Neha Darji, Uttara Desai, Chandni Pathak, Hema Solanki, Ruby Sekhon

We are a group of first gen and/or immigrant South Asian women therapists helping south asian women heal generational trauma, find their voice, identity and self confidence.   Bios of our therapists:

CHANDNI PATHAK, MSW, LCSW (SHE/HER)  (Accepting new clients for Telehealth therapy in NJ)

As a South Asian woman of color, Chandni holds a strong passion for working with women of color to build upon their strengths, develop and/or enhance coping strategies, and help achieve their goals and full potential. Through her work, Chandni also helps women to optimize their self-awareness. She holds a strong commitment to creating impactful relationships with her clients through a warm, professional, and dedicated approach.

Chandni graduated from Rutgers University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New Jersey. Chandni has extensive experience working with teenagers, young adults, and women from diverse backgrounds within various settings. She has worked in middle/high schools, higher education, non-profits, and in-home settings. Through her experiences, Chandni has become knowledgeable and confident in her therapeutic abilities and practices.

Chandni draws from an integrative approach of treatment, including using strengths-based and cognitive behavioral therapy with her clients. She considers it very important to have a personalized approach for each of her clients to achieve their individual needs/goals. Chandni believes therapy is a collaborative endeavor and offers an environment of openness, compassion, and commitment.

HEMA SOLANKI, M.ED, LPC (SHE/HER) (Accepting clients for Telehealth therapy in NJ)

As an immigrant,  South Asian woman and lifelong resident of New Jersey, Hema has devoted her career to help others achieve their goals, foster caring and kindness, and develop the skills needed to navigate life. Hema utilizes Multimodal therapy, culturally sensitive approach to reduce psychological suffering and promote personal growth.  It takes courage to seek assistance and she is here to help you along the journey to finding joy and peace in life.

Hema graduated from Rutgers University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Masters in Education for Counseling Psychology.  Later she attended Montclair State University and completed a Post-Master’s Program in School Counseling.  After many years of self-development Hema is now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Clinical Trauma Counselor providing Telehealth Therapy.

Hema has over twenty years of experience working with children, adolescents and families.  She has worked at a residential treatment facility center, Care Management Organization, in-home counseling setting, and for the past fourteen years as a School Counselor at the High School Setting.  Through her work she’s developed anxiety, depression, anger management, mindfulness, and group facilitation. Hema enjoys working with BIPOC womxn and their families of all ages and backgrounds.

RUBY SEKHON,MSW LCSW,CCS (SHE/HER) (Accepting clients for Telehealth therapy in NJ)

Ruby (She/Her) is a first generation South Asian womxn with over 15 years of experience in the field of social services. She is extremely dedicated and intrinsically motivated to help individuals find balance in their emotional, mental and spiritual health. Life transitions can be difficult to navigate and she leads with compassion, patience and positivity in her work. She has a strong commitment to work with immigrant communities, womxn dealing with fertility, postpartum struggles, young and aging adults and BIPOC populations. She is a staunch advocate for social and racial justice and uses cultural humility to better serve those seeking services.

Ruby has widespread experience with diverse populations in a variety of settings including but not limited to community counseling, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and case/care management programs. In the past several years she has held many leadership positions allowing her to direct and manage several community mental health programs.  She completed her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Minored in Global Studies at Kean University and holds a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University with a specialization in Gerontology.  She is a licensed level clinical social worker in New Jersey and holds a certification in Clinical Supervision that allows her to provide advanced level supervision to professionals obtaining clinical hours for their mental health and substance use credentialing.

She recognizes the impact of cultural, systemic and intergenerational trauma that can cause conflict and instability. She takes a client-centered, collaborative approach that is personalized and rooted in strengths discovery. Through a trauma-focused lens, Ruby incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy modalities of treatment in her work with children, adults and families.

Ruby believes in giving back to the community and has been a long time member of the Traumatic Loss Coalition which provides outreach and support to communities dealing with traumatic loss. As a disaster response crisis counselor (DRCC) she is a part of an Emergency Response Network and responds to the needs of communities in the event a disaster strikes. She has been an active member with the NASW and has held volunteer roles under their New Jersey chapter.  During her spare time Ruby enjoys spending time with her family including her husband, 2 children and sweet dog, traveling and trying new cuisines.

NEHA DARJI, MS, LPC (SHE/HER)  accepting new clients starting Fall 2022

Founder/Director of We Rise Therapy and Wellness.  Being a first-generation, South Asian woman of color, Neha is able to easily relate to the challenges that face girls and women of minority backgrounds. She is passionate about working with women of color  in their 20’s and 30’s to identify ways they can develop coping strategies, enact positive change, and enhance their inner strengths. Neha’s calm, professional demeanor and warm approach allow her to establish meaningful relationships and build a strong foundation of trust with her clients.

Neha has many years of experience working with teens, millennials, and women of all different backgrounds in various settings. She has worked in non-profits, inpatient mental health, outpatient mental health, in-home, and substance use settings. These experiences give Neha credibility and confidence in her counseling skills and abilities. She has also received the Krista Szabo Scholarship Award for her commitment to cultural competency; specifically for her research and work with young adult women of color and their experiences with trauma, dating violence, maternal relationships, and high-risk behavior. Neha completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Bioethics at Loyola University Chicago. She received her Master of Science in Psychology: Clinical Counseling at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois. She holds dual licenses as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of New Jersey and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois.

Neha offers an integrative approach to therapy. Some of the treatment modalities and techniques she utilizes include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma focused treatment, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. In addition, Neha is a strong advocate for a holistic approach to therapy and takes into consideration the connectivity of the body, mind, and spirit. Thus, she recommends a range of holistic solutions to supplement your therapy experience. Each individual will receive a highly personalized approach tailored to meet their individual needs.

UTTARA DESAI, MA, LPC (Accepting new clients Fall 2022)

As an immigrant and South Asian woman of color, Uttara is dedicated to helping individuals feel empowered and develop healthy growth-fostering connections through mutual empathy, authenticity, and genuineness. In her work, Uttara utilizes an integrative approach that is grounded in client-centered and strengths-based approaches, while focusing on relational-cultural attributes. Within the therapeutic space, Uttara strives to create an environment that is built on trust and safety.

Uttara obtained a Master of Arts in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from William Paterson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a double minor in Social Work and Sociology from Rider University. Additionally, she earned a Graduate Certificate from the University of Maryland in Working with Survivors of Violence, Torture, and Trauma. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate working towards a PhD in Counseling from Montclair State University. Uttara is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of New Jersey. Uttara has extensive experience working as a Mental Health Therapist at an inpatient psychiatric hospital providing individual, group, and crisis counseling services. Some of Uttara’s specialties include working with the following: anxiety and depression, identity issues (racial, cultural, and developmental), interpersonal relationship issues, self care and holistic wellness, women’s issues and intergenerational conflict and trauma, and PTSD.   Uttara strongly believes that the relationship between client and counselor is an agent of change and one of the most important alliances that can be created in a therapeutic relationship.

During her free time, Uttara enjoys spending time with her family, listening to audiobooks, and playing with her whoodle puppy. She has also been engaging in various art directives to practice self-care. Uttara describes herself as a foodie, and absolutely loves to travel and explore. Lastly, she really enjoys watching and volunteering for car rally races. Uttara follows the World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit as well as various car races throughout the US.