Navigating Divorce as a South Asian: Finding Strength and Healing Divorce is a profound and challenging experience for anyone, but for South Asians, it can be particularly complex due to cultural, familial, and societal expectations. If you’re struggling with the emotional and psychological impact of divorce within the South Asian context, know that you are […]
Arati Patel, LMFT
Hi, I’m Arati Patel, a licensed marriage and family therapist with a passion for helping individuals heal, feel calm, and move towards wholeness. I have specialized interests in working with anxiety, stress, fear, self-doubt, first generation issues, cultural stress, and identity issues. I currently have a private practice in Agoura Hills, CA.
Indian and South Asian Therapy
South Asian Therapy: Reclaiming Your Story in a World That Doesn’t Always Understand It Being South Asian or Indian in the U.S. can feel like walking between worlds. You may have grown up navigating cultural expectations while quietly yearning for freedom, authenticity, or simply space to be yourself. These dual identities can pull in opposite […]
What is Perfectionism?
A Closer Look at the Need to Get It “Just Right” Perfectionism often hides in plain sight. On the surface, it can look like success, diligence, and high standards. However, underneath it all, there’s often a quiet inner pressure—one that whispers, “This isn’t good enough. You’re not good enough.” If you find yourself chasing an […]
People Pleasing – Are you a People Pleaser?
Finding Your Voice Without Losing Connection People-pleasing can be exhausting. On the outside, you might seem like the reliable one—the caretaker, the peacemaker, the one who “has it all together.” But inside, you might feel depleted, anxious, or disconnected from who you really are. You might: Say yes when you truly want to say no […]
Healthy Boundaries vs. Unhealthy Boundaries
Understanding Healthy and Unhealthy Boundaries Boundaries are not just about saying “no” or creating distance—they are the foundation of self-care, respect, and healthy relationships. By recognizing the difference between healthy and unhealthy boundaries, you can reclaim your personal space, protect your energy, and cultivate relationships that honor your needs and values. What Are Healthy Boundaries? […]
Understanding Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It
Understanding Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It: Embracing Your True Potential Imposter syndrome occurs when an individual experiences an internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of competence and accomplishments. This psychological pattern can be highly debilitating. It can prevent individuals from recognizing their true worth and can hinder personal and […]
Quick Guide to Navigate Out-Of-Network Mental Health Insurance Benefits
Insurance has gotten very complicated! Hopefully, I can help answer some of your questions regarding how to learn more about your out-of-network mental health insurance benefits here. Often, we may try to utilize our insurance benefits by seeking out an in-network provider. However, it is often the case that most clinicians that are in-network are full […]
What is High-Functioning Anxiety?
High-Functioning Anxiety High-functioning anxiety describes a hidden struggle—where someone appears successful and composed on the outside, yet feels overwhelmed, restless, and on edge internally. You might be the go-to person at work, the dependable friend, the high achiever. But you also carry a heavy mental load, racing thoughts, and a quiet fear of not being […]
6 Most Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
6 Most Common Types of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety is a normal emotion; everyone experiences it to some degree. However, if you find yourself constantly panicking, stressed, overwhelmed, or flooded with dread, anxiety may now have become a problem in your life. Let’s take a closer look at the 6 most common types of anxiety disorders: […]
On Suffering
Yoga + Depth Psychology – On Suffering Dukkha in Buddhism is roughly translated to suffering. The opposite of sukha (sweetness, joy, ease, happiness, pleasure) is dukkha. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, are an ancient text about yoga, Patanjali embedded his wisdom about life into these sutras (sutras translates to sutures or threads). In Yoga Sutra […]
On the Tension of the Opposites
Yoga + Depth Psychology – On the Tension of the Opposites “The way to healing . . . lies in finding a connection between body and soul. Soul needs body as much as body needs soul. Each is out of context without the other, an abandoned fragment of what it is” ~ Marion Woodman There […]
Therapy for Perfectionists – Are you a perfectionist?
Are You a Perfectionist? Do you find yourself double- or triple-checking your work, replaying conversations in your mind, or feeling like nothing you do is ever quite good enough? On the surface, perfectionism can look like drive, excellence, or high standards. Yet beneath it, there’s often a persistent undercurrent of anxiety, self-doubt, and exhaustion. While […]
12 Questions to ask a prospective therapist in Los Angeles, CA
Oh, Los Angeles! Such a huge area, so many people, so many cars, so much traffic. So many therapists! It can be a struggle to try to find a therapist in LA because there so many! It can easily get overwhelming. Even when you find a few that seem good, you may still have no […]
A Guide to Finding a Therapist in Los Angeles, CA
You are ready to start the hunt to find a therapist in Los Angeles but are wondering “How do I Find a Therapist” in such a big area? Los Angeles seems to have more therapists than Starbucks (and we all know Starbucks is everywhere!). In large areas like Los Angeles there are thousands of therapists […]
