Hello, I’m Nikhil!

“As human beings, we tend to strive towards certainty. We seek certainty in who we are, certainty in our relationships with others, and certainty in how the world should be. However, our need for certainty is often thwarted by the uncertain and fluctuating nature of everyone and everything. Therapy can be a space where the daunting uncertainty is contained. Therapy can be a space where you and I confront the uncertainty together and try to understand what it is trying to communicate to you. Therapy can be a space where we make the leap from uncertainty into safety, trust, and meaningfulness”

 

The focus of my work

 

I work with a range of clients across age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender
identity. I specialize in working with issues of emerging adulthood that call
into question how we experience and reconcile the various aspects of our identities. These issues may pertain to, but are not limited to, self-worth, depression, loneliness, traditional and non-traditional relationships, life transitions, and religion/spirituality.

The philosophy of my work

 

I believe in the holistic nature of change. Viewed in this manner, change is not initiated simply by thinking healthy thoughts. These healthy thoughts need to be complemented by healthy emotions as well in order for us to experience the motivation to change. Very often, we are disconnected from the emotions we experience in certain situations because those emotions haven’t been respected or acknowledged in our past experiences or relationships. Consequently, we become estranged from the parts of ourselves which those emotions represent. Through the therapeutic process we may reconnect with those neglected parts of ourselves so that we may feel whole again.

My approach to Therapy

 

I ground my work in existential and spiritual perspectives which acknowledge that my clients are far too complex to fit within a particular theory or modality of psychotherapy. At the same time, I am able to respond to my clients’ specific needs by drawing upon practices from Psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems, Attachment theory, and REBT. Hence, therapy can allow for the client’s spontaneous ability to determine what they need from each therapy session. And therapy can also allow for a more targeted and structured approach towards some of the client’s issues. Therapy is ultimately a collaborative relationship between my client and me; the client’s needs being the focal point of our work together.

Education and Training

Ed.M Counseling Psychology- Columbia University

MA Counseling Psychology- Columbia University

MA Television and Film- Syracuse University

BA Psychology and Economics- Syracuse University