc.), along with the rings of family and societal contexts we live within. Using such a framework means we bring about change both at an individual level and systems level. I embrace the recent movements of Liberation Psychology, and Decolonizing Therapy, which expand on previous Multicultural Counseling frameworks, and challenge us to rethink the value systems that the fields of Psychology and Counseling are based on, a system that has limited access to marginalized folks in the US and globally.
Here's a TEDx talk by Dr. Thema Bryant that explains why we need to decolonize Psychology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db6U7qOm7IM
Polyvagal Theory Informed Practice
Polyvagal Theory helps us understand the role of our nervous system in keeping us safe, regulated, and connected. However, when we experience danger or life threats, our nervous system responds accordingly by moving into defensive and protective ways. By recognizing and mapping the state of our nervous system, we can learn to shift states. This theory, first developed by scientist, Dr. Stephen Porges, and applied to clinical settings by therapist, Deb Dana, now has found wide applications in a variety of fields.
To learn more about Polyvagal Theory, you can go to:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
I am certified in EMDR which is a body-based therapist-guided approach using eye movements or bilateral stimulation (stimulating the right and left side of the body) while recalling traumatic memories. The basis of EMDR therapy is that when we experience traumatic situations, our brain processes and stores memories incorrectly, thus causing us to be activated by related or unrelated stimuli in the present day, or as if the past disturbing event is occurring currently. The goal of EMDR therapy is to bring about adaptive resolution of past traumatic memories.
To learn more, go to:
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
The Emotional Freedom Technique is based on Chinese medicine and involves tapping on meridian points (areas of the body where energy (Chi) flows through) while you think about the problem situation. It is similar to traditional acupuncture but without needles and is considered to help restore balance in the mind and body. It is believed that tapping on designated meridian points helps to send signals to parts of the brain that control stress. I teach tapping techniques to clients as a way to reduce their level of distress.
To learn more, go to:
Contemplative/Ancient/Cultural/Spiritual Practices
I have practiced yoga and other contemplative practices involving mindfulness (vipassana meditation) for over two decades, and currently practice yoga, meditation, and pranayama regularly. I incorporate various mindfulness and breathing practices in reducing stress and anxiety. I also invite people to incorporate music, dance, chanting, drumming, folk dancing, and other cultural/spiritual /religious practices that have been used since ancient times to calm the nervous system. Also, common practices that help people connect with others such as family and community gatherings, cooking, playing games, and exercising, are encouraged as they are known to regulate our nervous systems.
I have presented about this in my TEDx and other talks: