Today we’d like to introduce you to Bhavika Parmar.
Hi Bhavika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a licensed professional counselor associate (LPC Associate) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am currently supervised by Abida Minhas, M.A., LPC-S at The Impact Counselors. I am currently a counselor and program manager at a South Asian domestic violence agency called CHETNA. In addition to my program manager responsibilities, I provide full-time counseling services as well. I also provide counseling services at The Impact Counselors private practice in Allen. My journey into psychology and counseling started my first year in college. I was intrigued to learn about the brain, psychopharmacology, and mental health disorders. I recognized early on that mental health was rarely discussed in South Asian families and within the community. Therefore, I wanted to advocate and voice the importance of mental health in the South Asian community. Before I could jump in and start working within the South Asian community, I needed to get through my academics and clinical experiences.
I obtained an undergraduate psychology internship at a distinguished neuropsychology private practice in Dallas, Fulbright Neuropsychology. This is where my clinical foundation started. The educational and practical experience I obtained there was exceptional. I transitioned from being an undergraduate intern to an administrator. I was able to grow within the practice and became a clinic coordinator. Then, we fast forward to 2019, which is when I became an LPC Associate and offered counseling and academic coaching services. While working at Fulbright Neuropsychology, I completed my undergraduate studies and transitioned into graduate school.
When I started my graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I primarily became interested in trauma. I focused on the mental health perspective in the South Asian community throughout my graduate studies. Specifically, I completed research and presentations on Honor-Based Violence. After exploring and educating other clinicians about Honor-Based Violence, I knew that I had to find a place or create a place that offers counseling services to survivors of honor-based violence, domestic violence, and family violence. While finishing up my last year in graduate school, I continued to work at Fulbright Neuropsychology and secured an internship at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. This was another place where I grew more as a clinician. I was trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and received additional training in trauma-related dynamics and interventions.
I completed my graduate studies and received my provisional state licensure. In 2019, I was connected to CHETNA by none other than Dr. Richard Fulbright from Fulbright Neuropsychology. I’m proud to say that I’m a trauma-informed counselor at CHETNA. Not only do I get to provide counseling services at CHETNA, but I also engage in outreach and education engagements (i.e. 1-hour monthly mental health segments on Radio Caravan), provide workshops and training (i.e., cultural sensitivity/competency/dynamics, etc.) for community partners, program development, and supervise client advocates as well. I’m here, I’m where I want to be, and I see myself growing in this culturally specific non-profit sector.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. As a young clinician in a growing non-profit agency, it can be challenging to wear multiple hats. The majority of my work revolves around trauma and abuse, so that can become overwhelming at times. Therefore, it is critical in this counseling specialty to work on a healthy work-life balance and engage in self-care. I am very passionate about my work, but I also have other projects that I enjoy doing, such as artwork, writing, traveling, spending time with family and friends, researching different counseling topics and techniques, catching up on crime drama tv shows, and so much more. Challenges will continue to occur, but it is crucial to put myself first, then I will be able to help others.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
CHETNA is a non-profit agency specializing in holistic services for South Asian survivors of domestic violence. CHETNA was incorporated in 2005 and served the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding counties. CHETNA recognizes the unique barriers and challenges that South Asian survivors often face and strives to provide culturally specific programs to assist survivors on the path towards healing and well-being. CHETNA aims to prevent violence through advocacy, education, and outreach.
At CHETNA, I provide trauma-informed counseling services to young adults, adults, and older adults. I bring all of my clinical background and expertise into this role at CHETNA. Being a South Asian (culturally sensitive) counselor means the following: considering the accessibility of the services that I offer (i.e. times I offer sessions), continuing training and supervision regardless of how far along I am in my career, questioning the effectiveness of the interventions I am using, always being curious, continuously diversifying the psychoeducational materials I use, meeting where my clients are at in their healing process, learning about cross-cultural communication, and much more. In addition to counseling, I create cultural sensitivity/competency and South Asian mental health perspective training and workshop materials. Not only do I get to conduct training and workshops with partner agencies, but I also take the curriculums and share content on a South Asian radio station called Radio Caravan. I’m very proud of the work that I get to do at CHETNA as a counselor and program manager because every day I am growing as a clinician. I’m proud that I, along with my colleagues, can give back to our community by providing our expertise, compassion, empathy, time, energy, and education.
The programs that are offered at CHETNA are the following: confidential helpline (Monday-Friday 9:00 am t0 5:00 pm), case management, counseling, legal support, interpretation and translation services, life skills, educational/professional workshops and training, and psychoeducation. We offer free counseling services at CHETNA for survivors of domestic and family violence.
What makes you happy?
Being a South Asian trauma-informed counselor makes me happy because it is more than a job. This role reflects a core part of me that enjoys getting to know clients at an authentic and genuine level and helping clients recognize that they have options. Not only do I get to guide my clients through their personal trauma and challenges, but I also help empower my clients to achieve a healthy lifestyle and balance. Furthermore, there are so many misconceptions and feelings of shame around mental health in the South Asian community, so it makes me happy to actively take steps to break the mental health stigma within the community. It also brings me a lot of joy to help my clients learn about themselves and explore who they are. Being able to see my clients grow, gain insight and resiliency…it is incredible to witness their transformation and growth in counseling. I really enjoy advocating, educating, and providing counseling to so many different people in the community. I consider myself fortunate to feel passionate about the work I get to do every day in my community. Lastly, I feel delighted because I have such a great network of mentors, teachers/professors, professionals within the counseling and psychology field, friends, and colleagues. I want to give shoutouts to the following individuals who continue to have such a positive and healthy influence on my professional growth as a counselor: My family and friends, Dr. Traci Rosvall, Dr. Richard Fulbright, Cutter Roberts, Elizabeth Thompson, Jody Fulbright, Dr. Candace Genest, Stefan Deutsch, Dr. Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Dr. David Hargis, Gauthami Vemula, Abida Minhas, everyone I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dianna Smoot, Elizabeth Kilmer, Kimberly Barkhina, Scott Arthur, Elizabeth Huston, all my teachers throughout the years, Rachna Khare, and CHETNA board members and staff.
Contact Info:
- Email: counselor@chetna-dfw.org
- Website: https://chetna-dfw.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chetnadfw/
