A space to be deeply understood.

Your roots. Your history. Your reality.

Psychotherapy and counselling that recognize how culture, social expectations, relationships, and your past shape your life. Together, we work through what hurts, find clarity, and make room for growth.

Individual & couples therapy · Adults & adolescents
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PhD in Clinical Psychology Registered Psychological Associate

California Board of Psychology

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Levels I & II

Certificate in Global Mental Health

Harvard Medical School

Creator, The Braided Path™

A culturally grounded framework for psychological growth.
Relationships & Transitions

Dating, marriage, family dynamics, divorce, estrangement, and life stages - from college to parenthood and aging.

Culture & Belonging

Immigrant and cultural identity, BIPOC experiences, belonging, feminist perspectives, and expectations shaped by gender, duty, and tradition.

Intimacy & Sexual Identity

Desire, emotional and physical intimacy, sexual identity, loneliness, and connection with affirming care for LGBTQIA+ communities.

Trauma & Growth

Generational trauma, abuse, coercive control, post-separation abuse, identity reclamation and growth.

Understanding you begins with understanding your world.

It is deeply powerful to be truly seen.
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In our work together, your culture, values, and lived experience guide how we understand what feels difficult. We explore patterns in your thoughts and relationships, and notice how stress shows up in your body.

From that understanding, we begin to make room for new choices, closer relationships, and a life that feels more your own.

Life can hold uncertainty, loneliness, and change.

 There is room here to speak openly, to reflect, to be understood, and to grow. Whatever brings you here, I welcome you with warmth and care.

Book a consultation

About Dr. Niyati

My path to psychotherapy began in molecular biology and engineering, deepened through lived experience, and led to a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Having lived in India, Canada, and the United States, I understand how cultural and family expectations can shape identity, belonging, and relationships and how difficult it can be to speak openly about what hurts.

My practice moves beyond one-size-fits-all psychotherapy to center your cultural identity, with care for mind, body, and spirit. Together, we explore how family, faith, gender, sexuality, immigration, and social expectations shape your life.

Not every option is available to everyone. Responsibilities, social expectations, and a sense of duty can limit your choices. We respect these realities as we explore what supports you, what holds you back, and what recovery and growth mean for you.

I am a Registered Psychological Associate with the California Board of Psychology.

Portrait of Dr. Niyati Kadakia
Education
PhD, Clinical Psychology
CIHS
MA, Molecular Biology
Columbia University
BS, Biochemical Engineering
University of Southern California
BA, Literature
Scripps College
Beyond the Therapy Room
Faculty
Global Arts in Medicine
Certified in Trauma-Informed Yoga
Registered Yoga Teacher · RYT 500
Arts Commissioner
City of Encinitas, California · 2023–26
Author, Maitri
A publication on psychology, culture, trauma, and identity
Recognition & Affiliations

Locations

Psychotherapy & counselling · Workshops & professional training

Online & in person
San Diego
California
Mumbai
India
Ahmedabad
India

Appointments, workshops, and training are subject to location and availability.

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California: Registered Psychological Associate · PSB #94029641 · Supervised by Dr Koke Saavedra

A few things you may wish to know.

About the care I offer and how to begin.

What do you mean by culturally responsive psychotherapy?
Your life unfolds within a particular world - shaped by culture, family, faith, gender, sexuality, immigration, and social expectations. These influences can affect how you understand distress, express your needs, experience relationships, and imagine what change is possible.
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Culturally responsive psychotherapy brings that world into our work. A boundary, for example, may carry different consequences depending on your family relationships, financial circumstances, or community. We recognize that cultural expectations and obligations can limit your available choices, and we respect those realities as we explore what is possible for you.
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This also means understanding what your culture means to you, without making assumptions based on your background. Together, we explore what sustains you, what constrains you, and what you want to carry forward - so that change respects both your circumstances and your sense of self.
What can I expect from our work together?
We begin by getting to know you and what brings you here. We explore your concerns, relationships, and experiences, with care for your cultural background and how stress affects both mind and body. Your needs and my clinical assessment guide our work.
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Your first appointment is a 90-minute intake session, allowing time to understand your situation and what you hope to gain from therapy. Based on this, we discuss how often we’ll meet, session length, and a focus for our work together.
How often will we meet, and how long are sessions?
I usually recommend weekly sessions to begin. Regular sessions are typically 60 minutes.
Who do you work with?
I offer individual therapy for adults (18+) and adolescents (aged 10–18), as well as couples therapy and family sessions.

Our work can include exploring family dynamics, improving communication, and addressing recurring difficulties together.
How do you work with adolescents, and how are parents involved?
I meet individually with adolescents (aged 10–18), with regular parent check-ins where appropriate to discuss progress and ways to support them. Privacy, confidentiality, and their limits are explained from the outset.

Parent involvement is guided by the adolescent’s needs, safety, and applicable consent requirements.
How do you work with couples?
I help couples understand recurring patterns, talk through difficult issues, and strengthen communication and connection. Our work can address sexual concerns, including differences in desire, intimacy, and sexual wellbeing, with respect for each partner’s experiences and boundaries.
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My role is therapeutic. I do not provide legal representation, custody evaluations, or recommendations about divorce or custody arrangements.
Where and how are sessions offered?
Online sessions take place through a secure platform. In-person appointments are offered subject to location and availability.
When might I begin to notice change?
It’s natural to wonder when you’ll start to feel a difference. You may notice small shifts early on: a difficult moment feels more manageable, or you respond differently to something that once overwhelmed you. Other changes take more time, depending on what brings you here and what’s happening in your life.

We’ll regularly talk about what’s helping and where you need more support, adjusting our work together as we go.
Do you offer workshops and training for organizations?
Yes. I offer workshops and professional training shaped around your organization’s needs, including cultural understanding, relationships, recovery, and growth. Please use the contact form.
Which languages do you offer therapy in?
I offer therapy in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
How do I begin?
Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation using the inquiry form. We’ll talk about what brings you here, answer your questions, and discuss how I can support you.

I welcome you to get in touch.

Share a little about what brings you here. I’ll respond personally to arrange a complimentary 15-minute consultation.

Who I see
Adults, adolescents & couples
Sessions
Online via a secure platform · In person by location
Languages
English, Hindi, Gujarati

Request a consultation