Soulful Sista
Mental Health Blog and resources
How to grieve as you parent
It can be difficult, and even guilt-provoking to grieve as you parent a young child. The dilemma between burying and hiding your grief away, and letting your pent up emotions out can be a challenging one.
How to reconnect with your body
When life picks up pace, and changes overwhelm us, it can be difficult for the mind to catch up with your body. Read more to find how you can connect with your body even as you fight mental distress and illness
Preparing for Therapy: Squeezing the most out of your appointment
Therapy is often significant emotional labor, financial responsibility, and psychological changes. What are some ways you can make the most of your 50 minute appointment?
How to enhance your sleep hygiene
Twisting and turning around, dreading and yet yearning for bed time are often indications that our sleep is no longer a restful and welcoming time. Many of us struggle with sleep issues that in turn affect our mental health and relationships. How can you address and improve your sleep hygiene?
How to take breaks...when you have no time for them!
When there is so much around you that needs to be done, it is easy and perhaps even tempting to go on autopilot mode. Before you realize it, the whole day or weekend has slipped through your fingers. Learn how you can microbreak to be more effective in your tasks and relationships!
Renegotiating trauma- why you find yourself repeating unhelpful relational patterns in your life.
Many of us have been in a series of toxic relationships, and that can include friendships and romantic relationships. We may find ourselves unable to break away from them, or understand why we keep missing the “red flags”. Read more to find out
How to tackle long-term chronic loneliness
There are several versions of loneliness that one encounters in this journey of life. One specific type of loneliness I keep bumping into in my mental health work is what I call “deep loneliness” wherein surface level social interactions, meet ups, and phone calls no longer do the trick. Our heart, perhaps even our soul hungers for deeper connection. Read more to learn about how deep loneliness is something we may all struggle with, and yet it may remain invisibilized.
How to be more mindful in relationships
Our to-do list is unlikely to ever end. And that can leave many of us feeling like zombies, with no memories of how the day or even the week flew by. By engaging in mindful, and attentive presence in our relationships, we can acknowledge our emotional and social needs in a mature and appropriate way. Read more to find out how you can take your relationships to the next level!
People around me keep telling me I need therapy. Why?
More than half of my clients tell me that they have reached out to me because their friends and family have been telling them they need therapy. In fact, it is possible that you have been told this too, at some point. What does this statement mean, and what can you do about this?
Ending therapy. When, why, and how?
While we often discuss starting therapy, it is rare to see therapists discuss when to end psychotherapy. Since I started as a mental health counselor in Oregon, and worked with several clients, I have been thinking about this question more deeply. While premature termination from mental health counseling can be harmful for you, and leave you feeling exposed and vulnerable, too much therapy for too long can also be somewhat detrimental.
“I know I need therapy, but cannot afford it right now. What is a cheaper alternative?"
What can we do when affordable therapy is not accessible to us? Read this blog to learn more about free or cheaper resources to manage your mental health.
What really is childhood trauma, and how do I know if I have a trauma history?
Trauma is not just these big moments. Trauma is not just the bad things that happened to us. Trauma is also the good things that should have happened (e.g., loving safe touch, a place to reach for comfort when you are feeling sick or tired) that didn’t happen to us. In fact…
How to take breaks...when you have no time for them!
When there is so much around you that needs to be done, it is easy and perhaps even tempting to go on autopilot mode. Before you realize it, the whole day or weekend has slipped through your fingers. Learn how you can microbreak to be more effective in your tasks and relationships!
What is a trauma reaction? How do I know if I am having a trauma reaction?
Specifically for many Indian communities, trauma reactions may vary. Factors like age, gender, caste, social class, and birth order can strongly impact what kind of a trauma reaction is permitted for an individual. Understanding what it is, can help us notice signs of distress within ourselves and others
Four most commonly found traits in people with severe trauma history
While trauma can show up in unique ways for each one of us, there are some common characteristics. Knowing these characteristics can help us identify trauma symptoms within us and seek the right type of care and help from professionals and community members.
Stepping out of our parents’ shadow: Imago work
Why is it that for some of us from the Desi communities, our parents and our elders have such a strong grip on every aspect of our life? Sometimes to the point where we feel like a mere extension of them, and not an individual? Why do we linger in our parents’ shadows, and what is the pain story behind it?
Intimate Partner Violence in the Indian community: A Loud Silence
Unfortunately, it is all too common in the Asian Indian community in the U.S., with an added layer of immigration based fears for those who are non-citizens. When you notice a loved one in IPV, what can you do to help them?
The single most important factor when choosing a trauma-informed therapist for you...
In my 8 years as a trauma therapist, I have worked with so many clients from different backgrounds, and levels of trauma complexity. Recently a friend asked me what she should prioritize when looking for a trauma-informed counselor for herself