Priya Puliyampet

Sometimes when we live many identities, we become very good at seeing the seams in them. This is an experience many of us know from having to live between cultures—whether as first-/second-generation immigrants, as the queer kid in our middle school class, or when leaving a high-demand religion. When we feel unseen or misunderstood in our relationships, we can learn to hide parts of ourselves. We become so focused on figuring out what other people want that adapting can feel safer than risking rejection. Or we shut down, pushing our own needs and desires so far beneath the surface that it becomes hard to admit—even to ourselves.

Therapy is a relational sandbox where we can explore thoughts and feelings, risk rejection, and practice becoming our authentic selves. When you start shutting down, hiding what you need, or worrying about what I think of you, we can talk through it together. I use an integrative approach to explore patterns and stay with feelings that may feel overwhelming. I hope to help you become more yourself—both in your relationships and with yourself—without criticizing yourself for what you need. You can notice feeling misunderstood without shutting down or cutting others off, name and ask for what you need, and choose what comes next.

I work primarily from a psychodynamic perspective to examine and explore relational patterns and how they affect your view of yourself and others. I also draw from AEDP to deepen and stay with emotions, and DBT to help regulate emotions when they feel overwhelming. I approach this work through a feminist, anti-oppressive lens. I completed a two-year postgraduate certificate in Intersectional Feminist Psychotherapy through the Women's Therapy Centre Institute. I also completed Level 2 training in AEDP in 2022.