Nirmala Bijraj Psychotherapy, LMHC

Becoming a therapist was something I’ve wanted to do from a young age. As a child, I moved from Guyana, South America to Toronto, Canada and then to New York. During that time, I acquired various skills in order to navigate, connect, communicate, and build relationships with different people. I believe that these skills have helped me connect, communicate, and be an active listener for my clients. My personal experiences led me to an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology then a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling. Since then, I have experience working with people from different backgrounds and cultures in hospital systems, nonprofits, and private practice environments.

I believe in tailoring the sessions to the needs of the clients; all individuals are multifaceted and need different approaches for different struggles. I will help you to feel at one with your body and no longer feel as though you are functioning on auto-pilot. I will equip you with the tools to regain control over where your mind takes you, reminding you that it is you who is writing your story. I believe in forming an authentic human relationship where you feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure; I create a relationship built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect to navigate the therapeutic process through a relational, cultural, and anti-oppressive lens. My therapeutic aim is to help you tap into your inner resilience, practice radical acceptance, and mobilize change to create the life you envision. My approach to working with clients is eclectic and client-centered; I always consider the client’s needs, preferences, and beliefs first and treat each client as an individual utilizing a holistic approach. I have a deep respect for a person’s culture, race, background, gender, sexual identity, and life experiences, which all play a role in how I work with my clients. I try to focus on ensuring the client feels heard and understood by remaining nonjudgmental, supportive, and encouraging while creating an environment where the client feels comfortable, safe, and relaxed.

I try to take every opportunity I have to engage in professional training several times a year. I also highly value peer consultation and collaboration and currently consult with colleagues regularly and attend peer supervision on a monthly basis. These meetings are a wonderful resource of knowledge and experience that help increase my competencies as a therapist and strengthen my clinical skills.

Living in different countries and having rich cultural experiences have shaped me into a counselor who is compassionate and understanding and I try to bring that into my practice.