About

Therapy provides you with a safe space to explore your conscious and unconscious thoughts, emotions, and experiences that may be creating imbalance, and pain or suffering in your life. 

The therapist may support and guide you to understand these experiences and deepen your understanding about yourself in relation to the experiences.  In therapy, you learn tools to manage anger, stress, relationships, emotional difficulties, and face your challenges. 

Therapy can help you overcome feelings of depression and anxiety, create personal growth, and create personal freedom from resistant emotions by changing your perspective and how you perceive situations in life.

A friend can be a great resource for emotional support; however, friends lack the skills to effectively help you deal with your emotional and psychological difficulties in a time effective and goal oriented manner, unlike a trained mental health professional.  

Often it is also hard for friends to stay focused on just you because as you’re aware, friendship is a two way street.  But in therapy the focus is on you and the space is yours to explore the difficult areas of your life.   

Discussions with friends can sometimes also focus just on the problems, especially if both individuals are having similar experiences, and this tends to keep things stagnant, unlike therapy where a therapist motivates positive change by using various techniques.  It may be challenging to discuss sensitive subjects with a friend and certain topics may be uncomfortable for them or they may not always have the time that you need.   

Lastly, friends can also experience burnout or fatigue from trying to help with problems since they are not equipped with the skills to do so.   Therapy allows you to open up more fully and receive expert knowledge, understanding, and guidance in a safe and non-judgmental environment.   

I offer virtual, telehealth, and in-personal sessions.  Online therapy has been shown to be effective for several mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.  It provides convenience to those with busy schedules and allows you to be in the safety of your home. 

However, it can sometimes be difficult to observe body language during virtual sessions.  A strong therapeutic relationship can mitigate that shortcoming.  Ultimately it is your preference how you want to engage in therapy and which mode suits your needs.

There are many similarities and 3 major differences.  

• Licensed counsellors will have registration in B.C, will hold a Master’s Degree  (MA, MEd, MC) and be a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC).  A Psychologist usually holds a Master’s or Doctoral Degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD), 

• The second difference is their approach and areas of speciality.   Although both can do an assessment, Psychologists can also diagnose mental health disorders.  Psychologists are focused on research in labs, conducting psychological assessments, and sometimes talk-therapy.  However, counsellors focus and specialize in helping individuals overcome their mental health challenges that hinder their ability to live a fulfilling life.  

• Lastly, the payment amount and approach to therapy varies. For psychologists this ranges from $200-250/session and for most counsellors it is around $140-175/session.  

They can both evaluate and treat mental health illnesses and diagnoses.  Neither one can prescribe medications and the session length time is usually about one hour for both of them. 

I generally try to check my voicemail and emails once a day.  However, it may take me up to 48 hours to get back to you and longer if I am away on vacation.  If you are in a crisis situation please go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital, call a crisis line or 911. 

• Surrey Memorial Hospital 13750 96 Ave, Surrey, BC V3V 1Z2 604-581-2211
• 24/7 Distress Phone Services 604-872-3311
• 1-800-SUICIDE or 604-951-8855 (interpreter services available)

In my opinion a big part of successful therapy is ensuring the therapist is the right fit and there is a strong therapeutic alliance. The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses recommends asking yourself the following questions:

• Does your therapist challenge you?
• Does your therapist check-in with you?
• Does your therapist guide you to your goals?
• Does your therapist help you learn?
• Does your therapist show acceptance and compassion?
• Does your therapist  treat you as an equal?

If you answered yes to most of these then you’re in the right place, but if not, just talk to your therapist and explain that this is not the right fit.  Most therapists will be professional about this and understand. 

If the therapist is the right fit and things are working well you may notice improvements in mood, reduced stress, things getting easier over time in various areas of your life, and differences in how you think. Ask yourself the following questions to check if therapy is working for you:

1. Do I feel more hopeful? (Bleakness is lifting.)
2. Do I hear my therapist’s “voice” between sessions? Do I find myself asking, “What would my therapist do or say here” and know the answer? (Sessions are memorable and helpful.)
3. Am I thinking new thoughts/thinking of things in new ways? (You’re learning tools and coping mechanisms.)
4. Am I taking some new risks? (You’re incorporating new ways of being.)
5. Are my relationships getting better? 
6. Do I feel my therapist is doing more than just “yessing” me or providing a compassionate ear (There’s a good match between you.)
7. Is my therapist giving me relevant resources and techniques to use outside of therapy, and am I using them? (Shows trust, investment and progress.)
8. Do I have increased resilience and the ability to bounce back when facing challenging situations? (There’s an effective environment for change.)

The goal of this therapy is to help you become your own therapist.  If you feel yourself gaining more knowledge and moving towards self-acceptance, growth, and self-sufficiency, the therapy is on track.

I  work with clients of all ages, from 3 years to 90 years of age.

Yes.  I provide in-person, virtual, and telehealth sessions.  This ensures that I can accommodate people living in many different time zones and with different lifestyles. 

This session is about getting to know each other so that we can develop a good therapeutic relationship and therapeutic plan.  This involves me asking you some questions and the information allows me to understand and support you with more accuracy. 

Before the first appointment I will send you forms to complete and during the first session I will review these with you.  Together we will come up with a plan and your goals for therapy.

Here are a few things that can help you prepare for an online session:

1. Find a private and comfortable space

• Use earphones or headphones to increase privacy and block out noise
• You can also make use of spaces such as the garage, attic, the car, or the basement.
• Be aware of any ambient noise
• Use a comfortable chair, pillows, blankets, or comfortable lighting and even candles to create a soothing space.  

2. Check the equipment

• Check that zoom or google meets is working.  If you have a preference between the two platforms, you can make your selection at the time of booking by letting me know. 
• Check the microphone, camera and that audio and video are working.
• Charge your laptop or connect it to a power source
• Ensure that you have Wi-Fi
• Close unnecessary programs on your phone or laptop that may slow the connection.  If you are using a smartphone, turn it on silent mode.  

3. Come with questions and topics or areas of focus.

• Have a few things that you’d like to discuss with the therapist, for example, your areas of concern or difficulty and questions you may have about therapy in general.  

4. Fill out the forms sent to you before the first session.

• It is helpful to have this done before the session, but if you do not have them done prior to the session we can do it during the first session.  

Lastly, just be prepared to have an open conversation and answer some assessment questions during the first session. 

I often use short-term therapy approaches (CBT, DBT, Brief Solution Focused Therapy etc.) ranging from 6-20 sessions.  However the length of therapy will depend on individual situations and preferences.  Trauma, Family, and Couples Therapy can take longer as it impacts the individual in deeper ways and addresses complex issues in more than one individual.  The goal of therapy is to help you face your challenges and for you to become your therapist. This will be our compass as we proceed over the course of therapy.  

In therapy, I give you my recommendations based on my experience and knowledge, however ultimately, it is your decision how many sessions you need.  This will also depend on the work you put in outside of therapy.  Practicing therapy skills and techniques in daily life will yield faster progress and better results. At the beginning we may have more frequent sessions to allow for quicker progress and then decrease the frequency of sessions to maintain progress. 

Everything we discuss in session is confidential however, there are limits to confidentiality such as when you or someone else may be at risk of serious harm.  The exceptions will be discussed with you before therapy commences and asides from these, information about counselling sessions will not be released to anyone without your informed, voluntary and written consent. 

Clinical counselling helps people improve their mental, emotional, and physical health while encouraging positive relationships with self, others and the larger community. 

I work with individuals, couples, children, and families to overcome areas of conflict and challenges.  I use an intuitive, heart-centered, trauma informed, and culturally sensitive approach to help you navigate through life challenges while promoting empowerment, emotional healing, independence, self-development, and self-efficacy. 

Through our work together you will gain greater self and situational awareness, learn coping skills, build self-resiliency, and change patterns of negative thinking or conditioned responses.  Enabling you to more easily manage and resolve the challenges in your life.

Essentially therapy is a journey of personal growth through learning to navigate your challenging experiences. The therapeutic journey creates inner and outer transformation by helping you challenge yourself, problem solve and deal with things that are holding you back, form a deeper connection to yourself and understanding of life, and by creating a sense of freedom within yourself.  In my work, I help you  remove the filters and clutter blocking you from shining as yourself and living your best life possible. 

The disciplines and theories I apply foster healing, growth, self-discovery and transformation to your place of inner peace.  My theory of change is informed by Person Centered, Strength Based, Adlerian, Emotion-Focused, Spiritual and Mindfulness – Based practices, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral approaches.  I take a collaborative approach to working with clients and will tailor treatment to your unique presenting issues and needs.

I take an approach rooted in science and spirituality, with emphasis on the connection between the three layers of a human being: the emotional, psychological (mind), and physical (body).  This integrative and holistic approach helps to collectively heal and align all parts of your life.  

I use an intuitive, empathic, and heart-centered approach to create an environment of safety, trust, support, honesty, and mutual respect for you. I would love to help you feel inspired, motivated, create change, and heal mind, body and emotions through our therapeutic conversations.

I have specialized training in CBT, DBT, Solution-focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Brief Action Planning, Harm Reduction, Anger management, Gottman method in couples counselling, Grief counselling, Group Counselling, and Mindfulness Meditation Based Practices.  I draw from various disciplines but take a collaborative approach to working with clients and tailor treatment to your unique presenting issues and needs. 

I have over 15 years of experience supporting people to overcome challenges and meet their goals.  Ten years of which are in Mental Health, working as a CBT Therapist, Life Coach, and Clinical Counsellor, as well, five additional years in Physical Health and Wellness working as a Kinesiologist, and Rehabilitation Specialist. In addition to this I have experience as a Holistic energy healer, energy medicine, and Eastern Spiritual practices of meditation.  

Over the years, I have helped clients with mood disorders, anxiety, grief, personality disorders, chronic pain, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis, addiction issues, panic disorder, career exploration, family conflict, relationship problems, trauma, grief, overcoming fear/phobias, reaching personal health and wellness goals, and much more. 

I provide counselling services in English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu.