Richa Agarwal

No matter what your history or your pain is, I believe the first step to healing is a trusting therapeutic relationship. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and I work with children, teens, and adults experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family dynamics, occupational problems, acculturation stress, and life transitions. Many of my clients have experienced trauma, and the world can feel isolating, judgmental, scary, demanding, or overwhelming to them. It is very important to me that the therapeutic relationship helps them begin to feel safe, understood, accepted for who they are, and cared for.

I operate from a person-centered lens, which essentially means that I believe in my clients’ ability to grow and heal. My role is not to be the expert in their lives, but to support them in connecting to their authentic selves. Depending on the client’s needs, I also draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Polyvagal Therapy, EMDR, DBT, CBT, and Play Therapy. I incorporate various mindfulness-based interventions to help clients stay in the present instead of living in the past or the future.

The first session is about getting to know the client, and for them to get a sense of my therapeutic presence. I also make space to discuss the client's expectations and needs from therapy. I understand the courage, energy, and investment it takes to seek support, and I hope my clients leave the session feeling it was worth the effort they put in. I encourage open communication, and if for some reason, the therapeutic relationship does not feel like a good fit, I try to help my clients find someone who meets their needs.