As a South Asian therapist who has lived both in India and the UK, I understand how deeply culture, family dynamics, migration, and social expectations can shape emotional wellbeing, relationships, identity, and the way we learn to relate to ourselves.
I am a Person-Centred Psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Nottingham, UK. I have over 4 years of experience providing therapy to adults in the UK and internationally, alongside more than 8 years of broader experience working within the mental health field.
Many people I work with carry invisible pressures around achievement, responsibility, family obligation, emotional suppression, or being “the strong one,” while privately struggling with anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, or feeling disconnected from themselves.
For many South Asians and individuals from immigrant or bicultural backgrounds, emotional struggles do not happen in isolation. They are often shaped by intergenerational patterns, cultural expectations, stigma around mental health, emotionally unavailable environments, or growing up in families where emotional needs were not always openly understood or spoken about.
How I Work–
Therapy with me is not about labelling or pathologising you. It is about creating a space where you feel emotionally safe enough to explore your inner world honestly, without judgement, pressure, or the need to perform.
My approach is rooted in Person-Centred Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), informed by attachment theory and a trauma-sensitive perspective. I work relationally and collaboratively, creating a space where you can explore your emotions, relationships, and inner experiences without judgement or pressure to perform.
I also recognise that emotions are experienced not only cognitively, but physically. Where helpful, we may pay attention to bodily sensations such as tension, restlessness, fatigue, or emotional shutdown in order to better understand how your nervous system has adapted to stress, relationships, and emotional experiences.
Alongside deeper emotional exploration, I integrate practical strategies where appropriate, including support around emotional regulation, communication, boundaries, relational patterns, and coping with emotional overwhelm. My aim is not only to help you gain insight, but to support meaningful and sustainable change in everyday life.
Work Experience-
My experience includes working across a range of mental health settings in the UK, including working at a research clinic (HFP) and a third sector organisation (Harmless CIC) in Nottinghamshire, as well as at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
I am also a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP- 406082) and work in accordance with their ethical framework and professional standards.
These settings have shaped a way of working that is flexible, culturally sensitive, and responsive to each person’s lived experience.
Beginning Therapy-
Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you have spent much of your life coping alone or minimising your own needs.
If my approach resonates with you, we can begin with a free 15- minute consultation call to explore what brings you to therapy and whether working together feels supportive and aligned.
You can reach out to me via-
Email: anjali@backtoselftherapy.com
Website: www.backtoselftherapy.com
Therapy is not about becoming someone entirely different, but about understanding yourself more deeply and reconnecting with parts of yourself that may have been silenced, neglected, or misunderstood.
