Hello Cherry

What led you to choose a career in psychology and mental health? 

I’ve always felt drawn to the collective parts of psychology and mental health - how the work we do on and for ourselves ripples into how we show up for others and our communities. I wanted my career to be a space where my values met a broader social impact which led me to training as a psychologist. It is such a privilege being invited into the inner worlds of my clients and supporting them as they navigate their most transformative seasons. 

 

What’s something you wish more people understood about mental health in South Asian and multicultural communities?

Sometimes we run the real risk of homogenising the South Asian and multicultural experience. There is often a noticeable pressure (both from within our communities and outside of them) to appear high functioning, which can cause deep distress to go undetected. I often see clients caught in a 'comparison hierarchy,' feeling that their struggles aren't valid when measured against their parents' stories of migration or racial trauma. In my practice, we explore the idea that distress includes the things we weren't able to receive or experience consistently. For many of my clients, the absence of consistent psychological safety - of feeling truly seen and accepted - is an extremely difficult experience that deserves its own time and care to be attended to.

 

What does “progress” look like to you, even in tiny moments when working with clients?

To me, progress is both internal and relational. It could be becoming your own most reliable advocate, or in brave moments of relational growth: naming a need, staying true to your values, or showing up authentically despite the discomfort. It is always in the small big things - getting comfortable expressing yourself in a conversation, or knowing how to take a sick day with less guilt. Progress may be advocating for others even when you feel fear, softening that perfectionistic or critical part of yourself, or having the awareness to know when you are truly avoiding something versus intentionally declining.

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What are your areas of expertise and is there anything else you want to branch out into? 

My areas of interest and experience include supporting clients as they navigate identity, cultural integration, and self-esteem challenges, and general mental health support (anxiety, stress, low mood). I work extensively with interpersonal challenges - whether within families, friendships, or romantic relationships - providing practical and process-based support in improving communication, needs expression, and emotion regulation. I also work with grief and loss, life transitions, perfectionism or burnout. I'd love to create more space in my practice for community work - whether that be workshops or peer support groups. 

 

Something Fun: If you could design your perfect “mental health day/treat yourself day” what would it include?

Would have to include a cafe visit, finding some cute interiors that I do not need, yoga, time in nature always, meeting a friend and staying at the restaurant until they basically close - sorry in advance!!