Today we’d like to introduce you to Parthi B. Patel.
Hi Parthi, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I became very interested in psychology when I was in high school. I started to connect the dots to minor issues in my life through the idea of nature vs. nurture. With no thought about it, I instantly set my major to Psychology! I remember just constantly asking the question “why?. Why do we become anxious when someone becomes avoidant? Why do we stay in a relationship that is so toxic? Why do we want to prove our worth to a narcissist?
I graduated within 2 years with a dual Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I knew I didn’t want to “adult” just yet so I applied to graduate school and discovered my passion for therapy advocating for mental health. I worked in private and public sectors, along with a few nonprofits. I found that the best thing was to start my own private practice to provide valuable and intentional therapy to my clients. I wanted to connect with my clients on a deeper, more genuine level and find the balance between professional and personal. In March 2021 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I started Intentional Therapy, PLLC.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was pretty lucky to have my parents. I credit my road to success to them – sacrifice, discipline, transparency, and love. The road to me building my own practice was emotionally exhausting. I was and am continuously working through my own personal issues, working to rebuild myself, self-refect, and learning how/when to set boundaries. It was hard to break habits and create boundaries because the very idea of mental health was almost non-existent in the South Asian community and it created a lot of misunderstandings.
Graduate school was the rock bottom of my mental health because I was completely new to what trauma could look like, toxic traits, or heck co-dependency! Graduate school involved a lot of self-reflection and I couldn’t help but relate it to my life and my family. I thought, “How can I break generational trauma and create healthier boundaries without feeling like I was rejecting my family or my culture?”
In hindsight, I wouldn’t change not one thing. I am breaking generational trauma and I still have my family and culture!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Intentional Therapy is a solo private practice that offers mental health services [virtually]. Intentional Therapy was created on the passion for women’s issues, identity development, and empowering women and adolescents to find intent, authenticity and to deepen their connection with self and others.
I consider myself to be a non-traditional therapist. I operate as a relational and realistic therapist and I have specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I bring a balance of personal and professional expertise, allowing my clients to feel space and create an authentic therapeutic relationship. I see the world as not just black and white but a spectrum of colors. I want my clients to feel heard and validated and I also want to help them create skills that are culturally sensitive and realistic for their lifestyle.
My identity as a first-generation Indian-American and as a woman of color encouraged my ability to connect with humans on a deeper level to create a safe space for authenticity and growth. Cultural sensitivity shows up in my practice often and it is hard for me not to look at the world differently, allowing me to always practice empathy and help my clients develop tailored and more realistic skills. My upbringing and life experiences have allowed me to see that communication is not “key”, but comprehension and validation are important. We can disagree and validate that differing opinion. This makes a world of a difference.
What do you think about happiness?
Happiness is subjective and it is unique to everyone. There are many things that make me feel happy. When I think about happiness, I asked, “Where does my happiness stem from?” That answer is pretty simple. My parents. If you were to ask me what I couldn’t live without, it would be them.
As the years have passed and I work through generational trauma and breaking cycles, my parents have continued to show up. Especially when it is hard. We didn’t always see eye to eye and still don’t, but we are learning to validate. Through my own self-reflections, I learned to appreciate not only their resilience and strength but their traumas. My parents didn’t have the resources I had and they did their best. Happiness to me means to create intentionality and growth. It means to understand rather than judge. It means patience.
To my parents, who have taught me all that plus more, thank you.
Pricing:
- Individual $150
- Couples $200
Contact Info:
- Email: Parthi@intentionaltherapydtx.com
- Website: www.intentionaltherapydtx.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/intentionaltherapydtx
- Other: www.pinterest.com/intentionaltherapydtx
