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EXPERIENCE
I started my journey in the mental health field in 2009, volunteering as a peer counselor at Maitri, a south Asian agency helping victims of domestic violence. I learned much from my clients and feel privileged to be a part of their journey as they transitioned out of violent relationships, overcame legal, financial and emotional hardships and reestablished their identities. Around the same time, I answered the crisis hotline at Bill Wilson Center for a year providing support to distressed individuals seeking resources and perhaps just someone to talk to.
During my time at Santa Clara University as I worked towards completing my graduate degree in counseling psychology and later as an intern, I gained valuable experience counseling children (K-12) at the school districts in Morgan Hill, San Jose, Palo Alto and San Mateo. Along with individual sessions and some home visits I also facilitated age-appropriate groups for children addressing life skills, bullying, communication, self-worth, and anxiety, to name some of the topics. As an intern (Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counselor) now, I continue to work with elementary school children in the San Francisco school district. These years spent at school sites have provided opportunity to collaborate with parents and school staff, support children through various life changes, help them develop coping skills to deal with grief, loss, and changes in the family structure. For the last two years I worked with young adults at a community college in San Mateo providing support on a range of issues including relationships, career, identity development, severe mental illness, life transitions and adjustment. More recently, I facilitated psychoeducation and support groups for court mandated clients cited for driving under the influence. I have also facilitated groups at the juvenile hall with incarcerated youth involved in gangs, dealing with substance abuse and anger related problems.
My experience with children and adults has included clients of various ethnicities and addressed a range of mental health issues including, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, trauma, interpersonal relationships, grief and loss, relationship problems, and life skills, to name a few.
My former career in Corporate America for over 12 years provided an opportunity to grow and advance while working with teams, meet deadlines, devote long hours, and survive layoffs. I consider myself curious, well travelled, fascinated by the cultures of the world and an avid reader.
During my time at Santa Clara University as I worked towards completing my graduate degree in counseling psychology and later as an intern, I gained valuable experience counseling children (K-12) at the school districts in Morgan Hill, San Jose, Palo Alto and San Mateo. Along with individual sessions and some home visits I also facilitated age-appropriate groups for children addressing life skills, bullying, communication, self-worth, and anxiety, to name some of the topics. As an intern (Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counselor) now, I continue to work with elementary school children in the San Francisco school district. These years spent at school sites have provided opportunity to collaborate with parents and school staff, support children through various life changes, help them develop coping skills to deal with grief, loss, and changes in the family structure. For the last two years I worked with young adults at a community college in San Mateo providing support on a range of issues including relationships, career, identity development, severe mental illness, life transitions and adjustment. More recently, I facilitated psychoeducation and support groups for court mandated clients cited for driving under the influence. I have also facilitated groups at the juvenile hall with incarcerated youth involved in gangs, dealing with substance abuse and anger related problems.
My experience with children and adults has included clients of various ethnicities and addressed a range of mental health issues including, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, trauma, interpersonal relationships, grief and loss, relationship problems, and life skills, to name a few.
My former career in Corporate America for over 12 years provided an opportunity to grow and advance while working with teams, meet deadlines, devote long hours, and survive layoffs. I consider myself curious, well travelled, fascinated by the cultures of the world and an avid reader.
