eing South Asian can mean navigating a lot of contradictions. We’re told to be strong but not speak up. To take care of others but not ask for help. To succeed but not struggle. Therapy often wasn’t part of the vocabulary growing up — but that doesn’t mean healing isn’t part of our story. I can’t remember how often I was told, “you have it so much better than others”, “if you stop complaining about your issues, you will stop thinking about them”, as if those words would magically fix everything.

In my work, I’ve sat with South Asian clients who carry so much: expectations from family, pressures to “make it,” the grief of being far from home, or the ache of not quite belonging anywhere. Many are first-generation adults trying to break cycles while honoring where they come from. Some are LGBTQ+ and have had to hide or shrink parts of themselves to survive. Others are just tired — burnt out from being compared to others and always being the responsible one, the one who holds it all together.

This is why I started GK Preserve. Not just to provide therapy — but to offer a space where your full story is safe. A place where we can explore the layers — culture, identity, trauma, burnout — without having to over-explain or translate. I know what it’s like to grow up between worlds. And I know the power of finally being able to name what hurts, without shame.

Healing doesn’t mean cutting yourself off from your roots. It means learning to live in a way that feels true — to you!

If you are ready to rewrite the story you’ve been carrying – not erase it but reclaim it – I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Reach out for a free 30-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you.